Complain about a product or service

AMA Wants Moratorium on Consumer Ads for New Prescription Drugs

June 15, 2006

Drug Ads • New Trend In Drug Ads Gets Around FDA Rule • Consumers Union Weighs In On Drug Ads • FDA Panel Wants Closer Scrutiny of Drug Ads • AMA Calls For Tighter Drug Ad Oversight • Prescription Drug Ads Influence Patients, Poll Finds • AIDS Foundation Sues Pfizer Over Viagra Ads • AMA Wants Moratorium on Consumer Ads for New Prescription Drugs • Med School Profs Cauterize Drug Ads • Consumer Group Challenges AMA on Drug Ads • AMA Takes No Position On Direct-To-Consumer Drug Ads • Consumer Drug Ads May Influence Doctors' Rx Decisions • FDA Objects to Zyrtec Ads • FDA Panel Gives Vioxx a Yellow Light • Devilish Viagra Ads Pulled • Consumers Sue AstraZeneca Over Nexium Ad Campaign

The American Medical Association (AMA) is calling for a temporary moratorium on the advertising of newly approved drugs and guidelines for pharmaceutical companies to follow when preparing direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising.

"A temporary moratorium on DTC advertising of prescribed drugs and medical devices will benefit both the patient and physician," said AMA President-elect Ronald M. Davis, M.D. "Physicians will have the opportunity to become better educated on the pros and cons of prescription drug uses before prescribing them, and will be better able to determine when they are best suited for their patients' medical needs."

In addition to the moratorium on newly approved drugs (the time interval for this moratorium will be determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)), the AMA adopted additional guidelines for DTC ads, they:

• should provide objective information about drug benefits that reflect the true efficacy of the drug, as determined by clinical trials;

• should show fair balance between the benefits and risks of the advertised drugs by providing comparable time or space and cognitive accessibility, and by presenting warnings, precautions and potential adverse reactions in a clear and understandable way without distraction of content;

• should clearly indicate that the ad is for a prescription drug and refer patients to their physician for more information and appropriate treatment; and

• should be targeted for age-appropriate audiences; and

• should receive pre-approval from the FDA

The AMA also calls for additional research into the effects of DTC advertising on the patient-physician relationship, overall health outcomes and health care costs.

"The AMA will work with the pharmaceutical industry for universal acceptance of the guidelines so that physicians can help patients obtain appropriate medications," said Dr. Davis.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.