Smart Reader Comments On Marketing, Seroquel And Pricing

Because I am in a moody space right now (now being about 10 p.m PST), albeit a good creative space, I am going to pass along a few recent reader comments that articulate better than I can what's going on out there. Not only am I fortunate to have you all as readers, I am especially pleased that some recent comments are from people who've not commented here before.

But I'll start with someone who has:

"The whole "Depression Hurts" campaign associated with Cymbalta is quite interesting. Cymbalta claims to relieve pain associated with depression despite the bulk of the evidence indicating that Cymbalta is not a pain relieving medication for people with depression. Does the FDA care that the marketing is grossly misleading? It would appear not. If you doubt me, go to Lilly's clinical trials online database and look at the results--the effects on pain in depression are meager at best. Then go to www.depressionhurts.com and see how Cymbalta is marketed.

Yet, despite no evidence of superiority to any existing product and quite weak evidence of providing pain relief in depression, Cymbalta continues to gobble up market share due to stealth marketing and blatantly misleading advertising. But why NOT engage in these tactics when they work and nobody steps up to hold you accountable?"

Yep.

"The pharmaceutical industry is a master at manipulating victims and turning them into spokespeople for the very medications that killed their loved ones. It really makes me sick."

"Everything you wrote on this blog regarding using Seroquel as a short term only medication is right. I thought I was gonna prove ya wrong on it, but dude. You were so right. This shit is not good for long term use, and at the 7 week mark for myself, I am waving it a long goodbye. I am glad it works for some, but I can safely say it has failed me as the wonder drug it claims to be. Short-term--it worked great. Stopped the mania I was having. The longer I remained on it, the worse I felt (feel). I say use it 2-3 nights to get sleep if that is an issue, otherwise keep that shit in the medicine cabinet as a PRN. Thanks for the insiteful postings here re: Seroquel use. I hope readers pay attention to a rookie here and listen up: short term use only."

I think AstraZeneca may have a cheerleader sales rep or or two in their corporate family who might like a word with you.

And on the wild price differential between first and second-generation antipsychotics, despite their virtually equivalent performance:

"This is from TAC's blog, Aug. 4, 2006. They have been speaking out about the cost of meds for a long time. Thanks for your blog, I read it very often."

Thank you, too. As much as I bang on TAC's "the mentally-ill are so violent" blather, there is actually more we agree on than not, which proves, once again, that I am a moderate.

And, now, I think I will go moderate or regulate or, um, whatever.