My observations
from a pharmacy assistant point of view are that Gaviscon users are mainly pregnant women and middle aged, red faced, barrel shaped men.
Laxative users are usually little old ladies and codeine addicts (who can be any sex or age, but mostly middle aged, and they know what they're doing because they've been taking it for years thankyouverymuch, how dare you suggest that they might be better off without it).

People with genuine medical complaints generally get what they need on prescription (including Gaviscon and laxatives). But marketing in the world of medicine is a law unto itself and can be as funny as it is crass. I mean, really, when you're aiming your advert at someone who has a bodily function failure, and is going to be - let's face it - getting intimite with your product, you're beyond euphemism.

At work we have a number of staff mugs. I don't mind having a brew in the Anadin mug, in fact I tend to favour the Nasaleze mug with its cheery orange and yellow writing, but I cannot bring myself to drink from the Canestan cup, no matter how thirsty I am.

Reminds me of an anecdote our locum told us today - she'd received an abusive complaint from a man who was unhappy with his constipation meds. "They don't work and they taste disgusting!" he shouted for all in the pharmacy to hear. He'd been eating his suppositories.
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Sat 19 Dec 2009, 1:10, Reply)