Better health

By Like duh

May 11, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

Since the docs get trips to Hawaii, lavish dinners, catered lunches for the staff, endless schwag, and numerous other freebies I think the patients should get something for free too.

By Dave

May 11, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this

I prefer to not take drugs if I can get away with it. I think people are given the impression that whatever the problem is in life, there is a pill that will fix it. Drugs should be the last option not the first.

By Married to a doc

May 11, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this

Personally I think a LOT of this is BS. If you think your doctor can be bought for a few free samples, do you REALLY want that doctor “working” on you? The physicians I know will prescribe what they think is the BEST drug for that patient, regardless of any samples or other “perks”. While some drugs may be in the same “class” and treat some of the same symptoms, there are differences in the interaction and side effects. What may be the best for one may not be for the next person. Samples are usually given to patients for one of two reasons, to verify the effectiveness for that patient or to provide enough for use until a prescription can be filled.

By lovelyliz

May 11, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

There’s a reason all the drug reps who’ve shown up at my doctor’s office are mid 20ish, blonde hair, C cupish, 5’6”, former cheerleaders and beauty queens.

By silver

May 11, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

In many cases the old drugs work just as well if not better than the new stuff the Docs are pushing onto patients in return for their little perks. The advantage of the old drugs is that side effects, complications, and effectiveness are well understood. That is not the case with new drugs, take viox as an example. Motrin is just as effective as viox, and does not cause heart disease. We did not find out about the heart disease side effect from viox until hundreds of people had died. Stick with the old drugs, they are cheaper, and you know what you are getting. Let people who cannot use the old drugs try to new stuff first, for about five years, to see what the undisclosed side effects are going to be. Besides, the old drugs are much cheaper than the new stuff.

By Not This Doc

May 11, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this

To “Like duh”: You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been a doc for 20 years and I’ve never been offered a trip to Hawaii (in fact, I’ve never even been offered a trip to Birmingham); never had lavish catered dinners brought in for the staff, etc. I used to work in a low income area and frequently gave samples to families who wouldn’t have had any other way to get these newer and more effective meds. This is how the free enterprise system works - let the corporations give some things away which benefit others so that everyone is not dependent on the government for handouts. The pharmaceutical industry invests millions of dollars every time they develop a new drug - don’t they deserve to promote it and let us docs know about its benefits so that we can use it to prolong your life?

By Ms Writer

May 11, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Lovleyliz — because you know it wasn’t their immpeccable GPA that got them that cushy job….

By InTownGal

May 11, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

As a former rep, who now works as a medical writer for a pharmaceutical company these samples are for doctors to use at their discretion. I never encountered an M.D. who would give a patient a sample because it was in their closet and available, or because the representative was a perfect 10. The drug needed to be effective for that patient. The job of the representative is to answer the physicians question regarding the drug, including adverse events, and clinical trial(s) data. Moreover, legally you cannot speak off the precribing information about the drug, it is highly illegal and you can be prosecuted for that type of behavior.

By correction on stupidity

May 11, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

A few corrections Motrin does not work as well as Vioxx, I have taken both and miss the relief from Vioxx. Pharm. reps don’t all look like 5’6” C cuppish former beauty queens. They look like our society a little bit of everyone. Last I looked fortune 500 companies who hired all of one type got sued for discrimination. Maybe you should take a closer look next time you benefit from a reps product. As also mentioned, companies have a right to be profitable based on our market economy. People ask their butcher which cut of meat is best and they take that advice. People ask car salesmen (very reliable people) the positives of a certain car. The only reason people think drug companies aren’t out for their best interest is because politicians tell them and they feel politicians are reliable. The government wants to get into big pharma b/c of the money they can make. At least big pharma is honest, they are about helping people and making money - our politicians (both major parties) don’t have answers they just tell you they do and for some reason people believe them. Here’s a quiz Think of ten things our government has improve in the last 30 years, you’ll be at it for a long time. Think of ten things private corporations have improved over the last 30 year, you’ll be finished much quicker.

