Now there's a word, "Teratogenic" - one most of you will be unaware of - one that has caused me considerable confusion over the past few weeks. I shall explain.
The recent GSK vs Kilker case saw files flood the Internet, many of which, if not all, are featured on this blog and my sister blog, GlaxoSmithKline Internal Files
What I find astounding is that this word, "Teratogenic" and/or "Teratogen" often appears throughout the Kilker files. A quick search of the word/s simplifies it into laymans terms:
Teratogenic: Able to disturb the growth and development of an embryo or fetus.
Teratogen: Any agent that can disturb the development of an embryo or fetus. Teratogens may cause a birth defect in the child. Or a teratogen may halt the pregnancy outright. The classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal infections, chemicals, and drugs.
What has caused me much confusion over the past few weeks is the lack of help I have received trying to find out more about the paroxetine [Paxil, Seroxat] and teratogen link.
The Kilker case files show a link between paroxetine and its teratogenic effect, such a strong link that the jury in that case found that paroxetine was the causation of young Lyam Kilker being born with heart defects.
As a patient/concerned UK citizen I have tried to ask questions regarding this link.
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
I think it is absolutely disgraceful that an ordinary person, especially maybe a woman considering pregnancy, cannot get a simple straightforward answer to a most basic question about an SSRI.
ReplyDeleteA point well taken in the Kilker trial, was that Glaxo deliberately hid the fact that Paxil is a teratogin for about 20 years.
The opening statement in the next birth defect jury trial, out of over 600(I think there's one this month), should point out Fiddy's attempt to get an answer to the question in 2009.
One more thing.
ReplyDeleteHere's an exact quote from a court filing in a birth defect case in the US, maybe you can inform the regulators or Glaxo officials who don't seem to know the answer your question:
"Although GSK did not do the kind of animal testing that would show, one way or the other, whether Paxil is teratogenic, its competitor Schering Plough did. The result is the Sloot paper, published in May of this year, which finds that Paxil is a 'clear teratogen.'"
Writing award for you at my blog....with respect.
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly Susan
ReplyDelete