“How the FDA could make prescription drug ads less annoying”

“The FDA's own hypothesis is that drugmakers could provide more limited risk information and warn consumers that there may be additional risks they should look into. The FDA thinks that compared to the current requirements, this "will promote improved consumer perception and understanding of serious and actionable drug risks."

The Washington trade association representing drugmakers, in public comments to the FDA last year, said it shares the agency's belief that the lengthy list of side effects may be doing patients more harm than good. Eli Lilly & Co., whose erectile dysfunction drug Cialis was the most heavily advertised of 2014, gave the FDA credit for taking a "research-based approach" to this issue.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/26/how-the-fda-could-make-prescription-drug-ads-less-annoying/?wprss=rss_business

That’s a good point – it makes sense to say, like rationally, but is it actually having an impact? Have we actually thought about how the actual people are supposed to absorb and act on the information?