These two slipped under the radar, proof that settlements made out of court rarely make the news when settled at an early stage.
This from Bloomberg, April 30th 2009
GlaxoSmithKline was to go to trial May 4 in Philadelphia on claims by the family of Thomas Turek, who killed himself on his 47th birthday in 2003, eight days after he started taking Paxil.
Side Effects
The antidepressant made him agitated and paranoid, and the company understated its side effects, his family said.
The judge refused to throw out the case, citing the Wyeth decision. Glaxo settled April 24 on confidential terms.
Sarah Alspach, a Glaxo spokeswoman, confirmed the settlement and declined to comment further.
The court’s decision on the Turek case will be extended to about 25 other Paxil suits in Philadelphia, the patients’ lawyer Bijan Esfandiari said. The first trial will be July 20.
Glaxo, based in London, also settled a Paxil case set for trial May 4 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after the court rejected the preemption argument because of the Wyeth decision. The family of Jack Van Dyke sued in 2005, claiming Paxil was responsible for his suicide. Settlement terms weren’t disclosed.
----
Fid
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Zantac Lawsuit
Researching drug company and regulatory malfeasance for over 16 years
Humanist, humorist
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Lyre Bird... Pronounced 'Liar'
The bird that mimics.
Amazing, this bird takes on the role of something that he thinks he is.
Luckily, Pharma don't have control of the Bird Kingdom.
Fid
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Amazing, this bird takes on the role of something that he thinks he is.
Luckily, Pharma don't have control of the Bird Kingdom.
Fid
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Unhappy Australian GSK Rep Lets Rip
This from the Cafe Pharma Forum.
Cafe Pharma is a forum where reps, former reps, and employees and former employees of GlaxoSmithKline speak their minds.
[The following post was emailed to the entire country. I agree with every thing this rep has said. The state has been turned into XXX to protect the guilty.]
To all the good people and good friends that I've made at GSK. My time here is almost up. Unfortunately, I've been the victim of a witch hunt set out to find something - anything- against me. I was not surprised to learn that this is a common trend here in XXX. For example, were you aware that the XXX sales force have had a turn-over of around 60% in the last 12 months? I'm sure if I, or any of my fellow colleagues, had been privy to this alarming statistic four months ago, we may have taken other offers made to us by other companies. Instead we've all fallen victims to the culture of fear, preferential treatment and promotion of total incompetents occurring here in XXX.
So, in my case, the XXX State Manager and one of her carefully groomed and chosen DBMs, have levelled some incredible allegations against me. I have been accused of not being a team-player and ignoring the needs of my colleagues. This came about when a trusted colleague lied to protect themselves and therefore implicating me instead. The blame and responsibility for their lack of commitment was conveniently laid at my feet. This lie was subsequently supported by a grossly incompetent, semi-literate DBM who never thought to ask me whether the story was true or, in fact, a total fabrication. I'd like to take this opportunity to warmly thank that colleague for the warm, friendly gesture of ramming the knife securely between my shoulder blades. My family thanks you as well.
I've also had defamatory allegations, of entering fraudulent calls, made against me. Let me assure you that these are completely baseless allegations and I have not even been permitted to gather evidence to support my innocence. It seems that there is a risk of damage to GSK's reputation. Naturally, my reputation, and indeed my career, were not as important. It's ironic that the same DBM who has made the accusation has had a history of entering fraudulent calls himself. How many? It's so difficult to tell. I only searched through two bricks and was able to find 6 separate bogus calls. Calls that have been entered as "face to face", then the notes go on to explain that the doctors were not seen. This is a fact buried in the details and only someone looking for it would find it. However, within frequency and coverage, these calls would be counted as "face to face". Doesn't frequency and coverage directly relate to bonuses? Wouldn't that be considered as defrauding the company? Hmmm, food for thought. I'm being terminated and he's been promoted 3 separate times in one year.
I am sure that most people are aware of the situation that has been allowed to occur for several years in XXX sales. To find out that several others have been performance managed out over ridiculous claims and accusations as I have is cause for anger to say the least. Why is this behaviour permitted? Why are so many people coming then going from XXX? Why is GSK prepared to spend so much money and time recruiting only to have to lose those people again and again? Why isn't enough being done to remedy the problem? Everyone in the company knows what the problem is, surely. It is a serious problem - a disease as dangerous as any cancer. You can't keep removing cells from around the disease. You need a bold and fearless surgeon who will come in with the scalpel and start cutting at the infected and rotted flesh. It is the only way to ensure the problem ends once and for all.
It's too late for me. I'm sure I'll be finally terminated on Monday, especially after this email. But for all of my friends remaining in XXX, take great care. Unfortunately you must remain ever-vigilant against inconsistent behaviour from some of your managers. It seems that their poor performance has been tolerated and, as reward, they've been promoted. You must ensure you're always giving your best - but on the other hand, over-performing may guarantee you a target on your back. Some managers are a little insecure of their own talent and skills (why wouldn't they be?) and might see your hard work as an attempt to usurp them. It's bloody backwards.
All those that I've befriended, I wish you the best of luck and a stress-free career. Thanks for the good memories, laughs and friendship. You'll all be missed. Please don't respond to this email. I won't be logging on again. Bye guys.
For more news on how GSK run their company visit HERE
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Cafe Pharma is a forum where reps, former reps, and employees and former employees of GlaxoSmithKline speak their minds.
[The following post was emailed to the entire country. I agree with every thing this rep has said. The state has been turned into XXX to protect the guilty.]
To all the good people and good friends that I've made at GSK. My time here is almost up. Unfortunately, I've been the victim of a witch hunt set out to find something - anything- against me. I was not surprised to learn that this is a common trend here in XXX. For example, were you aware that the XXX sales force have had a turn-over of around 60% in the last 12 months? I'm sure if I, or any of my fellow colleagues, had been privy to this alarming statistic four months ago, we may have taken other offers made to us by other companies. Instead we've all fallen victims to the culture of fear, preferential treatment and promotion of total incompetents occurring here in XXX.
