Time Management
So, Sally Field has a friend who has to set aside time once a week just to take her osteoporosis pill. I figure that if her friend has trouble “setting aside” about 5 seconds once a week to take a pill, she might have bigger issues than just osteoporosis. Actually, maybe Sally Field has the bigger problem, if she feels that her friend can’t cope with a once-weekly pill.
Come on, Sally - don’t you know that people are mocking your commercial because of that ridiculous introduction?
UPDATE: well, it turns out that taking the non-Boniva pill once each week is more of a hassle than most people think…according to Oli in the comments, there’s more to it than simply swallowing a pill. Thanks Oli. But still…if Sally is getting so much flak for her commercial, maybe the maker of Boniva ought to re-tool the commercial so that people understand the situation better.
No kidding. I keep thinking, “Is there something very involved about taking osteoporosis pills that I don’t know about? Does it cause some sort of freakish, temporary side effects? Is it a really, really big pill? So big it needs to be cut into small pieces and swallowed one at a time? What IS the deal?!”
Actually there is some merit to that statement. That pill must be taken first thing in the morning, with a full glass of water only. You cannot eat, drink, take other medicines, or lie down for at least 30 minutes. Failure to do so may result in a hole in your esophagus and death. Believe it or not, some people have a real problem following that little ritual just once a week. Hence Sally Fields and her once a month formulation…
Oli, Rph
For those who don’t know Oli, he is a pharmacist, so he knows what he’s talking about. But Oli, since there’s a lot more to taking the pill than a layman knows, maybe they ought to give us a clue in the commercial!
Sounds a bit like Happy Fun Ball.
Do not taunt Boniva!
Let this be a lesson. If you’ve got little girls, make them exercise. Don’t let them sit around like little decorations.
Make them play and run and jump. Exercise builds stronger bones. And the time to take care of osteoporosis is before it starts.
by the by, girls who participate in sports and other physical activity are less likely to stay with an abusive boyfriend or husband.
Active children (physically active children) are less likely to develop diabetes, as well.
Too funny.. I thought the same thing when I first saw that commercial
On the subject of time management…they only have 30 seconds in the commercial. When would they find time to tell us about the complex ritual of taking the pill when they are busy listing the precautions and 300 potential side effects: vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, blindness, leprosy, death, acute hangnail, kufu, Presbyterianism, fainting spells, laughing spells, satanic spells, spelling bees, Africanized bees, insomnia, plagiarism, menopause, triskadekaphobia, nostalgia, demonic possession, unemployment, lactose intolerance, computer virus, paranoia, and (of course) hypochondriacism. Do not take if your doctor has ever prescribed medication to anyone to prevent any of these symptoms. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, obese, sarcastic, plotting an overthrow of the government, or a Christian Scientist. Do not inform your doctor if you are a Scientologist.
What else the Boniva commercial doesn’t tell you:
Presently, testing shows promise in the reduction of spinal fractures only. Nothing on the hips or other bones has been proven yet.
Boniva (Ibandronate) must be taken on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, with eight ounces of water (no other liquid) at least 60 minutes before eating or drinking. Patients must remain upright for at least one hour after taking this medication.
Actonel & Fosamax are taken the same way, either daily or weekly - with a 30 minute wait.
I’m on osteoporosis medication. Don’t remind me, I’m old. I now give myself an injection of Forteo every day. Horrors! I was on Miacalcin (a nasal spray)- which didn’t help - I lost bone mass while on it. Then I started on Actonel - once a day, later the once a week dose. It really helped - increasing bone mass. I asked about Boniva and was advised against it by my doctor. The other Bisphosphonates (Actonel and Fosamax)reduce fracture risk in more than just the spine. All of them have the potential to wreak havoc on the G.I. tract., cause heartburn, acid reflux, etc. . . I never had any side effects.
If anyone is really interested in these medications:
http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/medications.htm