Lunesta, Hypnotically Addictive

starkej2 Sleeping Pills

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu0rXFhsM8w  

 

I chose to blog about sleeping aids because I know a lot of people suffer from sleeping problems or disorders and getting a good night’s sleep for some people can only come from the help of these drugs. So I really wanted to learn more about sleeping aids and the companies that make them. I chose to focus on a specific sleeping aid called Lunesta because I specifically remember seeing ads for Lunesta a few years ago when I was watching a show on tv. Lunesta has the active ingredient eszopiclone and is used to help people fall asleep that have sleep problems like insomnia. Lunesta is supposed to help you relax so you can fall asleep and to help you stay asleep so you can get 7 to 8 hours of a deep sleep.

 

The company that produces Lunesta is called Sunovion formerly known as Sepracor Inc. Sepracor Inc was founded in 1984 and had a rocky road in the drug industry before its acquisition to Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. in 2010 (Sepracor, 2002). Lunesta was FDA approved in 2004 prior to the acquisition of the company to Sumitomo Dainippon Parma Co. In 2010 Sunovion also got the drug, Latuda FDA approved which is a treatment for adult patients that have schizophrenia. Latuda was also approved for marketing in Canada (2012) and in Europe (2014). And just this year Latuda was FDA approved for the treatment of schizophrenia for 13-17 year olds. Latuda was also approved for the treatment of depressive episodes in bipolar 1 disorders in adults. In 2011 Sunovion partnered with CARE to help improve the lives and the health of those in need. In 2015 Sunovion received the Scrip Award for Management Team of the Year and the Silver Stevie Award for Global Clinical Development Organization (Sunovion, 2017). Sunovion’s mission is “to broadly contribute to society through value creation based on innovative research and development activities for the betterment of health care and fuller lives of people worldwide” (Sunovion, 2017). Their vision is to help lead the way to a world that is more healthy. The values they believe in are to place the customer first, acting with the highest of standards and caring for their people.

 

The audience that the company, Sunovion is trying to reach is definitely adults. The majority, I would assume to be around middle age as there are certain side effects that elderly people have had when taking Lunesta. Lunesta is not recommended for people that are not adults and the dosage is usually smaller for those that are elderly. The advertisement that I am focusing on only has adults in it and I would say that they are all about middle aged. This would make sense since Lunesta is not for kids and adults that have less health issues, usually younger adults, are better candidates for having less side effects. Or at least having side effects that aren’t as troublesome.

 

The active ingredient in Lunesta is eszopiclone. Eszopiclone is apparently highly addictive and only meant for a short time use. People who are addicted to Lunesta show many signs that people addicted to other drugs show. For example they may take Lunesta longer than they are prescribed it, isolate themselves from their loved ones, repeatedly put off quitting Lunesta, start taking more than their prescribed dosage, etc. When people addicted to Lunesta quit taking it, they may experience withdrawal symptoms like insomnia or anxiety. (Addiction to Lunesta, 2017). The ad for Lunesta said nothing about the high potential for addiction of it. Which can be very misleading as getting 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night is a very attractive idea. Since Lunesta is such an addictive drug it can sometimes lead to an overdose which can cause extreme drowsiness, abruptly passing out, difficulty breathing and even a coma (Addiction to Lunesta, 2017). Taking Lunesta with other drugs (other sleeping ads or alcohol) could lead to an overdose and could also be fatal, which is another huge drawback of Lunesta.

 

The ad for Lunesta starts out with this glowing butterfly, looking pretty similar to the glow in the dark stars that you put on your ceiling as a kid. Very hypnotic and enjoyable to watch as it floats around the screen. The woman narrating the ad has a very calm, hypnotizing voice. Sounding as if she is trying to put you to sleep with her words alone. The butterfly (which is symbolic for the drug, Lunesta) flies around to a couple different households in what seems to be a sleeping city and puts people sleep. The butterfly keeps flying around until it is the morning and the people it helped sleep are now waking up looking well rested and ready to start their day. The ad does give some side effects to using Lunesta, but they all seem rather ambiguous, like drowsiness and a bad taste in the mouth. The side effects that the hypnotic voices tells us don’t seem that bad. What the ad doesn’t tell you is that the potential to become addicted to Lunesta is pretty high. The ad makes Lunesta seem like the perfect sleep aid that has little to no side effects. When is reality Lunesta is highly addictive and has some very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

 

At first I thought Lunesta was a really great sleep aid. It did a really good job at what it is supposed to do. It provides 7 to 8 hours of deep sleep. Who wouldn’t want that? However Lunesta does too good of a job in my opinion. Since it’s really good at giving a person at least 7 hours of deep sleep, it is highly attractive. I myself would love to get that much sleep every night. I would definitely not recommend Lunesta to any friends or family that have any problems with addictions. Lunesta has a high potential for addiction and can have the withdrawal symptom of insomnia, which is what Lunesta is supposed to help with. I would however recommend it to someone that is having really bad sleeping problems and has had no history with addictions. Lunesta is really good at it’s job and if it wasn’t so addictive, would be a really great product because a lot of the other side effects that are common are not too severe.

Citations:

Lunesta. (September 19, 2016) Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/lunesta.html

 

Sunovion website. (2017) Retrieved from http://www.sunovion.us/who-we-are/our-mission.html

 

Sepracor Inc. History. (2002) Retrieved from http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/sepracor-inc-history/

 

Addiction to Lunesta. (2017) Retrieved from https://www.addictioncenter.com/sleeping-pills/lunesta/

What a Snooze!

quirozk Sleeping Pills, Uncategorized

Sleep, it’s a majestic act that we do, or at least try to do, everyday. We crave it at night, and we cannot seem to let go in the morning. The best part about sleep, is that you don’t even have to do anything, and yet it is the best hobby. Your body cannot fight sleep; we are ticking time bombs that need sleep in order to recover from all the things we do in a day. However, we cannot always assume that everyone is going to get the same amount or comfort of sleep. For example, those less fortune might not even have a bed to rest on. Others, cannot physically fall asleep due sleep, even though the body relies on it. These are only fragments of examples that could lead someone to seek an aid to restfully fall asleep.

Vicks does a comical approach in influencing their audience to consider taking these sleeping aid, ZZZQuil. Of course Vicks is extremely well-known for their cough medicine, Nyquil. Another fan favorite is Vicks Vapor Rub, also mainly used for treating a stuffy or runny nose. Vicks alone has been around since the late 1800’s, that is a great amount to gain a reliable reputation and trust from consumers. Vicks originated as a small cold remedy company created by a pharmacist, Lunsford Richardson. The small company soon bloomed with the help of free samples, billboards and newspaper advertisement. Because the company was such a success, it soon started to manufacture cough drops and thus the products that are sold today.

This ad highly stands out from other sleeping aid advertisements because of the humor of the commercial and also because of the accessibility of this medication. The laughable approach makes this advertisement unique and it draws the consumer in. It creates a sense of trust and a funny, yet memorable, product to potentially use. In addition to this, the accessibility to ZZZQuil is much too easy for those over 18. The sleeping aid is an over the counter drug, with a low cost. Since the access to this drug is very convenient, it will attract a diverse population of consumers versus a prescription sleeping aid.

An aspect of this advertisement commercial that makes this product more inclusive, is  whom is in the commercial. Vicks, included potential patients that could use this mediation; this includes men and women of varies ages (all over 18 of course). Another double taking aspect of this advertisement is the execution and style of the commercial. This advertisement shows individuals in a deep sleep, deep enough where it is funny and entertaining. We all know, that no one looks like sleeping beauty when they are in deep sleep, we all toss and turn and some of us even snore. Even though the actors and actresses in this commercial look “silly”, the sleep that they are portraying looks extremely comfortable. It is an unbothered sleep that is craved by those who have a rough time falling asleep.

