Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6745

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Gray S.
Advertisements for donepezil (Aricept) in the BMJ: Advertisement suggests an unrealistic improvement in mental status
BMJ 1997 May 24; 314:1555
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/314/7093/1555

Abstract:

The author expresses anger and concern regarding an advertisement for donazepil (Aricept) forming part of the wrapper for the current edition of the British Medical Journal. While accepting the need for the Journal to accept drug advertisements, the writer finds the wrapper advertisement intrusive (no doubt making it a successful marketing ploy) and expresses the hope that the Journal will not continue this as a general policy. The content of the advertisement, implying that the drug will improve the patient’s mental state sufficiently to have a positive impact on the carer’s mood, is criticised. The only randomised control study (cited) shows no such effect.

Keywords:
*letter to the editor/United Kingdom/ Advertising* Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy* Cholinesterase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* Humans Indans/therapeutic use* Piperidines/therapeutic use*