Sure you need to throw in some dosage instructions, but with the astronomical costs of prescription drugs, why not put some advertising messages on the containers that tens of millions of people are seeing multiple times daily to help offset the cost.
From missing children pictures to AARP propaganda, there's hardly a better advertising medium for a large variety of messages.-- theircompetitor, Feb 09 2005 Giving out statins with hamburgers http://www.popsci.c...ins-researchers-say [theircompetitor, Aug 13 2010] "Adverse side effects? Call PoisTox at 636-555-DEAD"-- shapu, Feb 09 2005 "Thank you for purchasing Thorazine. We know who is out to get you. Call 1-900-PAR-ANOID to find out . . . $8.99 / minute"
It seems like it would quickly be used to capitalize on people's illnesses and 'weaknesses.' Gotta go [-].-- contracts, Feb 09 2005 contract -- I was thinking more in terms of metamusil advertising bran cereal.-- theircompetitor, Feb 09 2005 Please affirm -- you just woke up sweating with this idea?-- reensure, Feb 09 2005 Just because it's more effective advertising, doesn't mean I'll like it.... Or, I mean I hate pervasive advertising.
Also, one of my mantras in more effective communication is "Every word you add dilutes the words you have". So, by adding non-essential ads to the bottle will result in less people reading the necessary warning, instructions, etc.-- sophocles, Feb 09 2005 sophocles, are you entirely convinced that the warnings are necessary? Do you rely on McDonald's warning about the coffee?
As to advertising -- it's a pervasive method for sponsoring everything from your favorite magazine and newspaper to your favorite TV show.-- theircompetitor, Feb 10 2005 Why would you advertise some other product on your product packaging?-- waugsqueke, Feb 10 2005 [waugs], in the same way NBC advertises other products, so would the pill manufacturer. To make money and take advantage of an untapped channel
[UB] sure, again, as companies do routinely today.-- theircompetitor, Feb 10 2005 From the company's standpoint, the warnings are legally necessary.-- yabba do yabba dabba, Feb 10 2005 yes, [yabba], but that's a separate point. You can throw coupons in there, right? It's not a space issue.-- theircompetitor, Feb 10 2005 As much as I hate advertising, I think this is the most rational prescription drug cost-containing proposal put forth in the last five years.-- ato_de, Feb 10 2005 It's why [ato_de], sob, I'm here-- theircompetitor, Feb 10 2005 We're not talking about coffee cups. I do read the entire warnings on prescription meds before taking them. As I think you have good ideas in general, I advise you to do the same. So far, the warnings don't say stupid things like "do not poke this pill repeatedly into your open eye", but do say things like "can cause rapid heartbeat, dizzyness, etc..." which is quite relevant.-- sophocles, Feb 10 2005 sophocles, I agree -- as I pointed out earlier, it could even be a coupon inside the box. I don't think the "real estate" is a problem here.-- theircompetitor, Feb 10 2005 I'm always torn on advertising ideas. I think life is over-filled with advertising as it is, but then this idea would certainly make money and seems almost a no-brainer from a profit standpoint.
I'm imagining sample brand name condoms with Viagra subscriptions.-- Worldgineer, Feb 10 2005 Lovely, just what I need: A missing child on my Zoloft bottle and a global warming warning on my Xanax. Brilliant.-- Noexit, Feb 10 2005 First we have to solve the real problem of printing huge ads on tiny pill bottles.
Perhaps a rolled up piece of paper inside the bottle would be more effective. (And if you ask me, a large-print version of the warnings should also be in there.)-- phundug, Feb 10 2005 yep[phundug]-- theircompetitor, Feb 10 2005 random, halfbakery