Because the advertisement is a commercial, it is nearly accessible for anyone who has a television. However, because of the trends of this society, YouTube has also become a popular platform that shows advertisements between videos. Thus, virtually anyone who has a television and/or computer can be exposed to this ad. Of course, it might not affect some like it does to others, for example, those who clearly have trouble falling asleep might be more inclined to try the product. And again, because Vicks has been around for a long time, it has gain the status of being trust worthy and safe, even if that is not the case.

The active ingredient in ZZZQuil is named Diphenhydramine HCL, which according to Vicks “is not habit forming”. This is a sleeping aid that helps people fall asleep quicker and stay asleep between seven to eight hours. Although it is not habit forming, it could become necessary for some consumers to use it more than occasionally. Also, an idea that must also be discussed is for those who might use this come often can create a tolerance for this medication. This could lead to other serious matters, such as maybe trying something with a stronger active ingredient. Dependency could also be generated, if the first time trying it worked wonderfully, why not continue to try it for future occasions.

An interesting point to also consider about this advertisement, is the lack of side effects announced. This add does not announce any side effects at any time during the commercial. It also excludes, how much should be consumed and how often. If consumers solely rely on the commercial, it deprives them from the entire information from the drug that must be discussed. And because there at times we have a misconception of over the counter drugs being always “safe”, some might not look into further detail on the side effects when purchasing the medicine. Nevertheless, some side effects include but are not limited to, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and constipation, none of which are listed in this specific advertisement.

Although celebrities aren’t used in this advertisement, or the excess use of weasel words, Vicks is still very successful in selling this product to their consumers do to their simplicity. Sleep is obviously something that we all experience, we are biologically wired to sleep when out body needs it the most. However, this ad does use excess expressions to demonstrate how powerful the product actually is, making you fall asleep no matter what. For example, a couple is shown where one person is on top of their partners face. We all know this would be very uncomfortable to sleep through, but the message is about being able to fall asleep no matter what, no matter the position. In addition to this, the ending shows a person waking up with a big smile on their face, clearly happy they took ZZZQuil as their sleeping aid. Of course, this ad wants to show only the positive aspects of the medicine, and perhaps hide some of the negative effects that could arise.

Although the advertisement is amusing and very entertaining, I do not see myself using this product nor would I recommend it to others. Dependency could be formed if the first try was a good experience. Overall, through this ad, it seems as if nothing bad could ever happen, this is due in part because no side effects were said nor displayed, leaving the consumer without the full knowledge that they need.

Although it may not be for everyone, natural remedies and other lifestyle changes could potentially help, such as teas, not eating too late at night or doing small meditations. Also, not everyone can have such privilege but, having a set routine of what time to go to sleep can also make a great impact. Other alternative could also be viewed in further detail by those who lack sleep.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgMoFTBX6EQ

 

Vicks History. (n.d.). Retrieved November 02, 2017, from https://vicks.com/en-us/vicks-history

 

Zzzquil Oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing. (n.d.). Retrieved November 02, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-161075/zzzquil-oral/details

 

Diphenhydramine. (n.d.). Retrieved November 02, 2017, from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682539.html

 

Sleep Away

soltera Sleeping Pills

 

While watching T.V after a long day of work, you will more likely to watch about 50 ads during the commercial breaks. Since it’s the end of the day, sleeping aid companies such as Belsomra, Union and Nyquil, may take advantage of the opportunity to advertise their medications at this time of the 24 hours day we have. These ads for insomnia catches these adults attention at the perfect moment, which I find pretty brilliant. I specifically focused on Belsomra and their video. They created a cute and fun ad to promote their sleeping pills. I found this as super interesting because any adults can relate to, first of all, not sleeping at nights, and second of all, having pets either cuddle with you or not letting you sleep at all. This is definitely a good way to grab people’s attention who happens to be struggling with sleeping.

The company that markets Belsomra is Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp. The company is known as Merck in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey. Committed to improving health and well-being around the world, Merck is an innovative, global healthcare leader. They include diabetes, cancer, vaccines and hospital acute care as their core product categories. They mainly focus on research that is related to conditions that represents some of today’s significant health challenges—like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. They are the ones in the front line to fight against emerging global pandemics such as ebola. They look forward in taking advantage of the financial strength to fulfill their passion of improving health and improving lives worldwide. Merck is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world that has been changing the world for a little over 125 years. Merck’s beginnings can be traced as far as 1668 in Germany. It was a pharmacy called “At the Sign of the Angel” that was later transformed into a drug manufactory in 1827. In 1917, during the entrance of World War I, George Merck, fearing anti-German sentiment, turned over a sizable portion of Merck stock to the Alien Property Custodian of the United States. They did this to end their Merck and Co.’s connections to its German parent. In 1919, Alien Property Custodian sold Merck shares, worth $3 million, to the public. George Merck remained control of the corporation. In 1984, Merck had become the largest U.S.-based manufacturer of drugs in the three largest markets—the United State, Japan, and Europe. Even though there have been several bumps throughout the way, Merck has managed to stay successful over the 125 years. Today there vision is “To make a difference in the lives of people globally through our innovative medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. We are committed to being the premier, research-intensive biopharmaceutical company and are dedicated to proving leading innovations and solutions for today and the future.” Merck wants to be able to help people by providing medicine and vaccines. Their mission statement is, “To discover, develop and provide innovative products and services that save and improve lives around the world.” They look forward to make improvements on their products to give better services and improve people’s lives.

People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or awakening too early, or any combination of the three. As a young adult, this ad does not catch my attention. Yes, I may have sleepless nights, but I don’t suffer from insomnia and I’m not desperate for sleeping aids. This advertisement targets mainly middle age adults to elders. In the video, you notice the lady that is having trouble sleeping is an older adult. Studies has shown that older adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Men and women ages 65+ years have a harder time sleeping throughout the night. The lady represents the older age adults. Also, you relies that it’s a lady who seems to be suffering with insomnia. Women are twice as likely to have insomnia as men, actually. Hormones is one of the reason why many women aren’t getting their sleep. Researchers have found that there are no differences in sleep until puberty starts. At different times of the month women may have harder time getting sleep. Women are also prone to mood disorders, which is related to sleepless nights. Another reason could be the overlap of caregiver responsibilities and work. And the video was the first video on the YouTube page.

One of the main sleep-inducing ingredient in these sleeping aids are diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. Antihistamine have been used by people to reduce fever or cold symptoms, but doctors have been aware that they also make people feel drowsy. Belsomra tablets also contain suvorextant, which is a highly selective antagonist for orexin receptors OX1R and OX2R. The orexin receptors in the brain play a role of keeping a person awake. When suvorexant is applied, its therapeutic effect blocks the binding of wake promoting neuropeptides orexin A and B to receptors OX1R and OX2R. This causes the person to fall to sleep. It’s recommended to take a dose of 10mg once per night and must be taken within 30 minutes of going to bed. If the 10mg isn’t effective, 20mg dose can be taken per day. If someone takes higher doses, it could be dangerous causing drowsiness the following day that may cause auto crashes if they drive. There hasn’t been any major cases where people are addicted, but what could happen is that people may increase their tolerant and what/need a higher dose. It’s also dangerous taking it with alcohol. This could cause abnormal behaviors such as aggressiveness, confusion, agitation, and/or hallucination. If the person is suffering from depression, taking the tablets could worsen their depression. The ad is very good at being transparent including the side effects and dangerous risk that comes along taking Belsomra.

