BS: References I Don't Understand (drug ads)

Subject: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST,Eb
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 08:54 PM

On television currently is an ad extolling the virtues of Lipitor, an anti-high cholesterol medicine (I think). A man, a bike racer (I think), talks about how much more caution he employs in his life nowadays and that Lipitor is part of his new lifestyle.

At one point, he says: I still love the feel of wind in my face. Doctor. Doctor. blah, blah, blah.

What does 'doctor, doctor' refer to?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 09:21 PM

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) came off patent on June 30, 2011. Under an agreement, the generic will become available on November 30, 2011. I suspect the guy is yelling for his doctor not to prescribe the generic, even though it will work the same and be a whole lot cheaper.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST,Eb
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 09:40 PM

The word/phrase comes in a different context and the tone he uses is not at all urgent- more of a throwaway line. Have you seen the ad, Rap?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 12:32 AM

There are several Lipitor commercials on YouTube. If you could identify the particular commercial you saw, and give us a link to it, we might be better able to figure out what you're talking about.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 09:46 AM

No, I haven't, but I don't watch all that much TV. Could he be yelling a command to "doctor" yourself?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Becca72
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 09:54 AM

I thought he was saying "ask your doctor"...

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 10:00 AM

I asked MY doctor if all those ads pushing meds on TV bothered him as much as they do me...he just rolled his eyes and said that he didn't NEED patients self-diagnosing from TV ads.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 10:30 AM

Not when the internet is so much better :-)

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Michael
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 01:27 PM

I visited my GP last week and explained what he was prescribing and how it works but finished with " If you Google it you'll find lots more information."
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: gnu
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 01:58 PM

I research anything that says "Read the stuff inside the package." and everything a doc prescribes prior to buying it.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 02:20 PM

On bikeforums.com is this:

Lipitor and Bicycle Helmets

    Just saw the new Lipitor commercial. It is not on their site or U-tube yet, but it plays the card of how risky it was to ride a bicycle without a helmet. Amazing how anyone is still alive to even need Lipitor.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 03:23 PM

Obviously their target market is the over 50 bike riding, helmet wearing crowd. Personally I would not ride a bike down that hill with or without a helmet.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Greg B
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 07:16 PM

Look, ultimately it's a "statin" drug among a dozen or so others. The objective is to lower your LDL cholesterol, which is a good thing, and important.

It works in your liver, as well as putting a bit of a strain on said organ.

They all work; and any competitive values are just a matter of who funded what study.

If you're English or Irish, you probably need it, as our genetics mitigate against being able to control our LDLs otherwise.

Trust me, a clot in a coronary artery can ruin your whole day. I've had one. And the stent to prove it.

I'm on Simvastatin, a $4.00/mo alternative. It works fine, to the extent that it can. I don't eat beef steak any more. I do eat cheese. And my numbers reflect that, and I'm not willing to hit my liver with even more statins.

So a little statin and a big life-style change, which means stopping with the animal fats and a lot of exercise and learn to love lettuce.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 08:53 PM

It's a DNA thing...

Been on Lipitor for the last 7 years... Either that or clogged arteries... You pick...

But Greg B is 100% correct... All these statins do the same thing... I'll be asking my doc for the generic next time I see her...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST,Eb
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:09 AM

But the "doctor. doctor"?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Michael
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 06:42 AM

"Doctor doctor, what's a statin?"
"I don't know but it'll take some cleaning off your trousers".

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 09:59 AM

You have adverts for medicines on TV? Blimey...

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Musket
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 11:32 AM

Here in The UK, prescription only medicines are not allowed to be advertised to the general public. (My responsible adult is a doctor and the trade magazines she gets are full of them though...)

I support the idea of not advertising them to the general public and at the risk of sounding Nanny state, I prefer the idea (as prescriptions are set up to be if you think about it) that they are tools for the doctor to consider, as he / she is diagnosing and treating your condition, not the marketing manager of a drug company who has just realised their cash cow is about to go generic.

