Advertising Psycho Pharmaceuticals I have been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, so I decide see my medical doctor to seek her advice on what I can do about my mental health. When I meet with her, she asks me if there have been any changes in my life that might explain my depression. Unfortunately, I cannot think of any particular cause for these feelings. My doctor suggests that I start taking a drug to help me overcome my unhappiness. She tells me that she can prescribe it right now if I want her to. It surprises me that she does not recommend therapy and instead offers a chemical cure. Since this is the first time I am seriously considering using a drug to "fix" my mood, I tell her that I will do some research and let her know my final decision. I do not know very much about antidepressant medications, so she gives me the names of a couple of popular drugs used to treat depression, Paxil(r) and Zoloft(r), to help me with my investigation. I feel the best place to start my inquiry is to look at the websites of the companies that produce these drugs. I figure that these sites will provide me with the information I need to make an informed decision on whether drug treatment, and which drug treatment, is right for me. I begin by looking at the website for Paxil(r), http://paxil.com. When the page loads, I am presented with a picture of a worried woman's face in profile in front of an orange-red background. When my eyes move away from this image, I am confronted with the question in big bold black letters, "Does this sound like you?" And this question is referring to the other statements flashing on and off of the screen slowly, statements about being tense, worrying, having anxiety, and having trouble sleeping. Underneath this it says, "Introducing the first and only FDA-approved SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)."These sound like the problems I have, and I trust the FDA to allow only safe drugs on the market. As I proceed, I am hopeful that this drug might be able to help me. I decide to search further, because I really do not know any substantial information about this drug yet. I click on the first screen and another screen pops up letting me know that worrying all of the time is not normal, and if I am unduly anxious then I am suffering from the condition called Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Paxil(r) can help. I then go to the portion of the site that explains more about GAD and it informs me that many people worry about various aspects of their lives. It also says that sometimes these people have dealt with this condition for so long that they regard it as simply a part of their personality. I might have this problem and not even know about it. It goes on to tell me to answer the following questions: "Do I worry excessively about minor things? Am I anxious most of the time? Am I tense most days?" (emphasis in original). A quiz follows with questions for me to answer. Answers of "yes" to any of these questions might indicate I have this disorder. The problem I have with these questions is that they seem rather ambiguous. If I have been living with this anxiety all along, then how do I know if in fact my worrying is excessive? How can I tell that I am excessively anxious all the time if it seems natural to me? What do they mean by "most?" There are blatant contradictions in this website. The next section of the website talks about treatment with Paxil(r), and it recommends I consult with my doctor about finding a regime of "talk" and drug therapy that will be right for me. This section does not tell me much about treatment with the medication, or about any of the side effects of taking this pill. But it does let me know that "talk" therapy is important in the treatment of some patients. Then, I look at the "About Paxil(r)" section to see if it tells me anything I need to know about this medication. But it only tells me that Paxil(r) functions by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin into the sender nerve cell so that there is plenty of serotonin available to be taken up by the receiving cell. This helps to explain why my problem with emotions can be treated with a drug, because "talk" therapy cannot change the chemicals in my brain as effectively as SSRIs can. This statement also takes the responsibility for my disorder away from me as a person and it places the blame on the chemical irregularity in my brain. Still not satisfied with the information I have gotten from this site, I go back to the homepage to look for any other more informative links. On this page there are links to descriptions of the disorders Paxil(r) treats, such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These subsections discuss how to tell if I actually have one of these disorders. They also include patient profiles, so that, if any of these statements seem to apply to me, I will be better able to tell whether this drug can help me. Finally, I find information that helps to clear up some of my more detailed questions about what the drug treats, but I still have not seen any information about the drug's side effects. Finally, I reach the section entitled "Prescribing information for Paxil(r) (paroxetine HCl)," and four pages of microscopic text pops up to explain what the drug does in detail. Annoyingly, this document is not readable on the computer screen, so I print it out to see what information it has to