I just saw a Plavix ad on TV. The scene was between a mother and her teenage daughter. The mother confided in the daughter that she had PAD – peripheral artery disease. The commercial continues with the daughter looking up what PAD was on a smart phone app and what medication is used to treat it. Of course, it was no great surprise to see that Plavix was the drug of choice. The daughter then continues to explain to the mother how Plavix works to alleviate her symptoms. And, as is the norm, the blurbs about side effects and seeing your physician are injected to include full disclosure and the physician in the decision process.

As I watched this commercial, I observed how the drug company was assuming that the health literacy of the general population was at a cognitive level to understand the pharmacology, symptomology and interactions associated with using this medication. Through the public’s eyes, the take home message about this ad was for the patient to believe that Plavix was the drug of choice in treating PAD. Mission accomplished for the drug company.

On another level, for a more unbiased approach to PAD’s prevalence and the population at risk, please see “http://www.health.am/vein/more/peripheral-arterial-disease-prevalence/”. In the summary of this article, it states, “Aspirin should be considered as the primary antiplatelet agent for preventing ischemic events in PAD. Aspirin is also effective in maintaining vascular graft patency and may prevent thrombotic complications of PAD. Clopidogrel has FDA approval for the prevention of ischemic events in PAD, and, although based on a subgroup analysis, clopidogrel may be more effective than aspirin in PAD patients.” In simple terms, clopidrogel (Plavix) was analyzed in a subgroup analysis and the conclusion was a healthy “maybe”. There are other less expensive antiplatelet drugs on the market that are as effective; however, based on certain physiological parameters may not be good choices. These parameters are best addressed by your physician.

My bottom line is to question drug ads on television and do your homework. Not everyone will have PAD as portrayed in the ad, and other popular medications interact with clopidrogel (Plavix) that can restrict its use.

Until next week, stay well.

Dion