Over diagnosis and over treating are symptoms of a well known conundrum. Are we inventing medicines for ailments or inventing ailments for medicines?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 12:03 PM

They didn't used to be allowed. Must've changed in the 1990s as I remember writing an op/ed piece about it, predicting, among other things, that patients would start to self-diagnose and demand certain meds. They are one of the single most negative, harmful things in our society, imo. A not very subtle way of inculcating constant worry about every little twinge with promises of a blissful life.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST, Ebbiewhosecookiekeepscrumbling
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 01:22 PM

What absolutely floors me in viewing those ads is the possible side effects. I know they are required by law to list them but who in the world would buy the product after being warned that its use can lead to heart attack, stroke, depression and suicidal thoughts, sleeplessness, drowsiness, dizziness, swelling of the mouth, lips and throat, paranoia and anti-social behavior?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 02:54 PM

In defense of ads for drugs:

New drugs are being developed all the time, and doctors don't make a general practice of calling you up to suggest that you try a new drug.

Theoretically, assuming you go in for regular checkups, your doctor reviews your medical history, and sees what chronic problems you have, and considers whether a new drug might be better for you than one you're already taking. But a lot of doctors don't do that. They have the attitude "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and if you don't complain about your existing regimen, it "ain't broke."

But you tend not to complain or ask questions unless you already have an idea that something else might work better.

Consider my father's case: Many, many years ago, he noticed he was going deaf, so he went in for a hearing exam. He was told: sorry, there's nothing we can do for you. He had an unusual type of hearing loss: he was losing sensitivity at the low end of the spectrum, whereas most people lose it at the high end first. So he became resigned to the fact that deafness was something he'd just have to live with. For years afterwards, he never mentioned his deafness to a doctor.

Over the years, improvements were made in the electronics of hearing aids, and they developed types that would amplify low sounds. But my father knew nothing about it. He saw lots of ads on TV for hearing aids, but he ignored them, believing he was a hopeless case. He eventually did get hearing aids—I don't know what provoked him to get a new exam, but he remarked he would have gotten hearing aids years earlier if only he'd known they were available.

Don't you suppose the same thing could happen with drugs?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:35 PM

In Canada, when I lived there, Drug ads on TV were not allowed. But they were in Reader's Digest and "paid information supplements.

I donno, Jim other countries have better outcomes for lower cost than the USA without the drugs and often the ads here are to get you loyal to the brand name rather than to the generics. Given that medicine does advance, it would seem only prudent to ask the doctor "are there any new advances that would address my condition?" when one visited. My family in Canada always did that, but maybe we were a little better informed as both my parents had sisters who were nursing supervisors.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:32 PM

The drug advs. are allowed in Canada now. The Lipitor pitch is one of them.

Whenever I visit my doctor, I ask her to prescribe such-and-such (which I heard about on TV). She always bites, "No! No! not for you," and I laugh. Then she realizes I am joking and gets angry.

McGrath, I agree. They should be banned again.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 06:11 PM

Yeah, Joking with someone who is probably stressed out and over worked and hears way too much of that crap for real. Q, you are a saint among men! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST,Whistle Stop
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 10:45 AM

I used to be a Mudcat member, now I just lurk on occasion. In answer to the original query, I think the line is "talk to your doctor," which is a pretty standard line at the end of commercials for drugs (prescription or otherwise). Say it fast, and it sounds like "doctor doctor."

As someone stated above, it used to be illegal in the US to advertise prescription medications over the airways. I wish it still were, as these ads are ubiquitous now -- probably tied with automobile ads for the top (most frequent) slot. The ads, like most ads, give little substantive information; they tend towards vague celebrations of whatever is deemed to be an appealing lifestyle among the target demographic. This translates into lots of ads featuring baby boomers like me riding motorcycles, hang gliding, taking gorgeous women to bed (we get lots of ads for Viagra, Cialis, and other "male enhancement" products), and so forth -- followed by a rapidly recited list of legally-required warnings deliverede in a monotone, in hopes that the listener will tune out the more troubling information. Nobody is being educated by these ads, nor are the pharmaceutical companies looking to educate people; they're just selling a product, like other people do with junk food, laundry soap, and political candidates.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: EBarnacle
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 12:19 PM

Neither drug ads nor lawyer ads belong on TV.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 07:36 PM

I was just thinking the same EBarnacle.

