A Critical Analysis of Claims and Their Authenticity in Indian Drug Promotional Advertisements

Table 4

Examples of controversial claims in drug advertisements.

1	Methylcobalamin	Claim	Role in neuropathic pain as powerful rejuvenator, enhancing nucleic acid proteins and myelin sheath [30]
		Analysis	The referenced study was an experimental one in rats and not in humans
2	Cefuroxime plus clavulanic acid	Claim	Superior beta lactamase inhibition compared to tazobactam and sulbactam
		Analysis	(i) Sulbactam, tazobactam, and clavulanic acid are found to be equally efficacious against beta-lactams [30]; (ii) Efficacy regarding mentioned combination for beta lactamase inhibition not found in medical literature; (iii) No reference was quoted for the claim
3	Nebivolol	Claim	Decreases triglycerides and increases HDL
		Analysis	(i) Exact effect of nebivolol or its mechanism on lipid profile is still not known [31]; (ii) No reference quoted for the claim
4	Deflazacort	Claim	Minimal effect on HPA axis suppression compared to prednisolone [17]
		Analysis	The referenced study could not explain how and why deflazacort, a corticosteroid like prednisolone, has minimal suppression on HPA axis
5	Alendronate	Claim	No significant excess risk of fracture on prolonged use
		Analysis	(i) Risk of subtrochanteric and diaphyseal stress fractures of femur in patients taking alendronate for >5 years was increased from 13 in untreated women to 31 per 10,000 patient-years in treated women [32].; (ii) Benefit of alendronate in preventing osteoporotic fractures by 34% was seen in another study [33].; (iii) No reference cited in support