The following appeared in an article in a consumer-products magazine:
“Two of today’s best-selling brands of full-strength prescription medication for the relief of excess stomach acid, Acid- Ease and Pepticaid, are now available in milder nonprescription forms. Doctors have written 76 million more prescriptions for full-strength Acid-Ease than for full-strength Pepticaid. So people who need an effective but milder nonprescription medication for the relief of excess stomach acid should choose Acid-Ease.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
Acid-Ease and Pepticaid are brands of antacid medications that relieve uncomfortable symptoms of excess stomach acid such as heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach. Both brands have been on the market for decades, but, in recent years, Pepticaid has gradually been losing ground to its competitor, Acid-Ease. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but it may be that Acid-Ease makes a stronger, more effective product than Pepticaid, or that Pepticaid may be perceived by consumers to be less harsh than Acid-Ease. However, the article under discussion makes no attempt to explain why doctors might be prescribing Acid-Ease more frequently than Pepticaid
The first flaw present in the argument is the assumption that the two medications are of equal strength. In fact, the two drugs have very different chemical compositions, and over the years the makers of each have been keen to differentiate their products from their competitors. Pepticaid contains simethicone, a semi-solid compound that coats the stomach’s lining, reducing gastric acid secretion and neutralizing the acid that does escape. Those on Pepticaid report greater relief from symptoms of excess stomach acid than those who use Acid-Ease, but Acid-Ease contains sodium bicarbonate, which neutralizes stomach acid more quickly than simethicone
The article also ignores the possibility that Pepticaid may be perceived as less effective than Acid-Ease. This perception may be based on user testimonials, which suggest that Acid-Ease provides quicker relief than Pepticaid. In addition, medical literature provides conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of simethicone and sodium bicarbonate in neutralizing stomach acid. While several studies have found that simethicone is more effective than placebo in treating the symptoms of excess stomach acid, others have found that sodium bicarbonate is more effective. In addition, one study has found that simethicone and sodium bicarbonate are equally effective against the symptoms of excess stomach acid. Because Acid-Ease contains sodium bicarbonate, it is therefore possible that Pepticaid may also be perceived to be less effective than Acid-Ease
Another flaw in the argument is that it makes no mention of the severity of symptoms experienced by those using Acid-Ease and Pepticaid. Those who use Pepticaid report less discomfort than those using Acid-Ease. However, Pepticaid’s effectiveness in treating the symptoms of excess stomach acid may be hampered by the coating that simethicone forms in the stomach. Because Pepticaid contains simethicone, it may be less effective in treating cases of excess stomach acid that are caused by an underlying digestive problem than are cases of excess stomach acid caused by external factors such as overeating. In addition, simethicone may cause other side effects, such as diarrhea, headache, and nausea, that may make Pepticaid unsuitable for some users. On the other hand, Acid-Ease may be less effective in treating severe cases of excess stomach acid, although it should still relieve most cases of discomfort. For these reasons, a consumer who is suffering from severe symptoms of excess stomach acid may benefit from a prescription for either medication
In conclusion, the claims made in the argument are flawed. Although Acid-Ease contains sodium bicarbonate, which is more effective than simethicone at treating the symptoms of excess stomach acid, the article fails to mention that Pepticaid contains simethicone, which may cause additional side effects. In addition, the article does not explain why doctors are more likely to prescribe Acid-Ease than Pepticaid to their patients.