'Deafening' Displays of Pharmaceutical Ads on TV! Quiz

Answer: Using the highest allowed audio level throughout the entire ad.

The FCC does not adjust the volume of programs or commercials, but TV stations are limited as to the peak power they can use for their audio signals. In other words, the loudest TV commercial can never be louder than the loudest part a TV program. TV show use audio levels to create more drama for the viewer, whereas an advertiser wants to grab the viewer's attention by using only the highest level. That's what makes the commercial 'seem' louder.

Answer: A qualified physician

Only qualified professionals are allowed to prescribe pharmaceutical drugs. A visit to your doctor and thorough examination will determine if any drugs are needed.

Answer: True

A 2009 survey by "The Internet Journal of Academic Physician Assistants" has shown that it's not uncommon for patients to ask for prescription medications using the brand name. Pharmaceutical companies market their products with the needs and desires of consumers in mind, and do have a clear influence on consumers' prescription habits.

Answer: New Zealand

As of 2009, only two countries have been advertising directly to consumers on TV: New Zealand since 1981, and the United States since 1997.

Answer: Antibiotics

One of the main reasons for this? Antibiotics are prescribed for only a short period of time. A drug which is approved for treatment of chronic or long term condition and has a large potential market is much more likely to be advertised directly to the consumers. Newly FDA approved drugs are more likely to be advertised to familiarize consumers with its potential benefits.

Answer: The patent on the original drug has expired, resulting in increased competition.

The quality of all prescription drugs depends on the manufacturer AND the FDA, whose regulations apply to both brand-name and generic drug companies. Both are held to the same standards as to manufacturing environment, quality, purity, and the content of any drug. Therefore, the difference in price is based on something other than the ingredients or manufacturing. Generic drugs cannot be manufactured until the original patent has expired, therefore it does not incur advertising costs. Furthermore, there is now competition amongst drug companies to create a less expensive brand.

Answer: True

A large number of consumers are searching for ways to have more control over their health care by discussing treatments with their physicians, and even through their own research. The pharmaceutical market understands this need, and their advertising encourages consumers to discuss their products with their physicians.

Answer: Patented medications

Once a medication is protected by a patent, there's no need for marketing competition from other drug companies. Without competition, the original manufacturer can set the price for their patented drugs.

Answer: Generic versions become available after a patent expires.

In the U.S., pharmaceutical patent protection laws give manufacturers the exclusive right to sell their product for up to 20 years from the date of the patent filing. Only after the patent expires can the drug be manufactured by any number of manufacturers in generic versions, which in turn lowers the cost for consumers as the manufacturers compete for the highest number of sales.

Answer: That the side effects are not as important as the benefits.

Pharmaceutical ads nearly all follow the same format. They start with beneficial information in the first half of the commercial, potential side effects listed very quickly just past the middle, and then benefit information again at the end.
It's common knowledge to advertisers that a person given a long list of things will more likely to remember items from the very beginning and the very end of that list. For example, given a list of 20 colors, chances are you'll forget the middle ones and remember some from the beginning and more from the end of the list.