Kim K's Social Media Mess

Kim Kardashian is a very well known individual, whether it be from her television show, "Keeping Up With The Kardashian's" or her marriage to singer/songwriter, Kanye West. With Kim being a very famous figure, she has a large number of followers on both Twitter and Instagram. Kim Kardashian posted the following on Instagram:

“OMG. Have you heard about this? As you guys know my #morningsickness has been pretty bad. I tried changing things about my lifestyle, like my diet, but nothing helped, so I talked to my doctor. He prescribed me #Diclegis, I felt a lot better and most importantly, it’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby. I’m so excited and happy with my results that I’m partnering with Duchesnay USA to raise awareness about treating morning sickness. If you have morning sickness, be safe and sure to ask your doctor about the pill with the pregnant woman on it and find out more at www.healthnewsreview.org/2015/08/fda-calls-canadian-drug-manufacturer-carpet-partnership-kim-kardashian.”

This post was then removed on Tuesday, August 11. The problem with this post is that Kim never put any of the side effects in her post. Even though she isn't a spokesperson for the drug, she is a very recognized individual and many people do listen to her. "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contacted Duchesnay, Inc and told them that they needed to take correct action for Kim's misleading information. The FDA also stated that the action needed to be corrected using the same form of social media." (Stone, 2015)

She has in turn put up a lengthy, but correct post on Instagram that states all the possible side effects and that you should consult a doctor before use. Below is what she posted on Sunday, August 30th:

kimkardashian#CorrectiveAd I guess you saw the attention my last#morningsickness post received. The FDA has told Duchesnay, Inc., that my last post about Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine HCl) was incomplete because it did not include any risk information or important limitations of use for Diclegis. A link to this information accompanied the post, but this didn’t meet FDA requirements. So, I’m re-posting and sharing this important information about Diclegis. For US Residents Only. 

• Diclegis is a prescription medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in women who have not improved with change in diet or other non-medicine treatments. 
  Limitation of Use: Diclegis has not been studied in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. 
  Important Safety Information 
  Do not take Diclegis if you are allergic to doxylamine succinate, other ethanolamine derivative antihistamines, pyridoxine hydrochloride or any of the ingredients in Diclegis. You should also not take Diclegis in combination with medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as these medicines can intensify and prolong the adverse CNS effects of Diclegis. 
  The most common side effect of Diclegis is drowsiness. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or other activities that need your full attention unless your healthcare provider says that you may do so. Do not drink alcohol, or take other central nervous system depressants such as cough and cold medicines, certain pain medicines, and medicines that help you sleep while you take Diclegis. Severe drowsiness can happen or become worse causing falls or accidents.
  Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Diclegis can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. You should not breastfeed while using Diclegis. 
  Additional safety information can be found at www.DiclegisImportantSafetyinfo.com or www.Diclegis.com. Duchesnay USA encourages you to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

This is a great example on how a celebrity can influence things that we take or use with just a simple post. Celebrities need to be careful when posting these, so they can avoid false or misleading advertising. With social media continuing to grow, the FDA is going to need to monitor many celebrities and their social media posts. It is important that you know what you're posting before you hit the send button because once it is seen by one person, then it is out there for good.  

The main thing that we can learn from Kim and her error is that it is important to know what you are posting when you hit the send button. It is also important to know that not everything a celebrity posts on their social media may be the whole truth. With all this being said, make sure you understand what you are posting and if you are second guessing yourself before you hit send, then you probably shouldn't post it. 

Stone, K. (2015, August 13). In Health News Review. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from http://www.healthnewsreview.org/2015/08/fda-calls-canadian-drug-manufacturer-carpet-partnership-kim-kardashian/