offer. The document presents the negative effects this drug had on patients who took the drug in pre-marketing experimentation. It presents numerous precautions for taking Paxil(r). Some of them are basic safety measures that patients should worry about whenever they take medications, such as not mixing alcohol and the medication, and that pregnant patients should be aware that the drug might have an adverse effect on the fetus. There are also some more striking warnings including the occurrences of "Activation of Mania/Hypomania," seizures, suicide, hyponatremia, and abnormal bleeding. I also discover a chart summarizing the results of the experimental trial treatments with Paxil(r). It shows that even at maximum dosages of Paxil(r), 20% of the subjects either did not improve or worsened while they were on the drug. I had to wade through the whole website, but eventually I find information that is important for me to know as a potential consumer of this medication. I then decide to move on from the Paxil (r) site and investigate the website for Zoloft(r), http://www.zoloft.com/. A happy hopping pill-shaped cartoon moving across the screen greets me. The accompanying text above the picture explains that many people suffer from emotional disorders and that I am not the only person with this condition. Knowing that other people are going through the same struggle makes me feel better about myself. I personally have not done anything wrong to cause my problems, and that is reassuring. I continue through the site by clicking the "How Zoloft(r) Can Help" button. This section starts with an explanation of how SSRI's work in general, followed up with a section of frequently asked questions about treatment with Zoloft(r). The most helpful questions on this page are, "What medical conditions is Zoloft approved to treat?" and, "What are the most common side effects of Zoloft?" The answers tell me that, "Zoloft is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression, panic disorder, OCD [obsessive compulsive disorder], and PTSD [posttraumatic stress disorder]" and that, "The most common side effects include upset stomach, having trouble sleeping, diarrhea, dry mouth, sexual side effects, feeling unusually sleepy or tired, tremor, indigestion, increase of sweating, feeling agitated, and decreased appetite." In this site, the company is much more upfront about the conditions the drug is approved to treat, as well as the side effects of this treatment. After investigating the Paxil(r) website and seeing its potentially disastrous effects on the patient, I still wonder whether this is telling the whole story about Zoloft(r), so I continue to look through the site. Conveniently, at the top of every page in the site there are links for "Depression," "Panic Disorder," "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder," and "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder." Under each of these headings are the following links: understanding the disorder, how treatment with Zoloft(r) can help, a self quiz to see if I have the disorder, mental health organizations and resources, and personal stories of patients who have these disorders. This information is very accessible, and I go through this information and learn about these disorders and how Zoloft(r) helps treat each. As in the Paxil(r) website, this one gives personal questions and profiles, so that I can tell if I have one of these disorders. I like the way this website is set up, because I can get around easily, and I don't have to go all the way back to the homepage to find the pertinent information about the drug. I notice that the only section of the site I have yet to visit is the "Prescribing Information" page with all of the detailed information about this medication. Just as before, this information is not legible on the computer screen because it is so small, so I grudgingly print out the three pages of text. In the "Precautions" section of this document, the company reports on the possibility that a patient taking this medicine might experience seizures, tendencies towards suicide, hyponatremia, and altered platelet function. Unfortunately, they do not provide an assessment of the effectiveness of the drug determined by pre-marketing evaluation, so I cannot determine the chances that Zoloft(r) will help me or not. Each of these websites offers me a detailed look at the advertised drugs. I feel the Zoloft(r) site does a better job at presenting information, in that it is easier to navigate the site. Another important factor is that the company is more forthcoming with the adverse effects of the drug treatment on the individual patient, even though this information is less than complete as I later found out. It also gives me a sense that many people have problems similar to mine, so I did not get the impression this problem was my fault. In addition, it informs me that I can do something about my problem by taking this medication. The site does not give me the same suspicion as the Paxil(r) site, that I have been dealing with the problem for years and I do not even know about it. The Paxil(r) website makes me realize how unclear I am about this medicine, because the company is not as forthcoming with the essential information about it. However, I like some features of this site better than the Zoloft(r) site, such as the page on the site that discusses the importance of "talk" therapy for helping to cure patients with these disorders. Also, in the prescription information there is an explicit summary of how effective this drug has been for other patients. Overall, neither of these websites gave me a complete view of these medications. I understand now that the companies are trying to sell their product, but at the same time I value my safety while I am taking the medication. I will have to talk to my doctor and seek more extensive information from other medical websites before I have enough knowledge to decide if drug therapy is right for me. Works Cited "Paxil Paroxetine HCl." 2001. GlaxoSmithKline. 7 Oct 2001. http://paxil.com/ "Zoloft (sertraline HCl)." 2001. Pfizer Inc. 7 Oct 2001. http://www.zoloft.com/