So, in my case, the XXX State Manager and one of her carefully groomed and chosen DBMs, have levelled some incredible allegations against me. I have been accused of not being a team-player and ignoring the needs of my colleagues. This came about when a trusted colleague lied to protect themselves and therefore implicating me instead. The blame and responsibility for their lack of commitment was conveniently laid at my feet. This lie was subsequently supported by a grossly incompetent, semi-literate DBM who never thought to ask me whether the story was true or, in fact, a total fabrication. I'd like to take this opportunity to warmly thank that colleague for the warm, friendly gesture of ramming the knife securely between my shoulder blades. My family thanks you as well.
I've also had defamatory allegations, of entering fraudulent calls, made against me. Let me assure you that these are completely baseless allegations and I have not even been permitted to gather evidence to support my innocence. It seems that there is a risk of damage to GSK's reputation. Naturally, my reputation, and indeed my career, were not as important. It's ironic that the same DBM who has made the accusation has had a history of entering fraudulent calls himself. How many? It's so difficult to tell. I only searched through two bricks and was able to find 6 separate bogus calls. Calls that have been entered as "face to face", then the notes go on to explain that the doctors were not seen. This is a fact buried in the details and only someone looking for it would find it. However, within frequency and coverage, these calls would be counted as "face to face". Doesn't frequency and coverage directly relate to bonuses? Wouldn't that be considered as defrauding the company? Hmmm, food for thought. I'm being terminated and he's been promoted 3 separate times in one year.
I am sure that most people are aware of the situation that has been allowed to occur for several years in XXX sales. To find out that several others have been performance managed out over ridiculous claims and accusations as I have is cause for anger to say the least. Why is this behaviour permitted? Why are so many people coming then going from XXX? Why is GSK prepared to spend so much money and time recruiting only to have to lose those people again and again? Why isn't enough being done to remedy the problem? Everyone in the company knows what the problem is, surely. It is a serious problem - a disease as dangerous as any cancer. You can't keep removing cells from around the disease. You need a bold and fearless surgeon who will come in with the scalpel and start cutting at the infected and rotted flesh. It is the only way to ensure the problem ends once and for all.
It's too late for me. I'm sure I'll be finally terminated on Monday, especially after this email. But for all of my friends remaining in XXX, take great care. Unfortunately you must remain ever-vigilant against inconsistent behaviour from some of your managers. It seems that their poor performance has been tolerated and, as reward, they've been promoted. You must ensure you're always giving your best - but on the other hand, over-performing may guarantee you a target on your back. Some managers are a little insecure of their own talent and skills (why wouldn't they be?) and might see your hard work as an attempt to usurp them. It's bloody backwards.
All those that I've befriended, I wish you the best of luck and a stress-free career. Thanks for the good memories, laughs and friendship. You'll all be missed. Please don't respond to this email. I won't be logging on again. Bye guys.
For more news on how GSK run their company visit HERE
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Freedom of Information Response from MHRA - Re: British TV Promoting Erectile Dysfunction Tablets?
The MHRA have replied to a Freedom of Information [FOI] request of mine regarding my query into, what I deem, as blatant advertising of prescription drugs on British television. For US/Canadian readers off this blog, prescription drugs are not allowed on British TV screens.
The ad in question promotes the website 40over40.com, a website sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company.
The actual 30 second commercial is here:
The ad in question promotes the website 40over40.com, a website sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company.
The actual 30 second commercial is here:
Under the FOI, I wrote the MHRA with the following:
Dear MHRA,
I gather from your website that a complaint/s was made regarding the airing of an ad on British TV regarding 40over40.com - [SEE MHRA WEBSITE]
Under the FOI could you please release the said complaint/s and a copy of your decision not to uphold this complaint/s - i.e.; reasons why etc.
Regards
Bob Fiddaman
---
Seroxat Sufferers
http://fiddaman.blogspot.com
The MHRA have kindly produced a copy of their decision to me and a copy of the original complaint to them.
Before I show you the documents I would like to draw your attention to Statutory Instrument 1994 No. 1932 [The Medicines (Advertising) Regulations 1994]. In particular, PART III, 7, where it states quite clearly:
Prohibition of advertisements for medicinal products on prescription only
7. Subject to regulation 11, no person shall issue an advertisement which is likely to lead to the use of a relevant medicinal product which is a medicinal product for supply by prescription only and which is subject to any of the restrictions imposed by section 58(2) of the Act.
Now, like it or not, the above 30 second commercial, directs people [customers] to a webpage where Eli Lilly's, Cialis is promoted. Furthermore, the subtitle that appears in the 30 second ad, '12 year study of US males. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study 1994', really has no place on a commercial aimed at British viewers. It's misleading.
I see this as a crystal clear infringement of the Act.
Here is a copy of the response I received from the MHRA regarding my FOI request
Here is a copy of the original complaint made to the MHRA dated 19th August 2008. The name, for obvious reasons has been redacted.
Rather than respond to the information the MHRA sent me, I shall cut and paste this post and send it to them.
Fid
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Monday, April 27, 2009
Hamilton Depression Scale and GSK
According to Wikipedia The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), also known as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) or HAM-D, is a 21-question multiple choice questionnaire that clinicians may use to rate the severity of a patient's major depression. Max Hamilton originally published the scale in 1960 and reviewed and evaluated it in 1966,1967,1969 and 1980.
A paper released in 2008, that a reader kindly sent me, entitled, 'Sensitivity of the individual items of the Hamilton depression rating scale to response and its consequences for the assessment of efficacy', begs to differ.
The conclusion of the paper:
In conclusion, this study adds further data to the body of evidence that HAM-D17 is not the most sensitive measure of treatment effect in depression trials. This is especially important in early clinical development studies, in which relatively small patient populations are included, increasing the risk of false negative results. The social and financial costs of false negative results are not acceptable in an indication which urges for medicines with a better efficacy profile.
