Anyone else annoyed by Vraylar rollercoaster commercial?

Gabyunbound · Jan 18, 2020, 10:09 AM

By now, most of you have probably seen the Vraylar rollercoaster ride BP treatment commercial. It infuriates me.

It's bad enough that we get pegged, by the uninformed, of being just that: people who switch moods from one moment to the next, without it being blasted on national TV. In my opinion, it furthers stereotypes, and muddies the waters even more when it comes to diagnosis, which is hard enough.

Anyone else annoyed by this commercial?

Nammu · Jan 18, 2020, 12:34 PM

I hate all the commercials they all target women. And they all make it sound like the drugs are a miracle cure, that you don't need coping skills or anything else just pop a pill.

Jester's Rags · Jan 18, 2020, 12:40 PM

Nammu , you’re right about them all being geared towards women. I’m a guy and I WANT MY FAIR SHARE OF REPRESENTATION!!

Anyone else annoyed by Vraylar rollercoaster commercial?

. Actually, the ads run me the wrong way because of this too.

Perhaps it’s because women are more likely to seek treatment??

Nammu · Jan 18, 2020, 01:01 PM

I think it goes back to the stigma of hysteria, a WOman is more apt to be emotional and more apt to be treated for being emotional whereas guys get angry and if there's intervention it's usually jail. The ads are so insulting on so many levels

bpcyclist · Jan 18, 2020, 02:51 PM

Vraylar is ****. The drug companies are evil.

Jan 18, 2020, 05:11 PM

I see everyone's point, but what gets me most is that the full price (not copay price) in the US is over $1,000 for a 30-day supply, at most places. My big beef is that. I asked my pharmacist if Latuda (also $1,000 per 30-day) is some special salt from dried perspiration from the balls of an endangered monkey species.

$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$

Jan 18, 2020, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I see everyone's point, but what gets me most is that the full price (not copay price) in the US is over $1,000 for a 30-day supply, at most places. My big beef is that. I asked my pharmacist if Latuda (also $1,000 per 30-day) is some special salt from dried perspiration from the balls of an endangered monkey species.

$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$,$$$$

This is why the UK, Canada, and other countries have banned pharmaceutical companies from pulling this sort of sh_t.

Admittedly, I don't know how to fix our current healthcare problems because it's complicated and it's easy to make things worse, but this is something that should have been handled eons ago. It's not hard to stop these companies from doing it. We just don't want to do it. After all, politicians have to get paid somehow.

08:51 PM

This article explains why US citizens pay so much more for pharmaceuticals than those in other countries. It also gives some ideas for what US citizens, from home, could do.

US Drug Prices vs The World

Daonnachd · Jan 18, 2020, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

This article explains why US citizens pay so much more for pharmaceuticals than those in other countries.

US Drug Prices vs The World

Thanks for the link to that article. I just posted it to my fb page. I hope I can prompt a lot more people to read it and think about the strategies discussed for lowering US pricing.

Pookyl · Jan 18, 2020, 08:20 PM

I’m thankful that we get very little advertising in Australia.

Jan 18, 2020, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daonnachd

Thanks for the link to that article. I just posted it to my fb page. I hope I can prompt a lot more people to read it and think about the strategies discussed for lowering US pricing.

Thanks, Daonnachd!

I'm going to try to take at least one of the suggestions. In the past, I have written to my congressman and senators about this and other topics. I know that is good, but they are already sold on many to all of the suggestions. It makes even more difference when people voice such desires to their's who aren't. Or vote accordingly.

09:21 PM

Gabyunbound, I am sorry if this conversation has shifted to a slightly different direction. And yet it hasn't, entirely, in my view.

We all know that marketing strategies are mostly only focused on increasing sales. Big Pharma isn't so concerned about proper representation, teaching against stigma, or any other really noble cause, as they are about hanging a carrot in front of people (patients and doctors). That is unless doing the former helps sales. I used to work for a major pharmaceutical company. One that even offers AAPs. They contribute to good non profits, like NAMI. Yeah, it makes the company feel a bit good to do so. It also makes them look good. That also helps increase sales.

Don't get me wrong. I like capitalism...that's not too out of control. I worked in sales and marketing at a company, writing much of their print and online marketing content.