By Like duh

May 11, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

I’m all for free enterprise, but I smell some pharma reps on this board.

By correction on stupidity

May 11, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

I’m a govt worker maybe there should be more oversight into my job since I can post during the middle of the day. I guess the government isn’t the end all.

By BBT

May 11, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

I went to a psychiatrist when I was depressed. Besides the antidepressants he prescribed, he pushed sleeping pills and Viagra for the side effects of the antidepressant. Free samples! The sleeping pills made me groggy, and I felt like fainting with Viagra. Now I’ve quit all the drugs and am taking Vitamin B, Omega 3’s, and multivitamins. Plus, I walk in the sun everyday. I’ve never felt better. I’m not taking drugs to counter side effects of drugs to counter side effects of drugs. That’s why the FDA, a Big Pharma organization, wants to “regulate” supplements so that you can’t take therapeutic amounts of them and would need a doctor prescription. That’s why the World Trade organization wants to push international CODEX laws preventing US citizens from taking high doses of supplements and wants to treat vitamins as toxins. Oppose mindless globalization where unelected bureaucrats in Brussels would make US law in secret.

By correction on stupidity

May 11, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

BBT wrote - “That’s why the FDA, a Big Pharma organization…” I thought the FDA was a government organization. Oh well, don’t let facts get in the way of your discussion.

By elizabeth

May 11, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

I am bipolar. My new doc wanted to put me on Abilify, a new anti-psychotic drug for schizophrenics that is also used to treat bipolar disorder. I have never been psychotic and I am not schizophrenic. I got FREE SAMPLES from the doctor, but keep in mind, the drug costs $345 a month. I experienced severe side effects on Abilify and had to go off the medication. I am back on lithium which costs me $19 month, with few side effects. You tell me if you think the FREE SAMPLES encouraged the doctor to start me on a new pricey medication, when the old cheap one I was taking was doing just fine.

By Dan

May 11, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this

This is absolutely hilarious. Another case of blaming business. Society educates and licenses doctors, so they can make educated decisions for us regarding such things. If there is undo influence it is 100% the responsiblitly of doctors to mitigate it

By Jay

May 11, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this

“Lovleyliz — because you know it wasn’t their immpeccable GPA that got them that cushy job…” Why on God’s earth would someone with an impeccable GPA become a pharma salesperson? “When I grow up I want to travel from office to office telling doctors about a product I had no part in making for a comfortably middle-class salary!” People with impeccable GPA’s go to medical school and become doctors. That’s why I think it’s ironic—and scary—that pharma salespeople “teach” doctors about drugs.

By carter

May 11, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this

It’s just another form of payola, doctors are recieving free trips to exotic places in return for scripting certain meds free golf trips to St Andrews in Ireland and many other perks. It’s just as wrong for doctors as it is for a congressman.I can tell you married to a Doc at 10:06 you are full of bovine excretement,and most likly reaping some of the benefits of this scam.

By What?

May 11, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

The government wants to get into big pharma b/c of the money they can make. At least big pharma is honest, they are about helping people and making money Now that’s a load of crap if I’ve ever heard one!!!! Big pharma is just as crooked as these damned politicians, and plenty of them have a hand (or at least a finger) in what big pharma is doing!!! Neither is honest or forthright. If they were, then there wouldn’t be so many lawsuits regarding these meds big pharma is making!!! Come on now….

By michele

May 11, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

I grew up the Upjohn way-my dad was a sales rep.& when he retired after 30+ years he was a district manager for the Southeast. I am biased-I admit it. MDs can make up their own minds & have the ability to NOT be influenced by a rep or a certain drug.

