Embarrassed to be in pharma

[Anonymous]

I completely agree, with one exception. You absolutely do not "choose to stay," they choose to let you. All it takes is one counterpart that doesn't like you and calls the ethics hotline on you (true or not), a manager that doesn't like you, a sample error...you name it, and you are burned. Trust me my friend, I was president's club one week, fired the next over something trivial and false. You serve at their pleasure.

so true

 

[Anonymous]

I am good friends with one of my doctors and we spent a couple of hours last week talking. She absolutely hears blah, blah, blah when the reps come in to talk about an older drug. (Where to sign is all she cares about.) In fact, she hates the detail and the close. There is no value there for her. She will do lunch but the canned close pisses her off. Now, even she is thinking of cutting out the rep lunches because nothing is new. Reps are not really helping her manage patients better and formularies dictate what drug the patient gets anyway. Does she really care what ARB or ACE she writes? No. She will let the side effects ON the patient decide what they can take and she will write the one that has the easiest dosing with the least side effects. With very few new products and a lack of trust in the new ones, there isn't much left of the industry. We can all do our best, but our best is not going to keep our jobs alive much longer. JMTC

God I hope your friend doesn't practice on any of my friends or relatives.
What a nitwit she sounds like, but some doctors are just worthless you know.

 

[Anonymous]

God I hope your friend doesn't practice on any of my friends or relatives.
What a nitwit she sounds like, but some doctors are just worthless you know.

I think the take-away was supposed to be "she sees no value" - reality the FP/IM/OB etc will rx the drug that causes the least call backs 'cus call backs cost them $$ and call backs are generated by two things 1)No or poor insurance coverage and side effects - if you can show the doc your drug minmizes call backs due to either better coverage or equiv. coverage and fewer side effects than you might have a track to run on

 

[Anonymous]

you are an idiot and know very little about how physicians think and practice

Doctors don't like the ads because then they have to stop and actually answer patient questions. There are times they have to act like they actually know anything about the products and why it is not right for the particular patient. As a consumer, I fully support DTP advertising.

There's a new allergy medicine out that doesn't make you sleepy? How would I know except for the ads? I've noted that I have severe seasonal allergies in my chart, but don't take anything for it because the old stuff knocked me out cold. Do you think my doc is going to read through my chart each time I come in for my yearly exam and will suggest the new med? No way, unless I complain again or suggest the med myself. Look, I understand docs are busier due to payers limiting payments, etc. But at the end of the day, I pay the doc to take care of me. It is my right and responsibility to be an informed consumer. I also respect if he suggests a different med or no med. But don't limit my sources of information and don't act like a consumer is insulting the doc by asking questions.

We know more about the cars we buy then the medicines we put in our bodies.

 

[Anonymous]

For all you crybabies out there, if you don't like your job, then get out. There really are plenty of jobs out there. Better yet, donate some of that overpaid salary to some children's homes or animal shelters.

And doctors do not like to see us, period.

 

[Anonymous]

For all you crybabies out there, if you don't like your job, then get out. There really are plenty of jobs out there. Better yet, donate some of that overpaid salary to some children's homes or animal shelters.

And doctors do not like to see us, period.

Hah - tell that to our manager. She wanted the top doctor list with the best time to see them and said she was going to make extra calls to these folks. Funny, the doctor's always laugh at her when she does ride alongs and she leaves the office. Mind you, she cant even follow the conversation because she doesn't know the disease state or understand the various drugs. A doctor asked her a question once and she said she hadn't been trained on the product.. dumb dumb dumb. But she writes everyone up in a heartbeat just to justify her job. Whatan ADHD bipolar idiot

 

[Anonymous]

God I hope your friend doesn't practice on any of my friends or relatives.
What a nitwit she sounds like, but some doctors are just worthless you know.

Why? She has an MD and you think some BS or BA selling XYZ drug is smarter? LOL! You're the nitwit. My doctor is probably one of the most well-read and up-to-date doctors in a 100 mile radius. Her practice has been full for decades years. I was very lucky she took me on and has never made one single mistake with my care. I consider a true partner in my health. You way over estimate the value of what a rep totting ten year old drugs brings to the table. It ain't much. I did NOT say she wasn't interested in NEW information or NEW guidelines, but she certainly does not need to hear: "Doctor, will you write my 10 year old ARB for your next 5 patients with hypertension who are not to goal?" Come on. That is such B.S. I hope to God you are not one of the reps that do this. My partner's wife is a PA and she had agreed to see reps until one day when an AZ rep came in and did the triple detail never even bothering to come up for air. That was the last day at that office for ALL reps. You need to get a clue.