Furthermore, we show that a considerable reduction in population size can be achieved when the subscales are used due to an increase in statistical power to detect differences from placebo. Such a smaller group size does not only reduce the run time of a study, it is also limits the unnecessary exposure of patients to placebo treatment. From the two subscales we have devised, subscale 1, derived from graphical analysis of the longitudinal patterns of individual items, performs better in the detection of treatment effect than subscale 2. Therefore,we recommend the use of this response-based HAM-D7 subscale as primary endpoint for the statistical analysis of efficacy data rather than the HAM-D17.
As with all papers, a conflict of interest declaration was made:
There are no arrangements of financial nature, or of any other kind, that could lead to conflict of interests with regard to this manuscript.
One look at two of the three co-authors of this paper would suggest otherwise.
Meindert Danhof works at the Clinical Pharmacology and Discovery Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline, Verona, Italy
and
Oscar Della Pasqua is part of Clinical Pharmacology and Discovery Medicine, GlaxoSmithKline, Greenford, United Kingdom.
Role of funding source:
This manuscript is part of a PhD research fellowship programme sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, UK. GlaxoSmithKline had no further role in the research rationale, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
In this particular study they assessed the sensitivity of the individual HAM-D17 items in differentiating responders from non-responders over the typical treatment period used in clinical efficacy trials. Based on data from randomised, placebo controlled trials with paroxetine, a graphical analysis and a statistical analysis were performed to identify the items that are most sensitive to the rate and extent of response irrespective of treatment.
It's very scientific in nature but when paroxetine is used in any study it raises an eyebrow, particularly from me. Even more so when part of the team doing the study work for the manufacturer of paroxetine.
Basically, paroextine is about as useful as a chocolate teapot but to hide that fact, this paper claims that the Hamilton Depression Scale is not sensitive enough to detect responders to their drug!
Paroxetine is useless so they don’t think the HAM-D scale should be used in its entirety – just those parts of it that make their drug look better than placebo.
Genius marketing once again from the boys of Glaxo.
Didn't Glaxo manipulate data in the 329 study too?
The paper can be downloaded here.
Fid
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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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The Misguided
I have no comment to make on the following 'thoughts' of Lisa C. DeLuca other than her theory on SSRIs & SNRIs is, in my opinion, wrong.
Read her thoughts here
Fid
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Read her thoughts here
Fid
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Paxil in pregnancy - Vogue tackles the issue.
Gianna Kali over at Beyond Meds has an interesting article regarding pregnancy and antidepressant use. The article is from Vogue, a top selling magazine that will hopefully reach a wide audience. The drug they have focused on is GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil.
Hats off to Vogue for highlighting the dangers of Paxil.
I have images of Doctor's surgery staff being instructed to remove all copies of Vogue from the magazine piles in waiting rooms across the globe.
Fid
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Two latest stories from Evelyn Pringle
Two latest stories here from the walking typewriter, Evie Pringle.
Mothers Act Disease Mongering
"Katherine Stone’s website, Postpartum Progress, serves as one of the most prolific disease mongering campaigns on the internet in support of the Mothers Act legislation, coming up for vote in the US Senate in the near future.
The legislation refers to postpartum depression and psychosis only. However, Big Pharma funded supporters of the Mothers Act have transformed the language of the Act to “perinatal mood and anxiety disorders” to create a new cottage industry for the psycho-pharmaceutical cartel out of the four million women a year who give birth in the US."
and
Just Say No to the Mothers Act
"The customer base the psycho-pharmaceutical industry is hoping to corral through passage of the Mothers Act is the more than four million women who give birth in the US each year. That number was 4,317,119 in 2007, according to the CDC.
The Act's passage, after eight years of solid efforts, would set the stage for the screening of all pregnant women for a whole list of mental disorders. The bill has already passed in the US House of Representatives and will soon be up for a vote in the Senate."
Both brilliantly written... both well worth a read.
Fid
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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Mothers Act Disease Mongering
"Katherine Stone’s website, Postpartum Progress, serves as one of the most prolific disease mongering campaigns on the internet in support of the Mothers Act legislation, coming up for vote in the US Senate in the near future.
The legislation refers to postpartum depression and psychosis only. However, Big Pharma funded supporters of the Mothers Act have transformed the language of the Act to “perinatal mood and anxiety disorders” to create a new cottage industry for the psycho-pharmaceutical cartel out of the four million women a year who give birth in the US."
and
Just Say No to the Mothers Act
"The customer base the psycho-pharmaceutical industry is hoping to corral through passage of the Mothers Act is the more than four million women who give birth in the US each year. That number was 4,317,119 in 2007, according to the CDC.
The Act's passage, after eight years of solid efforts, would set the stage for the screening of all pregnant women for a whole list of mental disorders. The bill has already passed in the US House of Representatives and will soon be up for a vote in the Senate."
Both brilliantly written... both well worth a read.
Fid
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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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How would you describe the culture at GSK?
A question put to members of Cafepharma, a forum where reps, employees and former employees of GlaxoSmithKline get together to bitch about this particular pharmaceutical company.
How would you describe the culture at GSK?
Here's some of the answers:
"Kind of like a sick dog, that is clueless how to help itself, so it takes out its frustrations by actually biting itself. Yah, I think that would kind of sum it up!"
----
"One word.......CRIMINAL."
----
"Like weeks old milk- lumpy, sour, and definitely spoiled!"
----
"Culture...hmmm.... like...ahhhh...yogurt. More liked spoiled milk.The longer it is around ,the more it stinks."
----
Another thread asks the question, "Is GSK the company to join?"
Some answers:
"...Not only is GSK NOT the company to join, but it is not the industry to join either. I am not trying to be funny or cute, just being serious, just as you asked."
