TV ads from lawyers warning about “bad drugs” could be putting lives at risk, according to the Cornell Chronicle. A new Cornell study found that when older adults see legal ads targeting blood thinners like Xarelto or Eliquis, they’re more likely to stop taking them — even if the drug helps prevent strokes.
Researcher Sylvia Hristakeva analyzed Medicare and ad spending data and found that even small increases in these ads led to fewer prescriptions and more hospitalizations. One estimate linked the ads to 3,400 extra hospital visits a year — costing at least $68 million.
Some states now require clearer disclaimers, and federal regulators are cracking down, but Hristakeva says public health campaigns may be key to countering the ads’ unintended effects.
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