 

[Anonymous]

Why? She has an MD and you think some BS or BA selling XYZ drug is smarter? LOL! You're the nitwit. My doctor is probably one of the most well-read and up-to-date doctors in a 100 mile radius. Her practice has been full for decades years. I was very lucky she took me on and has never made one single mistake with my care. I consider a true partner in my health. You way over estimate the value of what a rep totting ten year old drugs brings to the table. It ain't much. I did NOT say she wasn't interested in NEW information or NEW guidelines, but she certainly does not need to hear: "Doctor, will you write my 10 year old ARB for your next 5 patients with hypertension who are not to goal?" Come on. That is such B.S. I hope to God you are not one of the reps that do this. My partner's wife is a PA and she had agreed to see reps until one day when an AZ rep came in and did the triple detail never even bothering to come up for air. That was the last day at that office for ALL reps. You need to get a clue.

Your partner's wife needs to get a clue. It's stupid to ban ALL reps, ban the offenders. I don't know when mature, intelligent people will wise up and realize that you need to punish the offenders, not institute a new blanket policy affecting ALL reps.

The real problem here, even with old or me-to drugs, is the FDA. They have basically destroyed the ability of reps to be of value to their customers because we are so muzzled. The FDA should be concerned with safety ONLY. We should be free to discuss off-label uses as medicine is not practiced "on label" now is it? We should be free to discuss any new article for any use of our product or product class if it appears in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal. If this were the case, then we could truly be a valuable resource to our customers and they were enjoy seeing us as we could frequently bring some real value, instead of spouting the same tired, ole marketing spin.

Now is any of this likely to happen anytime soon? Unfortunately, no way! But still, it's important to correctly place the blame. It's not primarily the companies or individual reps who are to blame for this. The problem is not BIG pharma; the problem is BIG GOVERNMENT over-regulating and sticking their nose into private enterprise where they have no business.

 

[Anonymous]

Your partner's wife needs to get a clue. It's stupid to ban ALL reps, ban the offenders. I don't know when mature, intelligent people will wise up and realize that you need to punish the offenders, not institute a new blanket policy affecting ALL reps.

The real problem here, even with old or me-to drugs, is the FDA. They have basically destroyed the ability of reps to be of value to their customers because we are so muzzled. The FDA should be concerned with safety ONLY. We should be free to discuss off-label uses as medicine is not practiced "on label" now is it? We should be free to discuss any new article for any use of our product or product class if it appears in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal. If this were the case, then we could truly be a valuable resource to our customers and they were enjoy seeing us as we could frequently bring some real value, instead of spouting the same tired, ole marketing spin.

Now is any of this likely to happen anytime soon? Unfortunately, no way! But still, it's important to correctly place the blame. It's not primarily the companies or individual reps who are to blame for this. The problem is not BIG pharma; the problem is BIG GOVERNMENT over-regulating and sticking their nose into private enterprise where they have no business.

Could not agree more. Over regulation has killed our profession that and some of the nitwits that have been hired who do not have clue how to have a normal conversation with a doctor. However, would you see our run of the mill pharma rep if you were a busy doc? Seriously.

 

[Anonymous]

Hah - tell that to our manager. She wanted the top doctor list with the best time to see them and said she was going to make extra calls to these folks. Funny, the doctor's always laugh at her when she does ride alongs and she leaves the office. Mind you, she cant even follow the conversation because she doesn't know the disease state or understand the various drugs. A doctor asked her a question once and she said she hadn't been trained on the product.. dumb dumb dumb. But she writes everyone up in a heartbeat just to justify her job. Whatan ADHD bipolar idiot

Unfortunately this is the type of managers pharma hires today and has contributed greatly to the decline of the business. Idiots hiring idiots and we wonder why docs don't want to see us,lol.

 

[Anonymous]

Saw another ad for a pharm sales position ... borderline age discrimination because it was seeking "Recent College Graduate..." I've seen ads with lines "no more than five years since college graduation." and the like.