Merck had a unique way of adverting Belsomra. At the beginning of the video, the lady closes her book ready to go to sleep. She reaches for the “sleepy” pet—craftily using this pet metaphor, sleepy cat and lively dog—representing her need to sleep. Sleepy cat gets out of her hands and runs off while she searches for it. This is implying her inability to sleep, also known as insomnia. “Wakey” dog is barking at the cat not letting the cat sleep. The lady then takes Wakey dog to his bed that says “Belsomra” causing the dog to go to sleep. You’re right. Belsomra is the medication that will help you get the sleep that you need. Sleepy cat finally hops onto the bed to cuddle with their owner. This is a great ad because it builds a connection with their audience. They disproportionately try to avoid showing any form of loss, especially the loss of something we are attached to emotionally. They do an excellent job avoiding this by showing the loss of sleep in form of a beloved pet. This triggers the audience making them more interested in the product and wanting to learn more about it. The ad is pretty straight forward. They later show the lady outside taking a walk with their dog that signifies the lady being fully awake.

Personally, if a family member or a good close friend is suffering from insomnia, I would like them to give the sleeping aids a try. I would want them to feel well rested daily and not worry about not being able to sleep the next night. There aren’t any great cases of people over-dosing on sleeping pills to get high or because they are addicted to it. Also, there are many cases of people misusing the drug. They are sleeping pills. It’s self-explanatory. At the same time, I wouldn’t want my friends and/or family to rely on sleeping pills. I have a personal belief that we can train our mind and bodies to do what we wish it could do.

 

 

Citations

Belsomra (suvorexant) for the Treatment of Insomnia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 02, 2017, from http://www.drugdevelopment-technology.com/projects/belsomra-suvorexant-treatment-insomnia/

Company Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved November 02, 2017, from http://www.merck.com/about/our-history/facts/home.html

Conroy, P. D. (n.d.). 3 Reasons Women Are More Likely to Have Insomnia. Retrieved November 02, 2017, from http://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/3-reasons-women-are-more-likely-to-have-insomnia

PharmaLive. (n.d.). Retrieved November 02, 2017, from http://www.pharmalive.com/favorite-dtc-campaigns/

NuvaRing

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The drug I chose to research was birth control. People generally think of a drug causing instant notable psychoactive effects, thus birth control likely wouldn’t be the first thing to come to mind when you hear the word “drug”. Nonetheless it is a prescription drug. More specifically, I decided to research NuvaRing. NuvaRing is a contraception method that involves inserting a “ring” into your vagina, where it sits for up to three weeks and releases a continuous dose of hormones. It has been shown to be 98% effective in preventing pregnancy. The reason I chose to research birth control is because the advertising techniques birth control companies use are always so happy go lucky, and I’ve always found them to be incredibly ironic and comical.

 

The company that invented NuvaRing is Organon. Organon is a Dutch pharmaceutical company started in the Netherlands. The company was bought by Schering-Plough which is a corporation based in New Jersey. The company has now been acquired by Merck & Co since 2009. The company specializes in reproductive medicine, contraception, psychiatry, HRT, and amnesia. The company sells to international markets. Manufacturing their drugs in numerous countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Ireland, China, Japan and the US. According to CNN, NuvaRing is sold in more than 50 countries, and there have been over 44 million prescriptions filled for women in the US alone. According to CNN, 3,800 claims have been filed against Merck alleging that the manufacturer has “failed to adequately warn consumers about a heightened risk of blood clots associated with the use of NuvaRing”. NuvaRing has been known to have the potential to cause blood clots in its users. According to CNN, there have been handfuls of deaths reported from blood clots causing heart attacks in women who use NuvaRing. One young woman died, in 2015, from a heart attack due to blood clotting. The pharmaceutical company agreed to pay $100 million in damages, although to her family no amount of money would do any justice.

 

The intended audience for this drug is women. To state the obvious, it’s a birth control method designed for a woman. Besides that point, the advertisements are filled with women looking uncomfortable until they switch to NuvaRing, where they are free to be who they want to be, take their hair down, put some sunglasses on and sit back and relax. These women don’t have to worry about anything. They can sit back and relax by the pool! Or in another advertisement, like the one below, the woman’s mind is so jam packed with the thoughts of everyday life, that she doesn’t have any space to fit in the effort of remembering to take her birth control. Once she takes NuvaRing, she can focus on other things that fill their mind, like puppies!! These advertisements can be found in women’s magazines, TV commercials, doctors’ offices, etc.

According to drugs.com, the active ingredients in NuvaRing are ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, and magnesium stearate, which make up the physical ring itself. The ring also contains 11.7 mg etonogestrel, which is a drug that prevents ovulation, and 2.7 mg ethinyl estradiol, which is a synthetic form of estrogram. These active ingredients have been reported to have an effect on mood. Many people reported having intense mood swings. Allergic reactions and hives have also been prevalent with the usage of these drugs. According to rxlist.com, The more severe side effects have included blood clots, vaginal infections and irritation, nausea, vomiting, changes in weight or appetite, and many more.  These drugs are not considered to be addictive, but women tend to use them for prolonged periods of time that can impose serious health risks on the body. According to bodyecology.com, These health risks include, an increased risk of cervical and breast cancers, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, infertility, gall bladder disease, and many more. To be completely fair and honest, the NuvaRing.com website does make it pretty clear that there may be risks associated with their product.

The advertising techniques they used were all enlightening. They chose bright happy colors, the sun was shining, the women are singing and swimming, and when the lady finally “breaks away from her daily birth control” she’s free to let her hair down and kick back by the pool where she is served a refreshing drink (with a lemon in it!) by a handsome man. These of course are all deceptive. Starting NuvaRing is not going to have men serving you drinks by the pool. You’re not anymore “free” than you were beforehand. You won’t automatically gain the self confidence that is portrayed by the main actress. In another advertisement, on their website, nuvaring.com, they are portraying this woman as “busy”, with so many things filling her mind. Those things just so happen to be a puppy and some groceries, which in my opinion is promoting the gender stereotype that women belong in the kitchen. But after using NuvaRing, the women is seen meditating, she is now mindful and at peace, filled with blue skies and lotus flowers.

 

To be completely honest, I have a pretty neutral opinion on the drug. I personally don’t have any experience with this drug, so I don’t have any personal advice or experience to give. I have heard success stories and horror stories from women who have used this drug. For some people it is very convenient and works really well for them. For others, they experience horrible side effects, and for a select few, they even faced death. I think deciding to use this drug all depends on personal preference and what you think is best for you. Everybody’s schedules, priorities, and situations are different. For me personally, I don’t like the idea of a foreign object being inside of me for long periods of time, and the heightened risk of blood clots that have been reported by many, doesn’t seem worth the risk in my opinion. Although all birth control methods come with a “risk”, the risk has been said to be significantly higher with the use of NuvaRing in comparison to other contraceptive methods such as the patch, or the pill.

 

References:

Kaye, R., & Shepherd, S. (2015, April 07). Families, lawsuits, raise questions about NuvaRing. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/06/us/families-lawsuits-raise-questions-about-nuvaring/index.html

Common Side Effects of NuvaRing (Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol Vaginal Ring) Drug Center. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.rxlist.com/nuvaring-side-effects-drug-center.htm

How NuvaRing Works. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.nuvaring.com/how-nuvaring-works/

The Dangers Every Woman Needs to Know About the Birth Control Pill. (2011, April 27). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://bodyecology.com/articles/dangers_birth_control_pill.php

To Sleep-Aid or Not To Sleep-Aid

roulstb Sleeping Pills , , , ,

The media of our society is a master at distorting the reality around us. They are one of the major institutions that play a key role in what shapes our ideas around many of our opinions on factors such as body image, beauty, gender roles, licit and illicit drugs, the list could go on. An important note to make before proceeding is that, in this article, the term drugs will be referring to over the counter medicines, prescription medicines, and substances that don’t have medical benefits such as cocaine or heroin unless stated otherwise. When looking at how the media shapes our understanding and opinions on drugs, the advertisements for these products are extremely important to look at and analyze critically. Often these advertisements depict an exaggeration of the drug’s positive potential ability while also downgrading, or completely passing over, the potential negative side effects of the drug being advertised. If you’ve ever watched a few hours of television or looked on YouTube for drug advertisements, evidence which can support the allegations above can easily be found, you just need to watch a few advertisements to see it.

