Lancaster Online: We need reforms to halt deceptive legal ads targeting prescription drugs

By Jennifer Riley, Patients Come First Pennsylvania’s Executive Director

I recently saw a lawsuit advertisement warning about a prescription drug I’ve taken for years. It used alarming terms such as “medical alert” and “health warning,” making me second-guess my treatment. I spoke with my doctor, but what about the people who don’t?

Americans are bombarded with these ads, and studies show their dangerous impact. A 2019 survey found that over half of respondents would “definitely” or “probably” stop taking their medication after seeing a lawsuit ad.

In 2014, millions were spent on legal ads targeting Xarelto, a common blood thinner. The Food and Drug Administration later confirmed at least 31 cases in which patients stopped taking the drug out of fear. Some suffered serious harm or died as a result.

The American Medical Association warns that these ads can undermine medical advice and lead to dangerous decisions. AARP has cautioned older adults to be wary of misleading legal messages. Some states have begun regulating these campaigns, but more action is needed.

Read the full LTE in Lancaster Online here.