----
"I was in the home office for 13 years. DO NOT join this company. It is in a death spiral. The stress level and morale is way high and way low respectively. Management is terrible. They keep the bad ones and the good leave for other companies as soon as they can get out."
----
"I am one of countless people who would love to get the hell out of GSK if the market were better. GSK is one frustration after another and everyone is miserable."
----
For more opinions visit the following thread.
From GSK's website:
Our culture is summed up in the GSK spirit that defines the qualities we expect all our employees to embrace:
Fid
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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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How would you describe the culture at GSK?
Here's some of the answers:
"Kind of like a sick dog, that is clueless how to help itself, so it takes out its frustrations by actually biting itself. Yah, I think that would kind of sum it up!"
----
"One word.......CRIMINAL."
----
"Like weeks old milk- lumpy, sour, and definitely spoiled!"
----
"Culture...hmmm.... like...ahhhh...yogurt. More liked spoiled milk.The longer it is around ,the more it stinks."
----
Another thread asks the question, "Is GSK the company to join?"
Some answers:
"...Not only is GSK NOT the company to join, but it is not the industry to join either. I am not trying to be funny or cute, just being serious, just as you asked."
----
"I was in the home office for 13 years. DO NOT join this company. It is in a death spiral. The stress level and morale is way high and way low respectively. Management is terrible. They keep the bad ones and the good leave for other companies as soon as they can get out."
----
"I am one of countless people who would love to get the hell out of GSK if the market were better. GSK is one frustration after another and everyone is miserable."
----
For more opinions visit the following thread.
From GSK's website:
Our culture is summed up in the GSK spirit that defines the qualities we expect all our employees to embrace:
- performance with integrity
entrepreneurial spirit
focus on innovation
a sense of urgency
passion for achievement
Fid
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Sunday, April 26, 2009
Prince Charles, Oil & GlaxoSmithKline
I find this astounding.
You'd have to be a hermit to not know who Prince Charles is and an alien if you didn't know that he is slightly eccentric. His stance on alternative medicine was highlighted on this blog back in March. His Duchy Originals company had been told to change the wording of a campaign promoting two herbal medicines, after a regulatory authority ruled claims in the advert were misleading.
Even more odd is Prince Charles complementary medicine charity, The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health whom apparently hold investments in oil, gas, pharmaceutical and arms companies.
£112,000 in Artemis UK Special Situations, which includes investments in BP, Shell, GlaxoSmithKline and BAE systems.
The Charities Commision has a downloadable document for Charles’ ‘complementary medicine’ charity that show all the investments.
Source: - Republic Blog
Fid
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You'd have to be a hermit to not know who Prince Charles is and an alien if you didn't know that he is slightly eccentric. His stance on alternative medicine was highlighted on this blog back in March. His Duchy Originals company had been told to change the wording of a campaign promoting two herbal medicines, after a regulatory authority ruled claims in the advert were misleading.
Even more odd is Prince Charles complementary medicine charity, The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health whom apparently hold investments in oil, gas, pharmaceutical and arms companies.
£112,000 in Artemis UK Special Situations, which includes investments in BP, Shell, GlaxoSmithKline and BAE systems.
The Charities Commision has a downloadable document for Charles’ ‘complementary medicine’ charity that show all the investments.
Source: - Republic Blog
Fid
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This size-8 girl was able to buy diet pills [Alli] at her local chemists
Source: The Irish Independent
Irish chemists are selling a new 'over the counter' diet pill to healthy thin young girls -- despite reassurance by the drug's manufacturers that staff will only sell the drug to people who suffer from obesity.
An investigation carried out by The Sunday Independent has found that every chemist approached by the newspaper was happy to sell the 'miracle' new weight loss pill Alli to a size-eight woman.
This is despite the fact that the drugs makers GlaxoSmithKline have given reassurances that all pharmacists will be trained to calculate a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) -- which must be over 28) -- before selling the pill.
The shocking findings have left eating disorder support groups "deeply concerned" that the drug will now be open to widespread misuse.
At eight and a half stone, this reporter successfully purchased the tablets despite being well under the recommended 12 stone 5 pounds needed to meet the manufacturer's recommended guidelines.
In a straw poll of chemists in Dublin and Kildare, every one approached was willing to sell the drug.
Although the drug's makers have said chemists had been trained to weigh customers and ask them suitable "fielding" questions on their motivation for taking the drug -- The Sunday Independent uncovered an incredibly lax attitude towards its sale.
When asked for a packet of the tablets, a staff member at one high-profile chemist chain in Dublin's city centre area said: "You do know this is only for obese people?" before shaking her head, smiling, and ringing the product through the till.
While another chemist worker simply asked if it was "any good?" before taking it to the cash register.
A number of staff were also prepared to sell the diet pill even when the product was purchased alongside a packet of laxatives -- a substance well-known for its abuse among the dieting community.
One 22-year-old student who managed to purchase the tablets despite being a size eight described how she will be using the drug to help her with her bikini-diet.
"I've heard loads about the pill in glossy magazines and I'm so happy it's finally out. If it actually does what it promises to do and matches every two pounds I lose with another pound then I'll be thrilled," she enthused.
When contacted, a spokesperson for GlaxoSmithKline said they were "very surprised" to hear chemists were selling the drug to healthy young women.
"We have been rolling out a training programme for the past three months" he said. "The key thing we wanted to get across is that they cannot sell it to people with a BMI lower than 28. There is absolutely no wriggle room in that."
Hailed as a new wonder drug, Alli went on sale in Ireland amidst much hype last week.
It works by flushing out up to 25 per cent of the fat from all food consumed and forcing the undigested fat to pass straight through the body, creating what is described as "an urgent need to go to the bathroom".
Clinical trials show that Alli, when used in conjunction with a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet, can help people lose 50 per cent more weight than by dieting alone.
Users of the drug can lose 3lbs a week, according to its manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, which equates to more than three stone over four months.
The recommended dose of Alli is one 60mg capsule three times a day with meals containing the recommended amount of fat (15 grams).