There are numerous categories of drugs such as alcohol, cold medicine, and tobacco which can be examined and analyzed to evaluate how media successfully builds up and perpetuates society’s perception of drugs. In this blog post, the category examined will be sleeping aids. In the category of sleeping aids, we will be looking at one drug and an advertisement that has been aired on television, and/ or online, for that drug. The drug advertisement we will examine and analyze is “Vicks® ZzzQuil™ Sleep-Aid for Those Sleepless Nights” which was marketed by the drug company Vicks®. This is a one minute advertisement that has been aired both on television and on online websites. This advertisement was chosen because it is marketed by a well- known company and is a product that many adults have probably used at least once in their lives.

The company marketing ZzzQuil™ is Vicks®. Vicks® was founded in the 1890s by pharmacist Lunsford Richardson in Greensboro, South Carolina. When his shop first opened, he created and sold twenty- one homemade remedies for the ill. The shop was successful due to its Pneumonia Salve, but the company did not introduce its first major product until the Vicks® Cough Drops in the 1930s. From there, Vicks® has developed cough syrups, nasal sprays, cold medicines such as NyQuil™ and DayQuil™, and the sleep aid, ZzzQuil™. According to the company’s mission statement found on Vicks®.com, the company claims its “legacy” revolves around the idea that the company is not merely there to provide cold and flu relief, but to allow “families” to continue with their everyday life regardless of health. Vicks® has been present in our society for over a hundred years and many individuals have used a Vicks® product at least once in their lives. Vicks® was founded around 127 years ago and, throughout its history, it has specialized in the creation and refinement of cold and flu medications and other related medications such as sleep aids. (Vicks®, n.d.)

As with any advertisement, “Vicks® ZzzQuil™ Sleep-Aid for Those Sleepless Nights” has an intended audience. When watching this advertisement, there are some assumptions that can be made about who the intended audience is. One can assume that the audience targets are restless sleepers, those with insomnia or symptoms of insomnia, people with a lot on their mind, or someone in a similar situation as the three described. This can be assumed based on the content of the advertisement. The advertisement is set in a bedroom during the late night when individuals are typically fast asleep. In the bed, you have an extremely restless woman who is tossing and turning while trying to cover her ears with the pillow under her head and get some sleep. Another woman is also in the room. She is dressed in a professional manner, sitting at a desk which is at the end of the bed. This woman, presumably the other woman’s boss, is reminding her about a plethora of tasks that need to be remembered and/or accomplished. After approximately fifty seconds of advertisement, it mentions the product, Vicks® ZzzQuil™, which the advertisement is trying to help sell. In the last ten seconds of the advertisement, you hear a man saying, “when life keeps you up, ZzzQuil™ helps you fall asleep in less than twenty minutes”. This is accompanied by the woman now comfortably sleeping with soothing, light music in the background and a bottle of Vicks® ZzzQuil™ on her bedside table. It is due to the man’s line and the physical brain activity that leads to the assumption of who the audience is.

In Vicks® ZzzQuil™, there is only one active ingredient: Diphenhydramine. (Vicks®, ZzzQuil™ Warming Berry Liquid, n.d.) Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine used primarily to treat minor allergic reactions, seasonal allergies, and cold symptoms but is also promoted heavily as a non- prescription sleep aid. Diphenhydramine is not addictive, but it has potential for abuse and may be dangerous if not used correctly. There are several notable dangers of diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine can cause an acute asthmatic attack due to thickened bronchial flow in the respiratory system. Large doses of Diphenhydramine can have adverse effects on infants who are breast feeding and can decrease the rate in which breast milk is produced. Safety has not been established for young children and Diphenhydramine can potentially cause heightened side effects if taken. Individuals who have various health issues such as hepatic disease, bladder obstruction, and hypertension are more likely to experience adverse reactions than an individual with no health issues. (Reference, n.d.)The advertisement left out some key information about Vicks® ZzzQuil™. First, the advertisement did not mention any potential side effects at all. These side effects include drowsiness, upset stomach, blurred vision, mental/mood changes (e.g., restlessness, confusion), and difficulty urinating. (WebMD, n.d.)The advertisement failed to inform its audience of the correct dosage and that it was not safe for younger children. The advertisement fails to mention potential risks with mixing the drug with other drugs such as alcohol or other forms of Diphenhydramine (e.g., topical). Overall, this advertisement portrayed an exaggeration of the drug’s positive potential ability while completely passing over the serious potential negative side effects of the drug.

In the Vicks® ZzzQuil™ advertisement, several techniques were implemented to help promote the product. The creators of the one minute advertisement used the following techniques: transference, emotional appeal, promises a benefit, simple solution, exaggeration, and a slogan. Transference, the attempt to make an audience associate positive images, words, or idea with a product and its users, is used in the Vicks® ZzzQuil™ advertisement by creating a positive association with a good night’s sleep and taking Vicks® ZzzQuil™. This is accomplished though the image of the woman struggling to sleep without the product and the ease of sleep with the product. Illustrating the struggle to sleep due to an abundance of thoughts travelling through your mind which many people have experienced at least once in their life establishes the technique of an emotional appeal. This advertisement promises the positive benefit of a good night’s sleep. It exaggerates the positive effects of the product while marking it as a simple solution to an overflowing mind. The product advertisement ends with the product’s slogan “When life keeps you up, ZzzQuil™ helps you sleep”. Several of these techniques can make the advertisement deceptive. The techniques used by the advertisement creators paint the product with rose colored lenses. In other words, the advertisement only portrays the positives of ZzzQuil™.

Overall, I am naturally hesitant to recommend any drug to a good friend or a family member and this does not exclude Vicks® ZzzQuil™. There are many alternatives an individual could try before resorting to medicine. If there are issues with sleeplessness, an individual could try the following to see if the issue ceases to be a problem:

• Exercise daily. Driving exercise is recommended, but lighter exercise works fine as well. Exercises may include: swimming, dancing, running, etcetera.
• Practice a ritual and sleep routine. Have a set routine for when you get ready and go to bed. Avoid activities that can cause stress, anxiety, or excitement. Strong emotions can make it hard for your mind and body to relax.
• Wind down. Do something to calm your mind like reading a book or listening to soothing music. This is a transition from the bustle of the day to the relaxation of sleep.
• Make your room sleep friendly. Experiment with bed set up, room smells, room temperature, and other aspects to find the right fit for you when you go to bed (Foundation, n.d.)

Although not all the methods listed have been medically proven to be effective, it is worth the shot to see if these remedies, and others, can help before turning to Vicks® ZzzQuil™. As noted in earlier in this post, diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Vicks® ZzzQuil™, can have adverse effects and is not recommended for everyone. If I were to recommend a sleep-aid drug, Vicks® ZzzQuil™ would not be at the top of my recommendation list.

