The ads/promotions I have chosen to discuss are 2nd generation over the counter non-sedating antihistamines for the relief of seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is broken down into two types, seasonal or perennial. Seasonal allergic rhinitis occur in spring, summer and/or early fall due to increased levels of pollen from trees, grasses, or weeds, and or growth of mold spores. Perennial allergic rhinitis causes year-round symptoms with the culprit generally being sensitivity to dust mites in the home, animal dander from household pets, and cockroaches and/or mold spores found within the home or office. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), Allergic Rhinitis affects up to 50 million Americans each year in the United States, which corresponds to almost 30% of the adult population and 40% of children (ACAAI, 2014). Another study published in 2013 in the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology found that 75 percent of asthmatic between the ages of 20- to 40-years-old, and 65 percent of asthmatic adults aged 55 years and older, have at least one allergy as well (ACAAI, 2013). This represents a tremendous target population consisting of a large portion of the U.S population having a need for an antihistamine at some point for themselves, or their child. 1st generation antihistamines include drugs like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Chlor-trimeton (chlorpheniramine), and Tavist (clemastine). Many of these are readily available over the counter and are fairly inexpensive. Major marketing campaigns have been launched for the second-generation antihistamines like Claritin (loratidine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and Allegra (fexofenadine) because they...
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... on You Tube, will others follow?, Retrieved on March 30th, from website: http://www.pharmaspective.com/2011/11/zyrtec-went-viral-on-youtube-will-others-follow.html
World Allergy Organization (WAO). White book on allergy. Milwaukee (WI): World Allergy Organization; 2011;Available at: http://www.worldallergy.org/UserFiles/file/WAO-White-Book-on-Allergy_web.pdf
Yankelovich, Daniel and Meer, David (2006), “Rediscovering Market Segmentation, Harvard Business Review Online
Zyrtec website (2014) Retrieved on March 25th from website: http://www.zyrtec.com/
Zyrtec Facebook Page (2014) Retrieved on March 25th from website: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ZYRTEC
Zyrtec You Tube Ad (2009) Retrieved on March 25th from website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trzJ3Y-i5-Q
Zyrtec You Tube Ad (2011) Retrieved on March 25th from website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq3W6TvCB74
Lyles, Adam. “Direct Marketing of Pharmaceuticals to Consumers.” Annual Review of Public Health, volume 23. 2002. Print.
First, when viewing DTC prescription drug ads, the public cannot understand the wording used to describe the drugs. Because of this, the producers of these ads are able to manipulate the drug’s effects to sway people into buying them. According to the article, 74% of surveyed doctors believe that the benefits expressed in prescription drug ads are embellished (paragraph 5). This inaccurate information causes patients to be misinformed as to the effects of the drug. Opposingly, 48% of doctors state that these ads inform and educate patients about DTC prescription drugs (paragraph 6). The percentages
Peanuts are one of the most prevalent food allergens worldwide, and it has become a nemesis for many in recent years. Peanut allergies have been known to be life threatening, but only a few sufferers react with such extreme severity when exposed to peanuts. While peanut allergies have long-existed, it seems like it was very rarely heard of prior to the 1980s. In the last decade, peanut allergies have become the focus of media attention and controversy. However, the media is not as accurate as the public understands it to be. The sensationalized media reports, especially those publicized in the United States, on the subject of peanut allergy led to unnecessary public concern that created a larger spectacle of the issue than it is supposed to be.
Stoppler, Melissa C., and William C. Shiel. "Food Allergy." Medicinenet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
True food allergies are rare. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) estimates that only 2% of the adult population of the United States is allergic to foods. Further, only eight foods cause 90% of all food allergic reactions. They are milk, egg, wheat, peanut, soy, tree nuts, fish and shellfish (Food Allergy Network). Many reactions to foods are really intolerance (reaction of the metabolism due to a chemical deficiency) rather than allergy (reaction of the immune system). Many infant allergies, which are later outgrown, are thought to be the result of immature immune systems. However, other allergies become stronger as the person ages and inadvertently becomes more exposed. One report on KCBS radio indicated there may be a link between mothers who ate peanuts during pregnancy and their children’s subsequent allergies.
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the new discovery in the cure of peanut allergies.
You have close relatives with allergy (that is, a mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or child)
a much bigger health challenge than once thought. Roughly one in twenty-five Americans are now believed to be affected by one or more food allergies." (Gordon 11) Further statistics online reveal
Allergies are hypersensitive immune responses to substances that either enter or come in contact with the body. In layman's terms allergies are, a food or natural substance. These include pollen, ragweed, peanuts, shellfish and pet dander are recognized by the immune system as a threat.
Kaphingst, K. A. (2004). A Content Analysis of Direct-to-ConsumerTelevision Prescription Drug Advertisements. Journal of Health Communication,Volume 9: , 515–528,.
Drug advertising for prescription medications comes in many forms including ads in magazines or newspaper, TV commercials, radio broadcasts, brochures, etc. It was in the mid 80s when drug companies started to direct information on prescription drugs to consumers instead of only focusing information on the physicians or pharmacists (FDA, 2012). The change seen in prescription drug promotion towards the public is known as direct-to-consumer advertising. This type of advertising is completely directed to a general audience rather than healthcare providers.
The major issue with the direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertisement is premature advertisement of new drugs: Pharmaceutical companies rush into selling and advertising products
Prescription drug advertising is a normal part of living in the United States. Considering what people can learn through advertising in society is almost unreal. The US population have encountered drug advertisements dating back to the early 1900’s. From heroin to aspirin and everything in between were at once listed to be advertised. Fast forward to today, and pharmaceutical companies continue to use high amounts of prescription drugs advertisements. People right now are seeing the effects that these advertisements have in negative ways, but also at the same time creating benefits in society.
Human race is known to have developed numerous allergies to various known and unknown allergens. An extreme allergic reaction which can be “life-threatening”. (Mydr.com.au, 2014) is referred to as Anaphylaxis.It is a “medical emergency”(Lloyd & Sisman,2013).Statistics indicate that maximum deaths occur due to allergic reactions of various medicines. The other causative agents can be insects, food, latex, hair dye, etc(Lloyd & Sisman,2013). The most common trigger to stimulate anaphylaxis among children are food products such as peanuts, dairy, seafood etc. Exposure to any of these allergens can result in severe anaphylactic attack within 20 minutes.(Australian Resuscitation council, 2012).However the doctors discuss the history of symptoms occurring in children suffering with peanut allergy before declaring them to be anaphylactic and prescribing medication. (Unknown, 2014). Symptoms of anaphylaxis may occur in varied forms depending upon the severty of the reaction. For instance in mild cases swelling of lips, eyes or face occurs along with hives, rash, tingling of mouth and vomitting accompanied with abdominal pain. Nevertheless in extreme conditions the former symptoms may be accompanied with noisy breathing, wheezing, hoarseness and unconsciousness. (Lloyd & Sisman,2013).
Allergies are especially unique in the medical field because they differ among patients. An allergy is a specific immunologic reaction to a normally harmless substance, one that does not bother most people. People with allergies are often sensitive to many substances. Common allergens that cause allergic reactions include seasonal, outdoor allergens like tree, grass, and weed pollen, and year-round indoor allergens including dust particles, animal dander, and indoor mold. Most people usually can be cured by various treatments.