Lieberman, J. A. (2003). History of the use of antidepressants in primary care. Primary care
Treating depressive and bipolar disorders with antidepressants remains a popular option in clinical practice. Most clinicians choose the drug or class of drugs, usually selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI's, that is most effective and best tolerated with fewer severe side effects. These drugs are beneficial because they specifically target serotonin-based areas of the brain without affecting other neurotransmitter systems. SSRI's largely replaced tricyclic antidepressants which work by blocking the absorption (reuptake) of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, thereby increasing the levels of these two neurotransmitters in the brain. Tricyclic antidepressants present severe side effects and thus are usually only used when other treatments have failed. If SSRI's or tricyclics are not effective Monoamine oxidase inhibitors may be prescribed. MAOI's, enhance tyramine to increase norepinephrine and serotonin. While taking MAOI's you must abstain from foods and alcohol that contain tyramine such as, yogurt, aged cheese, and substances such as cold medications. This is because a potential toxic reaction could occur. Additionally, other antidepressants may be utilized such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) an NDRI-
When the client met with therapist and psychiatrist at Pomona office, client greeted the therapist and psychiatrist and started to report about her progress since last month. Client reported that she did not experience any side effect, she takes the medication on a regular basis, and doing good at school and at home. Client reported that she did nit need to take the medication of the anxiety if needed because she doing okay. When therapist reported that client sometimes cannot manage her stress and got involved in conflicts several times, psychiatrist reported that these issues is more related to the behavior management. Client asked the psychiatrist if she will be able to stop the medication soon, but the psychiatrist reported that she cannot
Depression is becoming more common among adults due to the stresses that accompany everyday living. Along with the increasing numbers of adults suffering from depression, an ongoing rise in depression among the youth is also becoming a growing concern. Depression induced by peer pressure, bullying or other stresses can contribute to the growing numbers of adolescents taking antidepressants. According to Dr. Vincent Iannelli, there is an estimate that 3 percent of children and about 12 percent of teens suffer from depression. What most people are misinformed about is that they believe that antidepressants will prevent users from having depression or stop it completely. This is a misconception about antidepressants that can be misleading. The idea of taking a supplement to combat an internal emotional conflict should be severed out as a means of treatment unless ultimately necessar...
Psychotropic medications, also referred to as psychiatric or psychotherapeutic medications, are used to treat psychiatric disorders, such as: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They have been used for many years and oftentimes come with dangerous side effects. The side effects that often occur in children taking these medications can include: fainting, blurred vision, vomiting, extreme weight gain, and even death ("Seroquel information,” n.d.). The use of psychotropic medication to treat mental disorders in children and adolescents is highly controversial because of ethical viewpoints (i.e. parents “drugging” their children to calm them down) and potentially harmful side effects, but one has to take into consideration whether the risks outweigh the benefits when deciding whether or not to give this type of medication to children.
In summary, the article talked about the effects that antidepressant pills have on children. Immense publicity about antidepressants causing suicidal behavior in children is prompting more parents to hesitate to take their kids to psychiatrists. More doctors are hesitating to put their patients on antidepressant prescriptions. Last October, the Food and Drug Administration ordered black box labels, the most severe warning, on all anti-depressants. Some doctors think that these medicines are "speed bumps" and might end in more suicides. Other doctors think, "For children who really need treatment, a wait and see' approach could be dangerous." The percentage rate of children's antidepressant prescriptions has dropped within the last couple months. Psychiatrist Bruce Black says, "Kids are unhappy for a lot of reasons, and antidepressants often aren't the solution."