 

Works Cited:
Foundation, N. S. (n.d.). Healthy Sleep Tips. Retrieved from National Sleep Foundation: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips
Reference, P. D. (n.d.). diphenhydramine hydrochloride – Drug Summary. Retrieved from Prescribers’ Digital Reference: http://www.pdr.net/drug-summary/Diphenhydramine-Hydrochloride–diphenhydramine-hydrochloride-1140
Vicks®. (n.d.). Vicks History. Retrieved from Vicks®: https://vicks.com/en-us
Vicks®. (n.d.). ZzzQuil™ Warming Berry Liquid. Retrieved from Vicks®: https://vicks.com/en-us/shop-products/zzzquil-sleep-aid/zzzquil-warming-berry-liquid
WebMD. (n.d.). Zzzquil. Retrieved from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-161075/zzzquil-oral/details#side-effects

Troublesome Tiger

goulde3 Alcohol , , ,

 

 

Alcohol advertisements are notorious for preying on the self-esteem of individuals. These are things that each and every one of us encounters in our day to day lives, whether that is in the form of television commercials, billboards, or social media, the advertisements are all around us. The fact that we see these things all the time combined with how alcohol is a legal drug produces a situation where it is all too easy to internalize and act on the messages that the advertisements present to us. Although it is entirely possible to consume alcohol in a safe, controlled manner, many people start to believe the ideologies given to them by the alcohol companies; they believe that they are a more social, more manly, sexier, or funnier version of themselves when they consume this product. Tiger beer produced an ad that is consistent with these things. This advertisement encompasses the main stereotypes that alcohol companies seek to reinforce, showcasing both manly men in competition with one another and a beautiful woman.

 

 

Tiger beer is produced by Asia Pacific Breweries of Singapore. It was founded in 1931 by Fraser & Neave and Heineken. It was the first large-scale brewery in Singapore, and Tiger beer was the first to be produced. They have been brewing for over eighty years and currently operate a $200 million brewery encompassing nine hectares in Tuas. They are the first Asian brewery to be ISO certified. Today, they have expanded a great deal and it is brewed in 12 Asian countries and available in more than 75 markets worldwide. They have stated their vision to be, “brewing a better world [and] creating great beer experiences for all occasions.” (apbsingapore.com)

 

 

 

 

Even though alcohol can only legally be consumed by those over 21, I believe this advertisement is aimed at males and females in their teenage years and up. It is a common idea that men must be as “manly as possible.” This is a socially constructed value that must be reinforced through time for it to prevail, and as such the socialization process must start early. Boys grow up learning that they have to fit a certain model to be successful men in the world, so being exposed to advertisements like this showcase that idea and over time allow them to internalize the message. For girls, the advertisements tell them that they must be perceived as beautiful by men in order to be successful in the world. Only once they are desirable can they get what they want. This advertisement played on YouTube, so it is something that could be seen by anyone of any age. By promoting their ideas in a casual setting, it is more likely that viewers would become more comfortable with the ideas over time and then choose to use the product to achieve those goals set out for them by the advertisers. It has been found that repeated exposure to alcohol advertisements increases the usage of alcohol, especially in non-drinkers (Smith, Foxcroft, 2009). Additionally, the mere-exposure effect has shown that unconsciously receiving stimuli creates an even larger effect than consciously receiving stimuli, meaning that even passive exposure to advertisements can lead to a profound effect (Bornstein, 1992.) So, by combining the increasing comfort of a familiar brand with the appeal the advertisements provide, younger adolescents grow up to drink more, and adults either drink more or drink more of this brand.

 

 

The active ingredient in alcohol is ethanol (C2H60). Whether this ingredient is beneficial or deleterious depends solely on the dose that is administered. With moderate drinking (which is typically defined as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men – although some research has suggested that even moderate drinking every day is not advisable) there seems to be a few health benefits such as aiding the heart and circulatory system and protecting against type 2 diabetes and gallstones. Heavy drinking, however, is the lead cause of preventable deaths in the United States and can lead to damage of the heart and liver, harm unborn children, and play a part in domestic violence and mental illness such as depression. It is most known for causing liver inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis) and scarring (cirrhosis). The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research have demonstrated that high alcohol usage can lead to a variety of cancers such as breast, liver, pharynx, larynx, colon, rectum, mouth, and esophagus. Alcohol can be very addictive, especially for those with a family history of abuse or who have gone through trauma, and withdrawals can kill you. Genes play a massive role in how an individual’s body will respond to the drug and whether or not they will develop problems with it. The beer advertisement did not mention any of the adverse health effects. They also did not mention that alcoholism impacts the lives of everyone around the alcoholic. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has found that alcoholism is prevalent in 18.2 million Americans, alcohol plays in a role in 1 in 3 violent crimes, it costs more than $185 billion every year, and alcohol causes car accidents that kill more than 16,000 people every year. These are huge impacts that affect not just the individual but also the society, family, and friends surrounding them. Although they depicted casual drinking, even engaging in that activity can carry some adverse effects such as trouble sleeping, clouded judgement, and interaction with medications including those that are over the counter pain medicines. (hsph.harvard.edu)

 

 

The alcohol ad was deceptive in that it initially depicted the need for men to be super macho in order to have success in gaining the last beer bottle. This plays on the idea that manly men always win in life, and unless each life event is a reinforcement of manhood, then you aren’t a “real man.” They go above and beyond to portray manliness in the actors’ transformations into traditionally manly beings such as wrestlers, gorillas, high-tech robots, and a presumable Tarzan-like figure. They go wild and are angry and competitive, just like animals. From an evolutionary point of view, this is what men evolved from, and so it brings them right back to their roots of what men historically needed to be in order to survive and to provide food for their communities and families. Research has been done finding that advertisements primarily focus on emotions in order to sway the audience (Hovland, 2016). By the end of the advertisement, they portray a beautiful woman gaining the upper hand, switching over to influencing the female viewers. This presets the idea that women must be sexy to gain male approval, and that men are powerless around attractive women. Alcohol advertisements consistently seem to exploit inherent sexism in our society and link their products with ideas of attractiveness to the opposite gender (Fullwood, Mongiovi, Hillyer, Basch, Ethan, Hammond, 2016). This suggests that not only does it reinforce the idea of needing to meet a certain stereotype yourself, but also that you should be drawn to members of the opposite gender who meet their own stereotypes. This reinforces sexist ideas and takes an incredibly heteronormative approach to values. The video shows that if you follow that protocol, then you will have success. Their slogan “enjoy winning” showcases this. They send the message that by drinking their beer, you are matching up with either the ideal male or female stereotype, and as such you will “win” at life (whatever that definition means to each individual.)

 

 

 

 

Alcohol is an incredibly powerful drug and as such must be consumed responsibly. Because of its prevalence in society it is very hard to escape. I do not believe that it has to be an inherently bad thing, but it is very easy to become one. As stated previously, there are some possible benefits that may be derived from moderate consumption. However, it is an easy task to cross over from the benefits to the detriments territory. There are numerous health risks associated with overuse. Because of this data, I would advise any friend or family member who is suffering from some form of mental illness, who has a family history of abuse, who is predisposed to one of the illnesses that alcohol can lead to, or who is going through some hard times and looking for a coping mechanism to stay away. For those who are not likely to suffer adverse effects from light usage and who are not predisposed to go down the path of addiction, I would advise them to be cautious and mindful of their consumption. It is always important to check in with yourself and have others looking out for you to make sure that you are still making the best decisions for your health and those around you. It is also important to do individual research and to weigh the costs and benefits once you are properly informed. Many people do not know of all the risks that legal drugs can still carry, so it is important to be aware of any factors that may make you uncomfortable. It is possible to safely drink alcohol and have an enjoyable time, but it is also important to prepare properly and see if the effects line up with personal goals for health and well-being.

 

Works Cited:

The effect of alcohol advertising, marketing and portrayal on drinking behaviour in young people: systematic review of prospective cohort studies

Lesley Smith-David Foxcroft – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2653035/

Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/alcohol-full-story/

 

Targeting gender: A content analysis of alcohol advertising in magazines

A-Reum Jung-Roxanne Hovland – Health Marketing Quarterly – 2016

 

An advertisement analysis of alcohol products in popular women’s magazines

M Fullwood-Jennifer Mongiovi-Grace Hillyer-Corey Basch-Danna Ethan-Rodney Hammond – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5235351/

 

Bornstein, R. F., & D’Agostino, P. R. (1992). Stimulus recognition and the mere exposure effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(4), 545-552.

