Ugh pharmaceutical sales

[TurboTSi]

@RedGoober4Life

I go to the doctor to pick up some forms I had. I’m waiting in a line of 5-7 people at the front desk.

So I scope out the people waiting. I notice a lady dressed nicely, hair done, little 5 star notebook thing and a big black bag. I said how terrific–a modern day prostitute.

And so she gets in line behind me, huffling and puffling. I said, “oh, are you in a hurry?”

and she said, “I can get to a few other offices today if I’m lucky!”

and I replied, “Oh. I always had this question. If the drug is a huge breakthrough and in the best interest of the patients wouldn’t the doctor read about it in journals?”

… “Yes, but sometimes there are new, minor drugs…”

I left it at that because she wasn’t very bright. If she was smart and could think about ethics in any capacity she wouldn’t have chosen to become a pharmaceutical salesperson. I guess it’s like any other company. However, if somebody gets a bad deal on a car they are out money. If somebody takes a drug that was never scientifically proven to work (FDA is horrid regarding this), and then it doesn’t work for them then you’re dealing with their life. Terrific.

Ah, but all is okay if the people that control the government are getting money.

Ummm… so what are you saying in this post?

I sell pharmaceuticals, and there is a lot of validity to the job that I do. The doctors are soooo damn busy now, especially with all the managed care bullshit they have to go through, they hardly have time to see patients, let alone read journals about every drug on the market.

I think she gave you a straight answer, I don’t think that answer was that dumb.

I come in and let the doctor know of my product, why it works, how it works, and what types of patients it should be considered for, as well as all the safety concerns around it. I feel good about promoting products that can help people live a better quality of life.

And the FDA regulates the shit out of the products coming to market. They have to be studied extensively, with years of studies and data to back up what the company claims the drug to do. There is also extensive postmarketing surveillance that looks for other Adverse Effects that couldn’t be compiled in a the time it takes for the initial studies to be done. If anything is out of the ordinary, it is pulled until further tests can be done.

Even though the big Vioxx thing and the heart problems related to the drug, soo many people swear by it and wish it was on the market because it worked so well for those patients.