How to limit drug company influence on your treatment decisions

Money talks, but when it comes to drugs, we and consumers don't like what it says. Gifts and financial rewards from pharmaceutical companies influence doctors, so we were concerned by a recent article from Forbes about a debate among physicians over whether drugmaker-funded educational programs for doctors should be allowed to continue.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the influence these programs have on your healthcare decisions.

First, you should know that drug and medical device companies fund $1 billion in continuing medical education for doctors, according to the Forbes article. This is concerning because these industry-funded programs often distort the benefits and risks of drugs and encourage physicians to prescribe newer drugs that may be no better than less expensive generics, says Steven Nissen, M.D., a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who participated in the debate over these programs held at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Atlanta this week.

To help avoid these pitfalls, Nissen says consumers can take several steps. "Ask questions and be particularly wary of new drugs actively hyped with direct to consumer advertisements," he says. "Don't be afraid to ask your doctor if he or she consults for the company making the drug. Finally, go to the websites of companies disclosing payments to physicians and find out if your doctor has a financial relationship with the pharmaceutical industry." Several companies, including Cephalon, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Pfizer, disclose their payments to doctors.

Not to toot on our own horn, but Nissen also recommends consumers read the unbiased information we provide with Best Buy Drugs. Consumer Reports does not accept advertising or donation money from companies of any kind (And in the interest of full-disclosure, Nissen periodically serves as a consultant on our Best Buy Drugs reports, and he refuses payments.)

Make treatment decisions free of drug company influence and money. Check out our free Best Buy Drugs reports, and Treatment Ratings to find the best drugs for your conditions.

—Steve Mitchell, associate editor, Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs

To learn more about conflicts of interest, you can read our previous coverage, which provides an overview of efforts to limit pharmaceutical company influence on doctors.