Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8368

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Guerard C.
Impact of advertising and its regulation: Federal Trade Commission perspective
Drug Information Journal 1985; 19:(2):163-172

Abstract:

The regulation of advertising for OTC drugs that have been recently switched from prescription status is discussed. The FDA regulates prescription drugs under a detailed set of regulations, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates OTC advertising by several policy guidelines and numerous adjudicated cases. The major objectives of FTC regulation are to encourage truthful advertising and ensure that advertisers disclose health risks and other limitations to avoid deceiving consumers. It is concluded that these principles and guidelines should certainly be applicable, if not controlling, to regulation of the advertising of drugs recently switched from Rx to OTC status.