Question and research every drug (medication) that you and your family take.

Drug companies spend over $21 billion dollars each year on advertising. If drugs worked and were the answer why do you need to spend so much money? The reality is they are trying to convince the FDA, Doctors and most importantly YOU that they have the answers.

The pharmaceutical industry spends over $4 billion each year advertising directly you. It may be on tv, radio, print (magazines), internet, billboards, buses, etc. Does this sound familiar: a friendly voice comes on and says have you ever had XYZ symptom (it is a symptom that most people have commonly: tired, stressed, headaches, runny nose, etc.)
Ask your doctor if ___ drug is right for you? These misleading advertisements lead to more drugs being prescribed because if people feel they “need” the drug, doctors feel they need to give them the drug or they will find a different doctor.

They also have spent billions on drug branding campaigns. Do any of these ring a bell?

"Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is" -Alka Seltzer

“How do you spell relief?" R O L A I D S

Get Claritin clear

The nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, so you can rest medicine. -Nyquil

The pain reliever hospitals use most. -Tylenol

If you have an erection lasting longer than 4 hours, seek medical attention. -Viagra

The little purple pill -Nexium

"When the time is right, will you be ready?" –Cialis

Additionally drug companies spend over $16 billion marketing directly to doctors. “Brand-name drug makers in the U.S. employ 81% more people in marketing than in research,” according to a report by Families USA, a healthcare advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. When it comes to luring physicians’ attention, drug samples, coffee mugs, pens, pocket protectors, and golf balls are just the beginning. Many drug salespeople ply doctors with expensive dinners, cruises to the Bahamas and courtside seats to the NBA. Each year, drug representatives spend between $8,000 and $13,000 on every doctor, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

In fact drug companies have developed charts like the one below to teach drug reps how to sell each doctor differently.
Drug Rep Chart

Remember it is your health. First, after you research the drug, ask yourself is there anything else I can do first. With health it is very important to start with the least invasive and progress to more invasive if needed.

Drugs would be the answer if we were born with medicine cabinets. Drugs are a way we play with symptoms I’ll trade a hurting elbow for the chance of headaches. Symptoms are not caused by a deficiency of a certain drug.