Speaking about the new drug, a spokesperson for Bodywhys said: "A high proportion of those affected by eating disorders misuse other medications such as laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to attain or maintain a low body weight. Our concern would be around ensuring that this new medication does not become a new mechanism for that purpose."
- NIAMH HORAN
Hat-Tip - Truthman
----
Fid
More about Glaxo's 'Alli'
Xenical/Alli - Can it cause heart attacks?
Diet drug Xenical renamed Alli, still a cancer worry
GlaxoSmithKline Complaints Dept
GSK 'Crossing the line with Alli
GSK's Alli and The Obesity Society
GlaxoSmithKline's 'Belly' laugh
Lose Weight with GSK's Alli...
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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Lawsuits Needed Against Prescribing Quacks
Another great article by Evelyn Pringle
On April 21, 2009, the Miami Herald reported that a 7-year-old boy in Florida, Gabriel Myers, had committed suicide by hanging himself with a detachable shower head in a bathroom of the foster care home he was placed in three weeks earlier.
All total, the Herald found the child had been given the ADHD drug Vyvanse, the antidepressant Lexapro, the atypical antipsychotic, Zyprexa, and Symbyax, a drug that contains both Prozac and Zyprexa.
The most appalling part of this story is that Dr Sohail Punjwani, the shrink who was supposedly treating Gabriel, told the Herald that he did not even recall the boy.
FULL STORY HERE
Fid
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Increased Paxil Dose
An oh so familiar question on the brilliant Paxil Progress Forum.
GlaxoSmithKline and medicine regulators should take heed of this forum. They should read each individual complaint and ask themselves why they are not doing more to help these sufferers.
Here's the post that caught my eye.
Hi everyone and thanks for any and all advice and reassurance. I'm sure the answers are all in PP somewhere, but I cant be bothered to look through them all right now.
In a nutshell, I was put on Paxil at age 17 for anxiety, and stayed on 20mg for years with no difficulties. I am now 29. About 6 months ago I tried to slowly decrease, and got sick once at 10mg. Physically and emotionally a mess. The doctor bumped me back up to 40mg, and about 2 months ao I decreased back down to 35mg, which is where I'm at right now.
My question is how long does is take once increasing the dose to level out. I feel way better than 5 months ago, but still notice "waves." I'll feel good for a few weeks, then have periods of anxiety, nausea, tremors, intrusive thoughts, then it all passes and I feel good again. Is this normal, and any ideas how long this goes for?
My goal is to try to get a healthy as possible and stabilized in my life before stating the sloooow decrease process again.
Thanks for any help
----
Luckily, there are a good number of people at Paxil Progress who will be able to advise, unlike the regulators of the drugs you and I take.
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
GlaxoSmithKline and medicine regulators should take heed of this forum. They should read each individual complaint and ask themselves why they are not doing more to help these sufferers.
Here's the post that caught my eye.
Hi everyone and thanks for any and all advice and reassurance. I'm sure the answers are all in PP somewhere, but I cant be bothered to look through them all right now.
In a nutshell, I was put on Paxil at age 17 for anxiety, and stayed on 20mg for years with no difficulties. I am now 29. About 6 months ago I tried to slowly decrease, and got sick once at 10mg. Physically and emotionally a mess. The doctor bumped me back up to 40mg, and about 2 months ao I decreased back down to 35mg, which is where I'm at right now.
My question is how long does is take once increasing the dose to level out. I feel way better than 5 months ago, but still notice "waves." I'll feel good for a few weeks, then have periods of anxiety, nausea, tremors, intrusive thoughts, then it all passes and I feel good again. Is this normal, and any ideas how long this goes for?
My goal is to try to get a healthy as possible and stabilized in my life before stating the sloooow decrease process again.
Thanks for any help
----
Luckily, there are a good number of people at Paxil Progress who will be able to advise, unlike the regulators of the drugs you and I take.
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Saturday, April 25, 2009
DEATH BY PRESCRIPTION
Death by Prescription is the new book by Terence Young. Terence is the founder and Chair of Drug Safety Canada, a research and public advocacy organization based in Oakville. He has been active in issues related to prescription drug safety since 2000, after losing his fifteen year old daughter Vanessa to the Johnson & Johnson prescription drug Prepulsid.
His website, http://www.deathbyprescription.com/ carries the tag:
DEATH BY PRESCRIPTION
A FATHER TAKES ON HIS DAUGHTER'S KILLER - THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
Terence Young’s Book Launch Speech can be read HERE and HERE you can listen to Terence’s April 14, 2009 talk with Mike Stafford, host of the Stafford Show on AM640 Toronto Radio.
Terence, along with Neil Carlin and Mary Ann Murray, have all been campaigning for stronger measures to prevent such deaths in the future.
Their story can be read HERE
I stand right beside Terence, Neil and Mary in their quest for the truth.
You can order a copy of the book HERE
In Death by Prescription you will learn:
That the Canadian Pharmacists’ Association – who have good business reasons to want people to buy drugs, report that between $2 – $9 billion is wasted every year on inappropriately used drugs.
How forty-one drugs have been pulled off the market since the sixties and no one at Health Canada even kept a record of why.
How one drug was responsible for the deaths of as many U.S citizens as the Vietnam War.
How in Ontario, when a drug causes a patient death, the Coroner’s office routinely categorizes that as a ‘natural’ death.
How the big pharma companies cover up deaths by blaming them (in many cases with no evidence) on overdose, another drug, or the patient themselves.
How one decision by a lone drug reviewer at Health Canada could lead to over $100 million in sales for one drug if they approve it, yet reviewers attend closed-door meetings, where no minutes are taken, with drug company executives.
How doctors accept and distribute over $4 billion a year in ‘free samples’ of new drugs that are in fact in Phase Four of clinical trials, and any patient taking a new drug is part of a giant trial to which few have consented.