 

http://www.apbsingapore.com

What do Puppies and Horses have to do with Beer??

oneillj7 Alcohol

If you’ve ever watched the Superbowl, you’re probably aware of the opinion shared by people around the world that it is the one time a year where the advertisements during commercial breaks are actually worth watching. With a 30 second ad having a price tag of $5 million dollars, (that’s $166,667 per second) (Business Insider), it’s no surprise that companies have perfected their advertisements through hundreds of thousands of dollars in an attempt to draw people in and persuade them to buy their product in the most effective way possible. These short commercials often exhibit beautiful cinematography, catchy music, famous actors, a sense of adventure, and amazing destinations, all which help to catch the attention of the viewers and leave them with a favorable impression of the product. Some of the most prominent commercials not just during the superbowl, but for anytime you’re watching TV are for alcoholic beverages. The majority of people can list of the names of popular beers even if they personally have never drank them. This is a result of effective marketing and advertising for alcohol. If you ask someone about beer commercials on TV or during the superbowl, many will automatically think of Budweiser’s signature Clydesdale horses and cute puppies, or Dos Equis’ the most interesting man in the world, ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byrbl6XFGW0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HX7y1yDi4) but In today’s blog, I will be focusing primarily on the advertisement done byAnheuser-Busch, the owners of several flagship brands including Budweiser, as this is the company whose alcohol advertisements have stuck out to me the most.

Anheuser-Busch is most recognized from the names “Budweiser,” and “Bud Light”, but the company also brews over 100 brands within the US and boasts a 45.8% share of the beer market. (anheuser-busch.com). Founded in 1852 and based out of St. Louis Missouri, Anheuser-Busch’s mission statement is: “We are a company built on a dream, a dream to exceed expectations, to surpass goals and achieve things no one would have ever thought possible. This is the driving force that propels us forward to achieve our global AB InBev family vision of bringing people together in a Better World.” (anheuser-busch.com).

Although alcoholic beverages are only allowed to be consumed by those over 21 years of age in this country, Anheuser-Busch’s advertisements target all age groups. The signature Budweiser clydesdale horses present in the majority of their commercials are popular amongst all age groups and especially capture the attention of children, leading to them being drawn to the brand later in their lives. Although many other beer companies show beautiful people in exotic places enjoying their product, Budweiser takes a different approach and typically doesn’t even show people consuming their beer in their video clips, rather they depict scenes that upstir and emotional reaction from the viewer, such as this one about a lost puppy, or this one about a soldier returning home. (linked below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iqjj2EKh64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hck3cXzg4_M

Although the beer being advertised isn’t explicitly shown, this technique of eliciting an emotional response to an advertisement has proven to be very effective, as it is memorable and heartwarming. And after all, who doesn’t love cute puppies and happy family reunions??

Another tactic in Budweiser’s advertising is the bold lighting and sense of superiority, that imply that only the best, courageous people drink Budweiser, and appeals to people by leading them to believe that if they drink Budweiser, they too can be brave, bold, and tough. They even have a slogan that Budweiser is the ‘King of beers’. Budweiser also promotes feelings of patriotism with the use of American flags and the representation of ‘hardworking Americans’.

Alcohol in America has resulted in many problems ranging from alcoholism, to fetal alcohol syndrome, to alcohol poisoning as the result of binge drinking. This is very contradictory to the positive aspect that the advertisements represent. Ethanol is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages and is responsible for the effects on the body and mind. Although it is legal, alcohol can be a very addictive substance that can lead to countless health problems as well as cause conflict within personal lives, but of course the ads mention none of this, as they don’t want to deter potential consumers from purchasing their product.

As someone who has enjoyed the consumption of alcohol, I would say that it is good, (as many things are), in moderation. The common problems that we see as the result of alcohol, i.e. drunk driving, vomiting, blacking out, ect. are all the result of overuse, but I believe that used responsibly (such as the commercials advise) alcohol can be a good way to wind down, relieve stress, and enjoy yourself. Because of these reasons, I would wholeheartedly recommend the regulated consumption of alcohol to friends, family, or peers, but I would also emphasize how important moderation is in preventing the negative aspects of alcohol that have to potential to make themselves known when binge drinking is involved.

In conclusion, the Anheuser-Busch companies, particularly Budweiser has been effective in the marketing of their product through various advertising tactics, which has allowed them to become a major power within the beer industry. Even with all the negative side effects, there is a reason alcohol is still legal in this country, and it’s because it has its benefits and has been enjoyed by Americans for generations.

 

Citations

Gould, S. (2017, February 05). See how Super Bowl ad costs skyrocketed over the years. Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://www.businessinsider.com/super-bowl-ad-price-cost-2017-2

We are a Company Built on a Dream. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://www.anheuser-busch.com/about.html

 

Sleeping Aids- Melatonin

beerse Uncategorized

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVVbiJUv2OM

 

 

 

For this assignment, I selected Sleeping Aids, specifically melatonin, as my drug to analyze. Melatonin is a drug that I personally use quite frequently. I discovered it in high school, and thought it was great because I had a hard time falling asleep at night. After using it for several months I began to become concerned, I started needing it to fall asleep. Now I try to take it only when I really need to, generally if I’m feeling stressed or anxious about something, and my thoughts are keeping me awake. Or just if I really need to get a lot sleep that night and I want to fall asleep fast. So probably one or two nights out of every week. I chose this commercial because I thought it showed melatonin in a very positive light. The comparison of the woman taking melatonin falling asleep super fast and waking up feeling refreshed and happy, to the man lying awake next to her struggling to wake up the next morning and feeling extremely tired. This just showed how companies will try to make it look like their products will make your life one thousand times better.

 

Natrol Melatonin in their commercial claims to be the “number one brand of melatonin” on the market. From their website they make it easy for you to find the ingredients and actually take the time to explain the benefit of each one and why it’s in the product. I found this to be very nice and helpful, it did make me feel more trusting of this specific brand of Melatonin which I think was the goal of the company. Also on their website they have information about many different subjects relating to sleep, such as the sleep cycles, and how to use melatonin responsibly. In my opinion this was above and beyond what I would’ve expected a company to do for their product. I couldn’t find any negative aspects or scandals related to this company, I believe they are very trustworthy.

 

On Natrol’s About us page is states that “For over 35 years, Natrol has been a leading manufacturer of Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements and is dedicated to empowering consumers to “Own Your Health” with the help of our top-selling products, Melatonin, 5-HTP and Biotin. At the core of Natrol’s success is our unwavering focus on five strategic principles — Quality, People, Innovation, Customer Service, and Cost Effectiveness”. They also state that “We define quality as delivering safe, effective, and trustworthy products that meet consumers’ expectations every time.  Our quality assurance program is extensive and industry leading. We perform rigorous quality checks throughout our process from exhaustive supplier qualification screening to the sourcing of the best ingredients. We have consistently achieved the highest “A” rating from the Natural Products Association.”

