What I'm terrified the most by is the brainwash-like imagery they use while reading out the side effects. A woman picking out a pair of shoes, as if to say "you want it, go for it, treat yourself!"

Another reason why I will never understand how drugs are allowed to be marketed direct to consumers in the first place.

Yes, they're all like that on american TV -- based on what leaks across the border. In Canada, at least it used to be the case (I'm not sure anymore), it was/is illegal to even advertise prescription drugs on television - beyond stating its name -- "Drug X! If you want to know what it's for, ask a doctor!".

Yep, going to make it *dark as I once laughed out loud at a ridiculous ad, stating "in cases, may cause sores, loss of memory, stomach complications and in certain circumstances, death..." All while showing smiling happy people going through a warm tinted meadow with a happy dog. It was one of the most bizarre things I saw...

Adding video to channels (Dark) - requested by Zonbie.

http://uwire.com/2010/09/22/column-tv-drug-ads-trying-to-sell-viewers-more-than-medication/

Yes, certainly the drug companies don't WANT to spend fully half the ad listing side effects and warnings, they're compelled to by law. The trouble is that they don't give you any useful sense of how frequent the side effects are; only "rare" or "common". At this point virtually any drug you see advertised will come with a warning that it might kill you in one way or another. Most people just ignore it.

@RedSky, it's an arthritis medication. She couldn't wear cute but uncomfortable shoes due to her arthritis, but now she can!

This is one of those things that fricken amazes and saddens me when I'm in the States. The shear NUMBER of these ads, and the huge list of side effects and warnings they have in them.

In Australia it's against the law to advertise prescription medication, and that's the way it should be.

@entr0py

Yeah that occured to me too, but at least instinctively for me there was clearly another association going on underneath.