How the pharmaceutical companies spend $20,000 a year on average per doctor – mostly to “high scrip docs” – to create debts of gratitude the doctors have only one way to repay: by testing the newest and most expensive drugs on you and your family members.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Three Cheers for SSRIs
Interesting, if somewhat misguided, article on empowher.com that has invoked many comments.
The article may invoke you to respond too.
Here it is.
When Prozac first hit the market in 1988 people were frightened of it. TV talk show hosts like Phil Donahue dedicated entire episodes to the new antidepressant claiming the drug caused people to do crazy things like put their babies in the oven or try to commit suicide.
Once the negative exposure surrounding the Vista Lab drug died down people quickly learned that Prozac was good news. The SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressant was the biggest thing to happen in psychiatric pharmacology since the advent of antidepressants in the 1960’s that included drugs like Elavil and Anafranil.
Prozac’s function involves balancing levels of Serotonin in patient’s brains thereby improving moods for many. It didn’t take long before millions of Americans went on the drug, some with tremendous results. In the years that followed, other SSRI’s were developed including Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro and others, and have met with great success for many.
There is a reason why these pharmaceutical companies are doing so well selling these drugs. It’s because they work and today 11% of the population in the United States takes the drug regularly. The vast majority of patients taking Prozac agree that taking a chemical to improve their quality of life is worth it.
Depression, sleepiness or insomnia, unexplained aches and pains, fatigue, loss of interest in doing things a person used to love are all signs of a possible brain chemistry imbalance. Anyone with these symptoms would be remiss not to ask their doctor about antidepressants. In addition the drug can be prescribed for post partum depression and PMS.
You can view the comments HERE
Fid
The article may invoke you to respond too.
Here it is.
When Prozac first hit the market in 1988 people were frightened of it. TV talk show hosts like Phil Donahue dedicated entire episodes to the new antidepressant claiming the drug caused people to do crazy things like put their babies in the oven or try to commit suicide.
Once the negative exposure surrounding the Vista Lab drug died down people quickly learned that Prozac was good news. The SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressant was the biggest thing to happen in psychiatric pharmacology since the advent of antidepressants in the 1960’s that included drugs like Elavil and Anafranil.
Prozac’s function involves balancing levels of Serotonin in patient’s brains thereby improving moods for many. It didn’t take long before millions of Americans went on the drug, some with tremendous results. In the years that followed, other SSRI’s were developed including Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro and others, and have met with great success for many.
There is a reason why these pharmaceutical companies are doing so well selling these drugs. It’s because they work and today 11% of the population in the United States takes the drug regularly. The vast majority of patients taking Prozac agree that taking a chemical to improve their quality of life is worth it.
Depression, sleepiness or insomnia, unexplained aches and pains, fatigue, loss of interest in doing things a person used to love are all signs of a possible brain chemistry imbalance. Anyone with these symptoms would be remiss not to ask their doctor about antidepressants. In addition the drug can be prescribed for post partum depression and PMS.
You can view the comments HERE
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Seroxat / Paxil antidepressant – addiction is real.
I have been alerted to this article on NowPublic.com. It pretty much hits the nail on the head regarding Seroxat addiction.
Seroxat / Paxil antidepressant – addiction is real.
Can your Doctor differentiate between you as a patient being unhappy through circumstances as to your life events from physical degradation of your mind; from chemical imbalance caused by reactions by other medications, from chemicals in foods/beverages, from chemicals in the atmosphere; from possible electromagnet radiation (electronic devices) ; from data overload (information); from low moral/esteem (constant bombardment of announced Gov failure); from mental abuse at work?. Indeed how well does your Doctor know your current situation given Government targets and pay related performance in reducing waiting lists and appointment periods.
To diagnose depression one is prescribed Anti-depressants to which it is usually advised that their effectiveness takes a few days while what is not stated is that such drugs like Paxil(US) / Seroxat(UK) may be additive and have may have horrifying side-effects and protracted withdrawal symptoms. No mention is made either towards hypnotic effects as stated in the trademark applied for in the US by German drug Company of Boehringer Ingelheim G.m.b.H. on the 28th March 1980 whom described the medication as an “hypnotic drug for human use” and not as an Antidepressant!. Of the side-effects is heightened Anxiety mentioned or an intolerance towards others in wanting to be away from them (self seclusion) in a zombie state of mind and not wanting to become an hypnotists stage dummy open to suggestion!. Of course one cannot reason the latter one only knows to do it without question. The withdrawal symptoms can be very severe and to miss a mornings dosage ones becomes aware that afternoon with slight tingling as to fingers, a numbness sensation to the face and remoteness to be more alone. By day three one is very anxious with uncontrollable tears as the body shakes itself apart through uncontrolled nervous tremors. I personally always ended up at a hospital A&E on day three having drove off in the need to be alone but forgetting to take my Seroxat with me!.
DRUG ADDICTION. Is it right that such drugs are accompanied by Patient Information Leaflets ( PIL ) that simply state that there is no scientific evidence which suggests that this medication is addictive – as acceptable to both Drug Companies and the EU. Do rats in laboratories complain of human symptoms having pre-trialled such drugs ?. What is a meaningful definition for the word ADDICTION?. Could it someone whom has experienced a pleasurable mental state and cannot cease thoughts about wanting to revisit it and thus taking chemicals again to achieve it OR perhaps in an OPPOSITE SENSE is it about being “put” in a locked mental state of mind to which one is enforces oneself to take more medication else become more incapacitated by not doing so?
The article was written by someone who uses the username 'professor'
Fid
Seroxat / Paxil antidepressant – addiction is real.
Can your Doctor differentiate between you as a patient being unhappy through circumstances as to your life events from physical degradation of your mind; from chemical imbalance caused by reactions by other medications, from chemicals in foods/beverages, from chemicals in the atmosphere; from possible electromagnet radiation (electronic devices) ; from data overload (information); from low moral/esteem (constant bombardment of announced Gov failure); from mental abuse at work?. Indeed how well does your Doctor know your current situation given Government targets and pay related performance in reducing waiting lists and appointment periods.