~Christina · Jan 18, 2020, 10:20 PM

The ridiculous prices have me furious

Not a psych Med but my rheumatologist wants me to try Xeljanz for PsA .. cash cost over 4,000.00 a month !! What in the holy hell ?!!

Yes they have financial assistance programs if my insurance refuses.

I also hate that the psych Med commercials are always showing a woman being depressed or manic. Please have one with some dude scrubbing his bathroom floor with a toothbrush and 8 bags of chips because he can’t stop eating. I want to see THAT !

But it is true women statistically do seek out help much sooner than men will, also a woman is more likely to talk about the medication if there spouse, bf,friend has signs of MI

cashart10 · Jan 18, 2020, 10:59 PM

Yes. It makes me mad! Poor representation undoubtedly!

sarahsweets · Jan 19, 2020, 07:01 AM

I HATE the vryalar commericials! Everytime I see one it gets me all fired up and my husband laughs when one comes on because I am quite comical when I am all fired up. The one where she is shopping all night and buys a ton of cameras and then the camera pans out and she is on a house of cards... then a few days later she is surrounded by packages and there's multiple cameras and equipment surrounding her... another one where she is outside yelling at someone and then inside scrounging through papers crying... AND in that one presumably when she is on vryalar her mom his helping her clean up the mess.. another CAMERA! Wtf is it with bipolar and cameras?!
These ads are sexist and exaggerating. They demean mental illnesses like bipolar. They perpetuate the myth that bipolar is exclusively a women's problem-one that makes us irrational and wacky and the "typical" hysterical woman. It takes a piece of what bipolar is and makes it look nutty. It takes a piece of what mania is and makes it the defining piece of bipolar. There is no depiction of hypomania or the irritation and depression that makes you stay in bed all day with the curtains closed. There are no men in these commercials. I'm surprised they havent made a commercial with a women who sleeps around or gambles her life away-further perpetuating yet another myth about women being sl**s- since they are so interested in what they think mania is. The risk taking behaviors of bipolar when you read about it highlight sex, shopping, sleeplessness, etc. But if the people who market this crap would ever read beyond page one of a google search they would actually be able to possibly understand bipolar beyond those stereotypes and be more sensitive and show more compassion. I tell you, I dont care if this medication would completely heal everything in one dose- I refuse to even consider it after seeing these ads. SEE? All fired up!

FluffyDinosaur · Jan 19, 2020, 02:59 PM

I haven't had a TV subscription in years, so thankfully I don't see any ads. I do have netflix, and even without ads I get annoyed with the stereotypes in movies, series, jokes by comedians, etc. For some reason a lot of them seem to link bipolar to homicidal maniacs and the like. Another thing I regularly see is "psychotic" being confused with "psychopathic." Also, anxiety is made into a horrible caricature where it seems like all people who suffer from anxiety are weak and incapable of keeping their own life together. There's plenty more and it annoys me to no end. This public perception is one of the reasons why I keep my issues to myself, as hard as that often is.

bpcyclist · Jan 19, 2020, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina

The ridiculous prices have me furious

Not a psych Med but my rheumatologist wants me to try Xeljanz for PsA .. cash cost over 4,000.00 a month !! What in the holy hell ?!!

Yes they have financial assistance programs if my insurance refuses.

I also hate that the psych Med commercials are always showing a woman being depressed or manic. Please have one with some dude scrubbing his bathroom floor with a toothbrush and 8 bags of chips because he can’t stop eating. I want to see THAT !

But it is true women statistically do seek out help much sooner than men will, also a woman is more likely to talk about the medication if there spouse, bf,friend has signs of MI

Yeah, this is absolutely insulting to men, as well. Who is representing my experience in these ads?

Moose72 · Jan 19, 2020, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

I haven't had a TV subscription in years, so thankfully I don't see any ads. I do have netflix, and even without ads I get annoyed with the stereotypes in movies, series, jokes by comedians, etc. For some reason a lot of them seem to link bipolar to homicidal maniacs and the like. Another thing I regularly see is "psychotic" being confused with "psychopathic." Also, anxiety is made into a horrible caricature where it seems like all people who suffer from anxiety are weak and incapable of keeping their own life together. There's plenty more and it annoys me to no end. This public perception is one of the reasons why I keep my issues to myself, as hard as that often is.

Yes! Mixing up psychopathic and psychotic!!

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