Why not just put in the ad "Send picture in cheerleader uniform along with resume"?

Another example of how a great career has become a joke, thanks to the hucksters that took it over a decade or so ago.

 

[Anonymous]

Saw another ad for a pharm sales position ... borderline age discrimination because it was seeking "Recent College Graduate..." I've seen ads with lines "no more than five years since college graduation." and the like.

Why not just put in the ad "Send picture in cheerleader uniform along with resume"?

Another example of how a great career has become a joke, thanks to the hucksters that took it over a decade or so ago.

so true...the greddy hucksters made a mess out of a once honorable profession...

the whole industry is circling the drain, but the only winners are the managers, senior managers, and newbie ken and barbies that need their first job...

everyone else is up a creek...

 

[Anonymous]

so true...the greddy hucksters made a mess out of a once honorable profession...

the whole industry is circling the drain, but the only winners are the managers, senior managers, and newbie ken and barbies that need their first job...

everyone else is up a creek...

It has become a total joke, a job for whores and jocks

professionals need not apply

 

[Anonymous]

I have never met ANYONE that went from pharma to device that would ever entertain getting back into pharma. I am in device now after 4 years in pharma. I had a recruiter call me for a DM position in pharma making maybe 160 out the door which is about 10 grand more than I make right now, and I said "I will entertain no pharma or pharma related jobs." The recruiter acted like they couldn't understand...Although I am sure they actually did deep down.

 

[Anonymous]

There are a few folks I know that have gone from device to pharma. Has to be just the right situation, but it does happen and for the right pharma job, it can make sense. But as a general rule, I can see how once somebody gets into device, they probably don't want to go back to pharma.

 

[Anonymous]

Device isn't a panacea.

 

[Anonymous]

I have never met ANYONE that went from pharma to device that would ever entertain getting back into pharma. I am in device now after 4 years in pharma. I had a recruiter call me for a DM position in pharma making maybe 160 out the door which is about 10 grand more than I make right now, and I said "I will entertain no pharma or pharma related jobs." The recruiter acted like they couldn't understand...Although I am sure they actually did deep down.

did you have managerial experience in pharma or are you just another bs artist here?

160 is good pay for virtually no headaches in a pharma DM role, at least compared to kissing doctor ass in device.

Just want to paint a fair balance for those that think device is so easy

 

[Anonymous]

Device isn't a panacea.

No job is, we are slaves to money then we die.

The only job I could see as being rewarding in a soul warming type of way would be working for a non profit helping people in real need.

 

[Anonymous]

No job is, we are slaves to money then we die.

The only job I could see as being rewarding in a soul warming type of way would be working for a non profit helping people in real need.

Boy, you just nailed it.

A few thoughts:

1. We are slave to the corporations, really. This is why is keep my mouth shut around management and do as they say when they are watching, but when I am on my own, its my time to do what I have to do to be successful.

2. Also, quality of life is much better than being a slave to a corporation. So, taking a lower paying job that improves quality of life is much better than taking a higher paying job that usually just leads to spending more money for stuff you don't need.

3. People that kiss ass are the worst kinds of people on planet Earth. There are so many in our industry that it makes me vomit. I am glad to be out of this industry and moved on into a teaching career that pays much less, but is more rewarding and has improved my quality of life tremendously.

 

[Anonymous]

Boy, you just nailed it.

A few thoughts:

1. We are slave to the corporations, really. This is why is keep my mouth shut around management and do as they say when they are watching, but when I am on my own, its my time to do what I have to do to be successful.

2. Also, quality of life is much better than being a slave to a corporation. So, taking a lower paying job that improves quality of life is much better than taking a higher paying job that usually just leads to spending more money for stuff you don't need.

3. People that kiss ass are the worst kinds of people on planet Earth. There are so many in our industry that it makes me vomit. I am glad to be out of this industry and moved on into a teaching career that pays much less, but is more rewarding and has improved my quality of life tremendously.

Just reread my post, and sorry for the errors in it.

I was typing so fast, because of my disgust with this industry. Not only pharma, but the sales profession in general.

It is such a half ass job.

Selling for others. Being treated like shit. And taking it up the ass everyday.

What a bad way to live.