By Dan

May 11, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this

What? you are partly right and a good example of the whole problem. People love to say bus is crooked pols are crooked lawyers are crooked and all are typically true. beacuse of their common ground PEOPLE are crooked! But at least in order to survive a company has to provide some benefit. All a politician has to do is fool a society of people that for the most part want someone to tell them what to do andbelieve

By KB

May 11, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this

Big Pharma is the biggest racket in the USA, sure people need these meds but you dont have to rip their heads off and their wallets out to give them to them…

By JJ

May 11, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this

This is quite an interesting thread here and I am curious as to why Big Pharma is taking so much heat when other industries (gas companies) seem to be gouging the country. Doctors are informed of the product and I have never heard of a doctor getting a trip to St. Andrews (which is in Scotland carter, maybe you should have paid attention to your teachers). Pharma reps provide a service just like any other salesperson yet it is the responsibility of other individuals to try what is best. I’m thankful that it was free samples given to elizabeth instead of a prescription she had to pay for b/c she was able to see the new meds weren’t for her. However, I’m sure the new meds made a great difference for many other people in this country and around the world. Why are people always thinking that profit motive is bad, is it because they are incapable of being excellent and want everything else to average with them?

By Katharine Otto, MD

May 14, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this

The only difference between good drugs and bad drugs is legality. As an MD who is retiring my license this year, I no longer feel obligated to be a patient-churning, prescription-writing machine for government, insurance, and pharma. Let them write the prescriptions and take the risks. I think all drug laws should be abolished. If you don’t own your own body, who owns it? We all know what that’s called.

By JW

May 15, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Doctors are no different than anyone else in business. They want to make money, same as you and I. Same as the U.S. government, and any pharmeceutical company. Money drives our economy. Having said that, keep in mind that if drugs actually cured a disease, doctors and drug companies would be out of business. (This is the opposite of making money) Doctors are extremely useful for several things. Saving your life in an emergency, surgically removing a part of your body when necessary, and assisting you in diagnosing an ailment. Drugs have their place in todays medicine, but people have come to rely on them far too much. Many people have been brainwashed by drug ads on tv. “You cannot survive unless you get your doctor to prescribe this for you.” (If you disagree with this statement, you are one of these people) Unfortunately, man made drugs do not cure disease. They are made to mask symptoms, ease pain, and cover up any trace of the ailment which continues to exist. (Please refer to 2nd paragraph above). Your headache is not due to a lack of Tylenol in your diet. You do not have heartburn because you have a Zantac or Prilosec deficiency. Helllooo? The difference between good drugs and bad is not the legality. Its the profitability. If a drug company could patent marijuana and make trillions, giving the FDA, politicians, and doctors their standard cut, marijuana would be legal. But they can’t because anyone with some dirt and some water can grow this in their own home. There are many natural vitamins, herbs, minerals, and supplements which can prevent and cure disease. You will never see a tv commercial for them, nor will you ever see them FDA approved because there is no money to be made from them. Even the government can’t patent mother nature, but I bet alot of our tax dollars go toward finding a way to do it. They even go so far as to make up diseases for the very purpose of having to concoct a drug for you to buy. Restless Leg Syndrome?!! Please!! Get your a$$ off the couch and walk around the block after dinner. Then your legs won’t tingle when you sit in front of the tv for 3 hours before bed. If they’re really lucky, the drug they prescribe will create some other ailment which you will have to fight with an additional drug. THIS IS HOW BIG PROFITS ARE MADE. Keep watching those drug ads. Keep nagging your doctor to “put you on something”. Keep fueling big pharma. Keep feeding the monster. Many people work just to afford their prescriptions. The FDA, big pharma, and many doctor’s goal is for all of us to work just to afford our prescriptions. Thats how you make money.

By JW

May 15, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

Sorry, I’m not finished. Doctors giving away free samples is no different than your local crack dealer handing out some for free down on Fulton Industrial Blvd. just to get you hooked. He know you’ll be back, with cash in hand. Like I said in my prior post: The only difference is the government can’t control and therefore can’t make a profit from the dealer on the streetcorner. Once again: Its not legal because its not profitable.