 

I found this commercial on youtube, but it was originally played on television. From the age of the actors in the commercial, it looks to me that this product was being marketed to an older crowd. Anywhere from college students struggling to get enough sleep, to parents or the elderly. The commercials punch line is “own your sleep” meaning that people can take control and get the sleep they need through this product. One line from the commercial that I thought was interesting was that they claimed that this is the “one hundred percent number one drug free way to get healthier sleep”. It’s odd to me that they would use the language “drug free” when advertizing this sleeping aid. I think the reasoning behind this is that they want to appear as natural as possible, they heavily stress in the commercial that melatonin is non habit forming. They want to make people believe that taking melatonin is completely natural and healthy for you, so they must be targeting people who are health conscious. By exaggerating the benefits of taking melatonin the commercial also targets anyone who could be suffering from sleep problems. Natrol has a great marketing campaign that will spark the interests of many people who are concerned they might not be getting enough sleep. Making the product look natural, easy and effective will not stir up any concerns an individual might have, I also noticed that they didn’t list any negative side effects Melatonin might have at the end of the commercial. Not listing negative side effects of a product make it seem like there are no downsides of the product, which in my opinion is very deceptive of them.

 

On the Natrol website they have a Products by Ingredient list. Under the Advanced Sleep  Melatonin they list the active ingredients, their dosage, and what percent that is of your daily value. Natrol describes their product as “Advanced Sleep Melatonin is a 2-layer controlled release tablet that releases and an initial 5mg dosage to help you fall asleep fast, and then releases the remaining 5mg over time to help you stay asleep through the night.” The active ingredients are:

 

1) Melatonin, 10 mg, *(daily percentage not available), “a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that inhibits melanin formation and is thought to be concerned with regulating the reproductive cycle.”

 

2) Vitamin B6, 10 mg, 500% daily value, (A number of vitamins serve as coenzymes, substances that enhance the action of enzymes and thereby aid in catalyzing biochemical reactions.) The vitamin B6 group is especially important to the function of the central nervous system, skin, and blood.”

 

3) Calcium, 23 mg, 2% daily value, ”the most plentiful mineral found in the human body. The teeth and bones contain the most calcium. Nerve cells, body tissues, blood, and other body fluids contain the rest of the calcium.”

 

The inactive ingredients listed were “Cellulose, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Methylcellulose, Glycerin.”

 

One thing I did not know was that Vitamin B6 actually enhances the effect of other drugs, this was surprising for me to find out. Also that we have so much of it just in a single serving of this product, why did they need to put in that much of it? What will happen from long term use of this product? Besides my initial concern over the B6 vitamin, I’m not concerned about any of the other active drugs. Your body can definitely because dependant on melatonin, because it will stop producing it on its own. After long term use you will probably have a hard time falling asleep without it. If taken properly and as directed then I don’t see a need to be concerned over Melatonin. Its when people don’t follow the directions that you can see the problems forming from it. That is their risk though, and even if they don’t follow the directions nothing crazy bad will happen to them.

 

In my opinion yes Melatonin from Natrol is safe to use, and yes I would recommend it to a friend or family member. As long as they are following the proper usage directions then they shouldn’t be negatively affected by melatonin in any way. I was especially impressed by Natrol’s superior quality testing, they are clearly devoted to keeping their quality of product high and their customers happy. With other brands of melatonin I would still think it’s fine for my loved ones to take them, but I would hope that they were taking a quality equally as high. From my research I feel confident recommending this to any young adult and up. I wouldn’t recommend this product to children. Just because taking something that your body naturally produces that young could eventually lead to them having troubles producing it themselves.

 

Works Cited

 

Melatonin. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.natrol.com/ingredients/melatonin/

 

Melatonin: How It Affects Sleep – Watch WebMD Video. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/video/melatonin-sleep

 

What Is Melatonin? (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/what-is-melatonin

 

Sleeping Aids- Melatonin

beerse Uncategorized

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVVbiJUv2OM

 

For this assignment, I selected Sleeping Aids, specifically melatonin, as my drug to analyze. Melatonin is a drug that I personally use quite frequently. I discovered it in high school, and thought it was great because I had a hard time falling asleep at night. After using it for several months I began to become concerned, I started needing it to fall asleep. Now I try to take it only when I really need to, generally if I’m feeling stressed or anxious about something, and my thoughts are keeping me awake. Or just if I really need to get a lot sleep that night and I want to fall asleep fast. So probably one or two nights out of every week. I chose this commercial because I thought it showed melatonin in a very positive light. The comparison of the woman taking melatonin falling asleep super fast and waking up feeling refreshed and happy, to the man lying awake next to her struggling to wake up the next morning and feeling extremely tired. This just showed how companies will try to make it look like their products will make your life one thousand times better.

 

Natrol Melatonin in their commercial claims to be the “number one brand of melatonin” on the market. From their website they make it easy for you to find the ingredients and actually take the time to explain the benefit of each one and why it’s in the product. I found this to be very nice and helpful, it did make me feel more trusting of this specific brand of Melatonin which I think was the goal of the company. Also on their website they have information about many different subjects relating to sleep, such as the sleep cycles, and how to use melatonin responsibly. In my opinion this was above and beyond what I would’ve expected a company to do for their product. I couldn’t find any negative aspects or scandals related to this company, I believe they are very trustworthy.

 

On Natrol’s About us page is states that “For over 35 years, Natrol has been a leading manufacturer of Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements and is dedicated to empowering consumers to “Own Your Health” with the help of our top-selling products, Melatonin, 5-HTP and Biotin. At the core of Natrol’s success is our unwavering focus on five strategic principles — Quality, People, Innovation, Customer Service, and Cost Effectiveness”. They also state that “We define quality as delivering safe, effective, and trustworthy products that meet consumers’ expectations every time.  Our quality assurance program is extensive and industry leading. We perform rigorous quality checks throughout our process from exhaustive supplier qualification screening to the sourcing of the best ingredients. We have consistently achieved the highest “A” rating from the Natural Products Association.”

 

I found this commercial on youtube, but it was originally played on television. From the age of the actors in the commercial, it looks to me that this product was being marketed to an older crowd. Anywhere from college students struggling to get enough sleep, to parents or the elderly. The commercials punch line is “own your sleep” meaning that people can take control and get the sleep they need through this product. One line from the commercial that I thought was interesting was that they claimed that this is the “one hundred percent number one drug free way to get healthier sleep”. It’s odd to me that they would use the language “drug free” when advertizing this sleeping aid. I think the reasoning behind this is that they want to appear as natural as possible, they heavily stress in the commercial that melatonin is non habit forming. They want to make people believe that taking melatonin is completely natural and healthy for you, so they must be targeting people who are health conscious. By exaggerating the benefits of taking melatonin the commercial also targets anyone who could be suffering from sleep problems. Natrol has a great marketing campaign that will spark the interests of many people who are concerned they might not be getting enough sleep. Making the product look natural, easy and effective will not stir up any concerns an individual might have, I also noticed that they didn’t list any negative side effects Melatonin might have at the end of the commercial. Not listing negative side effects of a product make it seem like there are no downsides of the product, which in my opinion is very deceptive of them.

 

On the Natrol website they have a Products by Ingredient list. Under the Advanced Sleep  Melatonin they list the active ingredients, their dosage, and what percent that is of your daily value. Natrol describes their product as “Advanced Sleep Melatonin is a 2-layer controlled release tablet that releases and an initial 5mg dosage to help you fall asleep fast, and then releases the remaining 5mg over time to help you stay asleep through the night.” The active ingredients are:

 

1) Melatonin, 10 mg, *(daily percentage not available), “a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that inhibits melanin formation and is thought to be concerned with regulating the reproductive cycle.”

 

2) Vitamin B6, 10 mg, 500% daily value, (A number of vitamins serve as coenzymes, substances that enhance the action of enzymes and thereby aid in catalyzing biochemical reactions.) The vitamin B6 group is especially important to the function of the central nervous system, skin, and blood.”

 

3) Calcium, 23 mg, 2% daily value, ”the most plentiful mineral found in the human body. The teeth and bones contain the most calcium. Nerve cells, body tissues, blood, and other body fluids contain the rest of the calcium.”

 

The inactive ingredients listed were “Cellulose, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Methylcellulose, Glycerin.”