To diagnose depression one is prescribed Anti-depressants to which it is usually advised that their effectiveness takes a few days while what is not stated is that such drugs like Paxil(US) / Seroxat(UK) may be additive and have may have horrifying side-effects and protracted withdrawal symptoms. No mention is made either towards hypnotic effects as stated in the trademark applied for in the US by German drug Company of Boehringer Ingelheim G.m.b.H. on the 28th March 1980 whom described the medication as an “hypnotic drug for human use” and not as an Antidepressant!. Of the side-effects is heightened Anxiety mentioned or an intolerance towards others in wanting to be away from them (self seclusion) in a zombie state of mind and not wanting to become an hypnotists stage dummy open to suggestion!. Of course one cannot reason the latter one only knows to do it without question. The withdrawal symptoms can be very severe and to miss a mornings dosage ones becomes aware that afternoon with slight tingling as to fingers, a numbness sensation to the face and remoteness to be more alone. By day three one is very anxious with uncontrollable tears as the body shakes itself apart through uncontrolled nervous tremors. I personally always ended up at a hospital A&E on day three having drove off in the need to be alone but forgetting to take my Seroxat with me!.
DRUG ADDICTION. Is it right that such drugs are accompanied by Patient Information Leaflets ( PIL ) that simply state that there is no scientific evidence which suggests that this medication is addictive – as acceptable to both Drug Companies and the EU. Do rats in laboratories complain of human symptoms having pre-trialled such drugs ?. What is a meaningful definition for the word ADDICTION?. Could it someone whom has experienced a pleasurable mental state and cannot cease thoughts about wanting to revisit it and thus taking chemicals again to achieve it OR perhaps in an OPPOSITE SENSE is it about being “put” in a locked mental state of mind to which one is enforces oneself to take more medication else become more incapacitated by not doing so?
The article was written by someone who uses the username 'professor'
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Thursday, April 23, 2009
It's Here...Finally - The God's of Rock, AC/DC, Have Landed in Birmingham
Off to see AC/DC tonight with my son at Birmingham LG Arena [Formerly NEC]
It's been 7 years since I last saw AC/DC - Apollo [London] - [Formerly Hammersmith Odeon]
It's been 8 to 9 years since they last toured the world!
Tickets are apparently exchanging hands for ridiculous prices but this is something I will treasure.
My son is off to serve his country soon. It will be father and son rocking out to the best band in the world... bar none!
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK... WE SALUTE YOU.
Here's what's in store for us tonight:
Fid
It's been 7 years since I last saw AC/DC - Apollo [London] - [Formerly Hammersmith Odeon]
It's been 8 to 9 years since they last toured the world!
Tickets are apparently exchanging hands for ridiculous prices but this is something I will treasure.
My son is off to serve his country soon. It will be father and son rocking out to the best band in the world... bar none!
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK... WE SALUTE YOU.
Here's what's in store for us tonight:
Fid
SEROXAT SUFFERERS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
British drugs giant GSK sees profits slide
Source: Euro News 24
LONDON - Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline said on Wednesday that net profit sank 13.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009, blaming fierce competition from generic drugmakers.
GSK said net profit tumbled to 1.13 billion pounds in the three months to March, compared with the same period of 2008.
First-quarter profit performance adversely impacted by gross margin decline due to US generic competition, one-off research and development write-offs and other back-office costs, GSK said in a statement.
Full story HERE
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
LONDON - Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline said on Wednesday that net profit sank 13.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009, blaming fierce competition from generic drugmakers.
GSK said net profit tumbled to 1.13 billion pounds in the three months to March, compared with the same period of 2008.
First-quarter profit performance adversely impacted by gross margin decline due to US generic competition, one-off research and development write-offs and other back-office costs, GSK said in a statement.
Full story HERE
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Miami Herald Broward child's suicide raises questions about medication
Source: Miami Herald
A Broward foster child who killed himself last week had been prescribed powerful psychiatric drugs, some of which the FDA does not approve for children.
A Broward foster child who killed himself last week had been prescribed powerful psychiatric drugs, some of which the FDA does not approve for children.
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER
April 21, 2009
Gabriel Myers, the 7-year-old Broward boy who hanged himself in the shower of his foster home
Weeks before his death, Gabriel Myers, the 7-year-old Broward boy who hanged himself in the shower of his foster home, had been prescribed a powerful mind-altering drug linked by federal regulators to an increased risk of suicide in children.
In all, Gabriel had been prescribed four psychiatric drugs, two or three of which he was taking at the time of his death, said Jack Moss, Broward chief of the state Department of Children & Families. Moss said he is not sure which medications the boy was taking because Margate police took the foster home's medication log as part of an investigation into Gabriel's death last week.
Full story HERE
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Internet Stalker
It seems my Internet stalker is now posting articles as 'Fiddy' on his doppelganger blog.
I suppose I should take it as a form of flattery that someone should think that I am so important and they wish to impersonate me.
Very odd behaviour for someone of his age.
* Obsession - compulsion: an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone.
His motives?
Answers on a postcard please.
Fid
I suppose I should take it as a form of flattery that someone should think that I am so important and they wish to impersonate me.
Very odd behaviour for someone of his age.
* Obsession - compulsion: an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone.
His motives?
Answers on a postcard please.
Fid
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Monday, April 20, 2009
Paxil & Birth Defects: **NEW VIDEO**
The following video will, if you have anything about you, move you so much that you may even shed a tear or want to put your fist through your monitor. It has just appeared on youtube.
If ever there was a reason to hate, no, fucking detest GlaxoSmithKline - then watch the following 9 minutes or so.
Utter, despicable scumbags.
