Prescription medications are expensive, and many doctors seem to become “prescription-happy.” These doctors’ first response to a patient complaint is usually to prescribe something new if something doesn’t work the first time. Even if you’re just taking one or two medications, you could be paying more than you need if you are taking brand name drugs, instead of generics.

According to a recent study, led by Dr. Aaron Kesselheim of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, this is particularly true when it comes to medications prescribed for the treatment of heart and cardiovascular conditions. According to the researchers, there is no evidence to suggest that brand name drugs work any better than their generic counterparts.

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For over a decade, pharmacists have been advertising their products directly to consumers. There are laws that require drug ads to have proper disclaimers about the risks of their products within the ad; not many are complying with these rules.

There are attempts being made to extend the six-month moratorium to two years. The purpose of the six-month waiting period is to allow some time for physicians to become familiar with the new drugs. Many pharmaceutical companies do not abide by this rule because of the fear of falling behind in competition. You may notice that there are usually multiple ads for different drugs that promise the same thing.

In result to incompliance with the moratorium and placing improper disclaimers in ads and on the drugs themselves have put people’s lives at risk. Representative Bart Stupak of Michigan is one of the individuals concerned about misleading drug ads. It gets a little more personal for him because of what recently happened with his 83-year-old father. Stupak’s father was diagnosed with having low red blood cell counts. He later saw a Procrit drug ad on television that targeted elders with anemia, proclaiming to help liven them up (those with anemia tend to feel tired all of the time) – ads even showed before and after results of seniors who use the drug – dramatized of course.

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With all the controversy over statin drugs recently, you might be on the search for a healthy, over-the-counter alternative. A few recent studies have found a common chinese supplement could help dramatically reduce cholesterol.

The Merits of Red Yeast Rice

A Chinese supplement, red yeast rice, is a natural remedy for lowering cholesterol and preventing heart attacks. Studies have showed that 5,000 Chinese heart attack patients who were taking red yeast rice pills cut their risk of getting another heart attack by nearly 50%. They also reduced their chances of needing heart procedures like bypass surgery or angioplasty. Chances of dying from cancer were also reduced by two-thirds.

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In Spanish, the word for commercial is propaganda. But these drug commercials are pure comedy. Hold on to your health plan. Who knows when you might need a good hit of…

1. Zoloft

Originally introduced into the market as sertraline, this SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) is a popular anti-depressant. The drug hit a bit of a row in recent history largely because new research suggests that SSRIs have little to no effect on clinical depression, despite the high rates of use among those with health insurance.

2. Enzyte

This herbal alternative to prescription virility medication claims to promote “natural male enhancement,” but its founder Steve Warshak and, yes, his mother Harriet were found guilty of mail fraud and money laundering. Case closed on this wonder tablet. For those of you who bemoan the loss of this herbal super-drug, rumor has it that ginger works wonders.

3. Rozerem

The days of counting sheep are over. And Rozerem has captured the attention of its target audience with advertisements featuring Abraham Lincoln and — yes, you read this right — a talking beaver. Maybe the VP of marketing is from Oregon?

4. Celebrex

From rectal polyps to rheumatoid arthritis — is there anything this drug won’t do? The journey to our neighborhood pharmacy was long and arduous. Celebrex was originally developed by G.D. Searle, promoted by Monsanto, then Pfizer; after that, Monsanto merged with Pharmacia, whose medical research division was acquired by Pfizer. Celebrex is now in Pfizer’s hands, and with it a potential litany of controversial claims arising from its potential heart attack risks (but don’t worry, unless you’re a Celebrex pill popper, your heart should be a healthy ticker).