Introduction-
2
In
1998, OTC advertising increased the overall number of physician visits
by two percent, with large increases in visits associated with conditions
promoted by current marketing campaigns. For example, visits for smoking
cessation increased by 200 percent during marketing for Zyban
a; visits for impotence increased
by 100 percent because of Viagra 13
b;
and visits for hair growth increased by 80 percent due to Propecia®
c
Similar trends were noted for osteoporosis, high cholesterol, depression
and seasonal allergies.1
