Frankly (and maybe it's different in Canada), but I feel like people will have better health outcomes if they are aware of the options and consult, work with, and even challenge if need be, their GP.
GPs (or Primary Care Physicians, PCPs in the U.S.) share some goals with their patients, but many goals are not shared:
* Spending less money / good drug success / less side effects vs. using only tests/drugs they GP is comfortable with * Avoiding lawsuits vs. candid discussion * Taking time to research medical hypotheses vs. needing to get to the next patient
Come to think of it, if one is willing to invest the time, have an inquisitive mind, and demand a partnership relationship with most service providers, perhaps that person will generally have better outcomes in many areas (home repairs, dental, car service, etc.).
[1] http://theconversation.com/drug-ads-leave-canadians-in-the-d...
But not Oxycontin.
Does that make a difference when it comes to advertising? If I recall correctly it was like 2 or maybe 5 mg of codeine which is a very small amount. Any dose over that needed a prescription so I wouldn't be surprised if Tylenol was considered just an OTC drug but knowing there is codeine in it made me unsure.
As far as I know the rule for ads is 'non prescription', beyond that it's hard.
I don't recall seeing an ad for a prescription drug in Canada in the last decade, though they might exist in some form.
We get American TV and those ads seem quite ridiculous, what with the senior citizens dancing away, and the narrator iterating through a huge list of symptoms, then listing off 30 or 40 side effects as fast as he can, as if people are remotely capable of understanding.
My family works in the drug industry, I should say one thing that people don't want to hear: a lot of doctors are lazy. Just because they're doctors, does not mean that they keep up in any way with current issues, trends. The level of power they have, and the relative lack of ongoing certification is ridiculous. Once they get their ticket, it's a golden ride for the rest of their lives if they want.
Many people complain about the 'free lunch' doctor's visits by the sales reps, but I don't see it as such a bad thing. It's intense and important information, I have no problem with Doctors getting a 'free ham sandwich' to entice them to go through the data on the latest trials.
Obviously, there are shenanigans there, misrepresentation, competitive issues, pricing etc. etc. - but frankly a 'highly moral sales/communication force' actually I think does add value - they get doctors to pay attention to the specific issues. Obviously, there are probably better alternatives ... but again, Doctor's guilds are very powerful and archaic, nobody can tell them what to do.
I remember being shocked when I first moved there that you could get even a small amount of codeine over the counter. That would never fly in the US for precisely the reason you gave for them finally pulling it from the market - people here would buy the crap out of it to get "high" even though at those small doses you'd have to eat a LOT of them to feel a real effect. I can't imagine the stomach problems people would have taking that much of an analgesic.