FDA research has shown that tricyclic antidepressants such as Paxil can actually increase the severity of depression and suicidal behavior in teens and young adults. In the shocking expose “Treating the Mentally Ill,” medical journalist Rob Waters warns “Antidepressants including Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, and Effexor have provoked hostile behavior and thoughts about suicide in a number of teenagers who have been prescribed the drugs. Some of th...
Antidepressants are usually a type of drug called SSRIs. SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The most popular antidepressants such as Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro and Luvox are all SSRIs (Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents). Many newer antidepressants are SSRIs due to less side effects and more safe for adults compared to other older generations of antidepressants. Children and teens on the other hand are not. In fact, the FDA put a black box warning on SSRIs which “is the most serious type of warning in prescription drug labeling” ( Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents). There’s actually only one SSRI that can be prescribed for depressed children (who must be eight and older) which is Prozac and That hasn’t prevented SSRIs ...
The company assures the researchers it brings in, like Applebaum, that they want to "fight" depression, anxiety, and social phobia (527). It is almost their calling to bring light to these diseases, and they will use any means necessary. Applbaum says on this topic, "They seemed to believe their products were effective and they were baffled that anyone should question their value" (528). The way Applbaum describes this meeting with GlaxoSmithKline reveals some of their real intentions, making money. Applbaum says the company was "baffled" anyone would question their integrity. This is quite an exaggerated emotion. It seems like they were trying to hard to display good intentions and when were actually questioned, they were offended this exaggerated degree. They wanted to believe they were doing good and hid their real motives. They used "fighting depression" as a means to make money. If they were really in the market for the benefit of the Japanese people, they could have had a cleaner campaign. The only reason GlaxoSmithKline can say they are in the market for the sake of the Japanese people, is because their product has shown results. Pxil and other serotonin leveling drugs have worked in some cases, but Paxil is not the magic pill that can cure depression, GlaxoSmithKline is making only it seem like
both the benefit and risk of all medication before approval.. In addition, FDA makes the labeling
Zoloft was first introduced to the United States in 1980’s. Another name for Zoloft is sertraline and is in a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. At first Zoloft was made to treat major depressive disorder, but as the drug progressed over time it can now treat panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Zoloft is the most commonly used antidepressant because it works extremely well, it is safe, and its side effects are not as serious as other antidepressants.
The case under analysis, Eli Lilly & Company, will be covering the positives and negatives with regards to the business situation and strategy of Eli Lilly. One of the major pharmaceutical and health care companies in its industry, Lilly focused its efforts on the areas of "drug research, development, and marketed to the following areas: neuroscience, endocrinology, oncology, cardiovascular disease, and women's health." Having made a strong comeback in the 1990's due to its remarkably successful antidepressant Prozac, was now facing a potential loss in profits with its patent soon to expire. The problem was not only the soon to expire patent on Prozac, but the fact that Prozac accounted for as much as 30% of total revenue was the reality Eli Lilly now faced. (Pearce & Robinson, 34-1)
The web and the Internet as we know it today had experienced a vast trend of changes. In the early days of web technologies, the Internet was only comprised of simple web pages that displayed information, most of which were from scientific writings. As technologies become more mature, web sites were now able to display dynamic content, as well as to provide interactive elements on their web pages. However, there were no definite standards on how web technologies should be implemented, and thus the implementation of such advanced web technology features become quite difficult. The introduction of web frameworks promised to streamline the implementation of a vast set of features and to stimulate more productive web development practices.
Having a website is a necessity nowadays, especially for people who are in business. Having a website helps promote your company’s services, for consumers to view and research your products easily, and also because internet is universal, people worldwide could purchase your products. Aside from business purposes, a website could also be built for personal use. If you’re into blogging, you can have your own site to express everything you want or feel; a website could also be used to inform people. Due to technology’s fast evolution, creating a website is now a very simple task even for those who have no background in web designing, all you need is a working computer and an internet connection and you’re ready to create your very own site!
Multimedia has changed the face of Web Design. In the past a developer would only have had limited possibilities to work with when it came to creative design. Multimedia changed all of this and brought all the aspects of good design and interactive design, to the developer’s desk.