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FDA Says Many Prescription Drug Ads Are Deceptive
The US Food and Drug Administration
regularly sends out citation letters to many drug companies for
overstating the effects of their drugs in advertising. Tom Abrams,
the chief watchdog at the Food and Drug Administration for deceptive
advertising, says some ads stretch the truth with overstated claims of
effectiveness and understated descriptions of side effects. This
report was aired on January 3, 2001 by ABC News.
According to the report, every year, the FDA sends about 100 letters to
drug companies demanding changes in television commercials, magazine ads
and other promotional materials. Many companies are repeat offenders and
continue to use deceptive advertising. Some examples include the allergy
drug Claritin. According to the FDA the makers of this drug are repeat
offenders. Since 1997, the manufacturers have been told 10 times to change
their advertisements. Additionally, makers of two other allergy drugs,
Flonase and Flovent have been cited 12 times for commercials the FDA
claimed were misleading.
Dr. Sharon Levine of RX Alliance says, “This is intentionally
misleading, the drug companies are trying to suggest they can deliver more
than they do.” Amazingly, the ABC story noted that the FDA has
never taken a company to court. They noted that most offenders
simply change their advertisements and come up with another sales
approach.
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