Miscellaneous Musings by FunGirlDi

Drugs – Drugs – DRUGS!!!

I’ve been waltzing around my house lately with a tune in my brain that I picked up from one of the many drug commercials that air constantly on TV.

“I’ve got Type 2 diabetes, but I manage it well.

It’s a little pill with a big story to tell.

I take once-daily Jardiance at each day’s start.

As time went on, it was easy to see, I’m lowering my A1c. Jardiance is really swell, The little pill with a big story to tell.”

I’m getting worried that this earworm has taken a permanent residence and I wish I never heard the commercial.

For the past several months, I started to keep a list of all the drugs I have seen or heard on the radio, magazines, online or on TV. When I think I’ve got them all, I am surprised as I see another commercial touting the introduction of yet another new drug with a name I struggle to even pronounce.

Here is the list of all these drugs: Abrysvo, Alyglo , Amtagvi, Apretude, Arexvy , Astepro, Aurlumyn , Austedo XR, Avzivi, Axonics, Biktarvy, Breztri, Cabenuva, Calquence, Camzyos, Caplyta, Casgevy, Cosentyx , Darzalex Faspro, Descovy, Dovato, Dupixent, Enbrel, Entresto , Entyvio , Eohilia , Evenity, Farxiga, Fasenra , Fulsuvez , Gardisil 9, Ingrezza, Iwilfin, Jardian, Kerendia, Kesimpta, Keytruda, Leqvio, Linzess, Lucira, Lybalvi, Lyfgenia, Mavyret, Mounjaro, Nervive , Nexgard plus, Nurtec ODT, Ocrevus, OmegaXL, Opdivo , Opzelura, Otezla, Ozempic, Paxlovid, PreserVision, Prevnar20, Prolia , Qdulypta, Opill, Qulipta, Qutenza, Rebif , Rinvoq, Rybelsus, Sandlot flu vaccine, Shingrix, Skyrizi, Sotyktu, Sparvato, Stelara, Tepezza, Tezspire , Trelegy, Tremfya, Trintellix, Trodelvy, Tyrvaya, Ubrelvy, Ultomiris , Uquora, Vabysmo, Velsipity, Veozah, Verzenio , Vraylar, Vyepti, Vyvgart, Wainua, Wegovy, Xeljanz, Xiidra, Yervoy , Zelsuvmi , Zepbound, Zeposia, You may think what I thought when I first started noticing them. The names look like someone is speaking (or writing) in a foreign language. I’m sure many of them come from Latin root words.

These drugs come with more warnings than you could ever make up. If you dare to try one of these, the warnings come short of you may grow an arm out of your forehead and worse if you are shorter than five feet, a smoker and consume more than 12 carbonated beverages per 24hour period for the previous 18 months. They all end with “Ask your doctor to prescribe this for you,” I always think, “With all these possible side effects, why would you?”

At the recent State of the Union, President Biden mentioned the high cost of drugs in this country. Could there be any correlation between the cost of drugs and of all this advertising and marketing? My money is on a hearty ‘YES!’

I recently was in the market for new health insurance. The Cobra plan I was on was charging $827.40 per month, which came fully equipped with a $2,500 yearly deductible plus drug copays. As a relatively healthy person, last year I spent about $2,000 out of pocket toward my deductible and my expensive insurance plan didn’t kick in at all!

On a recent trip to the Twin Cities, I noticed there are new buildings being erected everywhere to house new healthcare specialty clinics and Urgent Care facilities. I guess I know where all the money went that I and others paid for unused insurance plans.

Healthcare has turned into big or rather HUGE business. No longer can doctors make the big salaries they used to and I’m afraid that when the word gets out, there will not be very many young people wanting to spend years and years in college, medical school, internships and residencies. They end up with hundreds of thousands of student loan debt and then once become doctors, are held at limits as to what they can earn because top management requires multi-million-dollar salaries and perks. What are we going to do when there is a shortage of doctors?

I tried to call one of my doctor’s offices earlier this week. I ran into a phone answering system that gave me nine choices of where to direct my call. I selected number seven then waited on hold and had to listen to annoying music that I’m sure was put in place so whoever calls would hang up. I gave up waiting after 12 minutes and did exactly what I think they intended - I hung up without an answer. I’m sure I’ll hear from them as I was going to make a payment.

Ever since Covid, so many are scared to contract any sickness and are programmed to get every vaccination that comes on the market. If the word would get out again that the human body was designed to naturally build up immunities to diseases, the lines for vaccines would dry up and pharmaceutical companies would need to cancel their order for their 15th Gulfstream jet to add to their fleet. The human body is an amazing machine, and our immune system can blow away any drug that comes accompanied with more warnings than a cat lady has cats.

I am not trying to undermine those who have compromised immune systems, chronic illnesses or debilitating diseases and have to manage their healthcare stringently. They have to handle their bodies in accordance with their healthcare team and their recommendations. I, however, can’t be alone in my thoughts of what I see.

These drug commercials that run day and night, have got to have had some negative effects. The United States and New Zealand are the only countries in the world that allow direct to consumer prescription drug advertising.

In 1996, $550 million was spent by pharmaceutical companies on drug ads. That number had increased more than 10-fold by 2020, reaching $6.6 billion annually and since it is now 2024, that number has had to skyrocket. Also, there are concerns that have arisen regarding expensive branded medications prescribed rather than generic options.

Consumers are more likely to ask their doctor for pharmaceutical treatments rather than live a healthy lifestyle by changing behaviors and I think drug companies are more than aware of this phenomenon.

Concern has risen that inappropriate drug prescribing is now an issue because patients ask for unnecessary drugs they have seen in advertisements. When we hear these commercials, we may fall victim to the power of suggestion and talk oneself into an ailment.

Evidently, House and Senate members have taken notice as well about the influx of drug advertising and have launched at least nine bills aimed at pharmacy benefit managers and companies that channel prescription drugs to patients.

On the other hand, the commercials may do a bit of good to educate consumers about possible treatment options about illnesses or diseases. Education is key in taking certain medications and those facts are reiterated to never stop or start a drug without consulting with a medical professional.

This year during the Super Bowl, Pfizer placed an expensive ad at a price tag of an estimated $14 million for their 60 second spot. It was the first time the company had advertised during the big game. That is a lot of healthcare dollars spent when many football fans probably missed it when they ran to the bathroom to rid themselves of that third Bud Lite.

I have been blessed to be relatively healthy and have gone the route of more natural supplements and food rather than rely on additional pharmaceuticals. I have not gone off the deep end either, as I still see a medical doctor regularly for a drug to regulate my blood pressure. I am not dead set against drugs, as they are necessary to treat some medical conditions.

We were taught as youngsters that everything in moderation was the way to go through life. Balance and common sense were two of the most important tools to have along with us for the ride. I have gotten concerned over the flood of drugs seemingly shoved in my direction no matter what I tune in to watch.

I am happy to report that I don’t have Type 2 diabetes that I manage well, even though I have been singing about it daily for the past few weeks. I guess I am like Jardiance in a way, as here I just proved I had a big story to tell!