Flomax Helps Men to Urinate - But Not To See the Bowl

Flomax finally got the story it deserved in Roni Caryn Rabin's New York Times article "Cataract Surgery Complications Are Linked to a Urinary Drug" at page A17, May 20, 2009.

This drug seemed to be promoted on every television channel by its manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., showing men on bikes having to stop to urinate. But the ads, like many direct-to-patient advertisements, did not tell the whole story. Although the ads mentioned that men should tell their ophthalmologists about their use of the drug if they were considering cataract surgery, the ads did not clearly say that the price of using Flomax - one of many drugs for prostatic enlargement caused slowing of the urinary stream - was a major complication risk, called the "floppy iris syndrome." According to a study cited in the Times article, about 7.5% of the patient taking Flomax before surgery had a serious postoperative complication.

My observation is that direct to consumer pharmaceutical advertising demonstrates pharmaceutical industry contempt for patients. The ads provide inadequate information, often leaving out important facts, and work to undercut trained medical professional expertise in critically determining what is best for the patient and engaging in a direct discussion between the prescriber and patient. The drug companies don't want the patient to ask for their drug, they are promoting the patient's demand for the drug and their own profits.

For those men with the floppy iris syndrome who can now urinate, but have difficulty seeing, perhaps Boehringer Ingelheim can provide a big new improved target in your toilet bowl. Will they feature that in their new ads?

Labels: Flomax, Floppy Iris Syndromee, Prostate, Urinate