Oh for a return to the days when touting for business was denied to Doctors, Lawyers, Drug Producers etc.

Car insurance was so much cheaper without ambulance chasing shysters.

Doctors told you what was wrong with you and prescribed appropriate medication.

They didn't set up clinics to offer the latest fad treatments at obscene prices and often without sufficient specialist qualifications.

And the legal profession wasn't riding to riches on the back of victims of "accidents" such as the woman who got damages because Costa Coffee didn't tell her that her coffee was hot (for Christ's Sake), and she scalded herself by spilling it.

The victims I refer to are of course those who wind up paying damages to such total damn fools, and costs to the shysters.

This country was a better place when these activities were forbidden.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST,Eb
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:22 AM

Say it fast, and it sounds like "doctor doctor."

Nope. Nope.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 04:28 AM

'the cool fresh wind in her hair'

the lady is a Tramp'


Doctor Doctor was a hit for The Thompson Twins in the 1980's

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST,Uncle_DaveO
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 05:22 PM

Believe it or not, just today I received an email with the following little scenes in a doctor's office.

-----

"Doctor! Doctor!"

Doctor, doctor, my wooden leg is giving me
a lot of pain.
Why's that?
My wife keeps hitting me over the head with it.

Doctor, doctor, my hair's coming out. Can you
give me something to keep it in?
Certainly - how about a paper bag?

Doctor, doctor, people keep ignoring me.
Next, please!

Doctor, doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains.
Pull yourself together!

Doctor, doctor, I feel like a bridge.
What's come over you?
Two cars and a bus!

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I'm a spoon.
Sit there and don't stir.


Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I'm a billiard ball.
Get back in the queue.

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I'm a pack of cards.
I'll deal with you later.

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking there's two of me.
One at a time, please.

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I'm a dog.
Lie down on the couch and I'll examine you.
I can't. I'm not allowed on the furniture.

Doctor, doctor, I've lost my memory.
When did it happen?
When did what happen?

Doctor, doctor, my little boy's swallowed a bullet.
What shall I do?
Well, for a start, don't point him at me.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Becca72
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 11:04 AM

I saw this commercial last night - he is definitely saying "talk to your doctor" not "doctor doctor".


Oh, and I was a huge fan of the Thompson Twins back in the day :-)

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 11:18 AM

...and besides the offensive ads for doctors and lawyers and other stuff, they often have, at the bottom of the screen, 10-40 lines of disclaimers in tiny print which is on the screen for maybe 3-4 seconds! You would have to be recording the ad to have any chance of reading it, and even then it is often too blurred to make out-- and THIS is considered to be complying with the law?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST, Eb
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 11:48 AM

Oh, Becca, Becca... NO. At least in the commercial I referred to, he is NOT saying "Talk to your doctor." He IS saying doctor, doctor.

There may be a separate, second, different version.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 12:16 PM

I never understood why, if you have to ask your doctor if this shit is right for you, they have to read off 20 minutes of hair-raising side effects. Isn't that your doctors job? I mean, if the doctor says no I can't have it then what do I care what the side effects are since I won't be taking it?

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 12:42 PM

Ebbie, he's saying "talk to your doctor" fast, sorta like "talktyer doctor". I found the commercial on the Lipitor website.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand
From: Becca72
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 12:51 PM

Sorry, Ebbie - I can distinctly hear "talk to your doctor" in the commercial. Watch the link from Jeri. That is the same commercial played in my area.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand (drug ads)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 02:41 PM

"Talk to your doctor" is meant to convey "Talk him into it."

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand (drug ads)
From: GUEST, Eb
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 03:22 PM

Abject apologies here. I have repeatedly listened to the ad- and not until today do I hear it. I especially apologize to Becca.

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand (drug ads)
From: Becca72
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 03:53 PM

No problem, Eb. I have been a medical transcriptionist for over 8 years - I know just how difficult they can be to understand! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: References I Don't Understand (drug ads)
From: artbrooks
Date: 19 Dec 11 - 07:58 PM

Missing all the drug commercials is just another reason that I am glad I cut off the cable company and very rarely watch one of the four available over-the-air commercial TV stations. Another is that I miss all the political ads, of course.