 

One thing I did not know was that Vitamin B6 actually enhances the effect of other drugs, this was surprising for me to find out. Also that we have so much of it just in a single serving of this product, why did they need to put in that much of it? What will happen from long term use of this product? Besides my initial concern over the B6 vitamin, I’m not concerned about any of the other active drugs. Your body can definitely because dependant on melatonin, because it will stop producing it on its own. After long term use you will probably have a hard time falling asleep without it. If taken properly and as directed then I don’t see a need to be concerned over Melatonin. Its when people don’t follow the directions that you can see the problems forming from it. That is their risk though, and even if they don’t follow the directions nothing crazy bad will happen to them.

 

In my opinion yes Melatonin from Natrol is safe to use, and yes I would recommend it to a friend or family member. As long as they are following the proper usage directions then they shouldn’t be negatively affected by melatonin in any way. I was especially impressed by Natrol’s superior quality testing, they are clearly devoted to keeping their quality of product high and their customers happy. With other brands of melatonin I would still think it’s fine for my loved ones to take them, but I would hope that they were taking a quality equally as high. From my research I feel confident recommending this to any young adult and up. I wouldn’t recommend this product to children. Just because taking something that your body naturally produces that young could eventually lead to them having troubles producing it themselves.

 

Works Cited

 

Melatonin. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.natrol.com/ingredients/melatonin/

 

Melatonin: How It Affects Sleep – Watch WebMD Video. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/video/melatonin-sleep

 

What Is Melatonin? (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/what-is-melatonin

 

I Need Some Caffeine

meyersj5 Uncategorized

The topic I chose to research was coffee. I chose this topic simply because it contains a drug that is frequently used in our society and it is a drug that is often seen as harmless without much reason to why it would or wouldn’t potentially be dangerous. Caffeine intake can come in various forms, including use of coffee, pre-workout, caffeine supplements, energy drinks and soda. Caffeine is a psychoactive, licit drug that is used very commonly in our society. Being a stimulant, caffeine will accelerate the activity of the central nervous system and its inhibitory effects include; alertness, wakefulness and increased heart rate, which can be helpful to some who need that extra boost in the morning or during the day when they are winding down and need more energy (caffeine). Since caffeine is often seen as a harmless, legal drug that everyone uses; it is easy for companies to use advertisements effectively.

How does it affect you?

The effects of caffeine may be felt for four to six hours and typically reaches its max level in your blood within one hour of consumption. Caffeine can also affect your body’s metabolism; which includes potentially interfering with absorption of calcium, increasing the release of acid in your stomach, acting as a diuretic and increasing blood pressure. Some side effects you may see if you consume too much caffeine include: restlessness, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, headaches, arrhythmia, dehydration, anxiety and dependency. Caffeine may affect each person differently, but normally it is not harmful to your health to consume up to 400 mg of caffeine in a day (Caffeine). Caffeine does have an addictive element and if you stop taking the drug, the symptoms of withdrawal may include: headaches, drowsiness, irritability, nausea and difficulty concentrating, but typically disappear after two or three days (Caffeine). According to the Healthline article, “In most people, there is no long-term effect on blood pressure, but if you have irregular heart rhythms, caffeine may make your heart work harder. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart-related problems” (The effects). So there are some cases where caffeine can potentially be dangerous for a person. While rare, death could occur to do convulsions or irregular heart beat when a person overdoses on the drug (The effects). Caffeine is also commonly mixed with alcohol to “cancel” out the effects of alcohol, which is a depressant. When caffeine is mixed with alcohol it can be easy to forget how much caffeine or alcohol you have consumed. Combining the effects make it easy for a person to make poor decisions such as driving while under the influence of alcohol and to be taken advantage of. In severe cases it can lead to death, especially if alcohol is combined with too many energy drinks. A Jägerbomb and Four Loko are popular drinks that do this. Too much of this on a given night and depending on the person, can lead to being hospitalized or even death due to a heart attack for example.

Friend or Just a Customer?

Another popular way caffeine is consumed is through coffee. I would say that it is typical for a cup of coffee to be part of a large amount of people’s daily routine; I myself regularly consume coffee about each morning. Advertisements for coffee typically show no stigma. The United States is the leading consumer in coffee consumption with Americans consuming about 146 billion cups of coffee per year. There are thousands of Starbucks across the country and as of July 2017, there are about 7,500 Starbucks-owned stores in the United States. Starbucks started in 1971, in Seattle, WA and has become the most popular name-brand coffee house. Billions of dollars are spent on advertising by Starbucks and it’s hard to miss their signs, billboards, commercials, etc all over the country and often attempt to make their advertisements as personal as possible for the consumers. In the advertisement for Starbucks, I found this to be pretty similar to most other Starbucks commercials. Their target audience is young adults and teens who are on-the-go and need a quick drink and a lot of times use the coffee shops as a place to socialize. In the advertisement, they use upbeat, feel good music combined with the images of steam coming from a fresh cup to help the audience associate their product with a positive vibe. They use “here’s to friendship” in an attempt to make the service seem more personal, while also emphasizing the display of the person’s name on the cup. But this commercial could be deceiving. Starbucks has millions of customers and the service doesn’t always seem as genuine as shown in the commercial. They use the word “friendship” in their ad but it is not uncommon for the barista to put little effort into writing the customer’s name on the cup. Also with regard to the writing of the customer’s name on the cup, the ad shows the name very neatly written and spelled correctly when really it isn’t uncommon for the customer’s name to be completely different from the one they are told and in writing that is hard to see. Also, I am not trying to say all Starbucks baristas don’t work hard at what they do, but with as many customers as Starbucks attracts there is almost no way each of your Starbucks experiences are going to be as personal as the one displayed in the ads. They also avoid displaying the price for the drink and for how cheap it is to make coffee; Starbucks seems to sell their drinks overpriced but instead grab the attention of the customers with the flashy drinks. They also typically offer certain drinks for a limited-time varying on the season, persuading the customers to come buy the product when they can before it’s gone until next year and will glorify it in their advertisements. In other advertisements I have seen when it comes to coffee and even other caffeine products, the people in the advertisements typically look distressed and “not themselves” until they have had their coffee and when they have their coffee, they appear more happy. They also typically offer certain drinks for a limited-time varying on the season, persuading the customers to come buy the product when they can before it’s gone until next year and will glorify it in their advertisements.

Taking it to the Next Level

Another way caffeine is consumed is through pre-workout, which is an interesting workout supplement because they almost always include large amounts of caffeine and this type of supplement seems to be becoming more popular among athletes and those who exercise regularly. In the Gold Standard pre-workout, the caffeine intake is 175 mg per serving. This is another way caffeine is normalized in our culture and is often seen as a legal way to gain an edge for athletes or anyone who likes to train as opposed to use of a substance that is illegal such as steroids. In the video advertisement for the Gold Standard pre-workout, use words like “energized”, “focused” and when the man in the video took a drink of the pre-workout, he instantly appeared stronger as if he were transforming into the hulk. This is deceptive because pre-workout is not something that will instantly make you stronger, rather it is something you use to help facilitate your workout that could help you eventually get to the desired physique. The advertisement also does not tell you what is in the supplement, rather it just shows you what it could help you become, and there are many other factors than using pre-workout to reach your fitness goals such as the type of exercises complete and nutrition.

In my opinion, I find this drug to be quite helpful and would recommend this to a good friend or family member. However, I would also recommend to my friend or family member that they use caffeine in small doses. Although if the person has high blood pressure or problems that are heart-related, I would advise those people to be cautious and watch their intake, if any.

Caffeine: MedlinePlus. (2017, September 29). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html

The Effects of Caffeine on Your Body. (2017, August 07). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body