I hope one day criminal charges will be brought against this company. I hope all those that have been responsible for the suppression in Paxil/Seroxat data, that includes high ranked officials of the FDA, MHRA, Key opinion leaders and GSK, beg forgiveness as the Judge passes sentence on their pathetic, low-life asses.
Fid
Attorneys Mike Papantonio and Mark Robinson Jr. discuss drug company GlaxoSmithKline’s culpability in birth defects caused by anti-depressant SSRI Paxil, which many doctors prescribed for post-partum depression and anxiety.
Hat tip - The Truthman
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
If ever there was a reason to hate, no, fucking detest GlaxoSmithKline - then watch the following 9 minutes or so.
Utter, despicable scumbags.
I hope one day criminal charges will be brought against this company. I hope all those that have been responsible for the suppression in Paxil/Seroxat data, that includes high ranked officials of the FDA, MHRA, Key opinion leaders and GSK, beg forgiveness as the Judge passes sentence on their pathetic, low-life asses.
Fid
Attorneys Mike Papantonio and Mark Robinson Jr. discuss drug company GlaxoSmithKline’s culpability in birth defects caused by anti-depressant SSRI Paxil, which many doctors prescribed for post-partum depression and anxiety.
Hat tip - The Truthman
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Drugging Kids With No Verifiable Disease
Psychiatry’s marketing strategy is to invent diagnoses out of thin air and call them diseases as an excuse to prescribe drugs, according to Dr Fred Baughman, author of The ADHD Fraud.
Full article by Evelyn Pringle HERE
Full article by Evelyn Pringle HERE
SEROXAT SUFFERERS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Panorama and 'Bitter Pill' Seroxat documentaries triumph at Mental Health Media Awards 2003
Found this earlier. Further proof that the media provides a great service when reporting the true facts.
Source: mhmedia.com
Panorama (BBC for BBC1) and West Eye View: Bitter Pill (A Carlton Production for the West of England (HTV West) are celebrating wins at the Mental Health Media Awards 2003, for their powerful documentaries about the controversial SSRI anti-depressant drug, Seroxat.
The annual Mental Health Media Awards — now in their 10th year — recognise the best in reporting and portrayals of mental health issues in the broadcast media.
'Panorama: The Secrets of Seroxat' and 'Seroxat: Emails from the Edge' (BBC for BBC 1) received a special Public Impact award from Mental Health Media. The documentaries showed just how powerful the voice of mental health service users and survivors can be, fuelling furious public and media debate whilst demonstrating how broadcasters can both sensitively and successfully reach out and touch the lives of the wider public.
Investigative, challenging and powerful, the programmes were considered by judges to have potentially changed lives, and crucially, contained the testimonies of the people who had responded to the Panorama team following the broadcast of the 'The Secrets of Seroxat' in their thousands.
The controversy surrounding Seroxat was also the subject of West Eye View: Bitter Pill (A Carlton Production for the West of England (HTV West) which scooped the prize in the TV Documentary category. This outstanding documentary was praised by judges for its "empowering and influential" exposé of the problems people in the West of England had experienced whilst taking or withdrawing from Seroxat. Giving a local voice to a national issue, West Eye View: Bitter Pill was described by one judge as "vindication for all of those who had experienced difficulties whilst withdrawing from Seroxat, but were told that the drug and the subsequent symptoms were unrelated".
Mark Ashton, Series Producer commented: "I'm grateful to HTV West for their sensible and mature approach to current affairs broadcasting, giving their producers the opportunity to make articulate and conscientious programmes about issues of public importance and in winning this award, its clear that their commitment has paid off. When West Eye View: Bitter Pill was broadcast, we received huge mailbags of correspondence from viewers wanting to know more about the potential side-effects and withdrawal problems of Seroxat. These were real people, with real jobs, who after having gone to their GP showing symptoms of depression or anxiety, had walked out with a packet of Seroxat, when primarily, they needed advice, or at the very least deserved honest and explicit information about the drug they were about to take".
Source: mhmedia.com
Panorama (BBC for BBC1) and West Eye View: Bitter Pill (A Carlton Production for the West of England (HTV West) are celebrating wins at the Mental Health Media Awards 2003, for their powerful documentaries about the controversial SSRI anti-depressant drug, Seroxat.
The annual Mental Health Media Awards — now in their 10th year — recognise the best in reporting and portrayals of mental health issues in the broadcast media.
'Panorama: The Secrets of Seroxat' and 'Seroxat: Emails from the Edge' (BBC for BBC 1) received a special Public Impact award from Mental Health Media. The documentaries showed just how powerful the voice of mental health service users and survivors can be, fuelling furious public and media debate whilst demonstrating how broadcasters can both sensitively and successfully reach out and touch the lives of the wider public.
Investigative, challenging and powerful, the programmes were considered by judges to have potentially changed lives, and crucially, contained the testimonies of the people who had responded to the Panorama team following the broadcast of the 'The Secrets of Seroxat' in their thousands.
The controversy surrounding Seroxat was also the subject of West Eye View: Bitter Pill (A Carlton Production for the West of England (HTV West) which scooped the prize in the TV Documentary category. This outstanding documentary was praised by judges for its "empowering and influential" exposé of the problems people in the West of England had experienced whilst taking or withdrawing from Seroxat. Giving a local voice to a national issue, West Eye View: Bitter Pill was described by one judge as "vindication for all of those who had experienced difficulties whilst withdrawing from Seroxat, but were told that the drug and the subsequent symptoms were unrelated".
Mark Ashton, Series Producer commented: "I'm grateful to HTV West for their sensible and mature approach to current affairs broadcasting, giving their producers the opportunity to make articulate and conscientious programmes about issues of public importance and in winning this award, its clear that their commitment has paid off. When West Eye View: Bitter Pill was broadcast, we received huge mailbags of correspondence from viewers wanting to know more about the potential side-effects and withdrawal problems of Seroxat. These were real people, with real jobs, who after having gone to their GP showing symptoms of depression or anxiety, had walked out with a packet of Seroxat, when primarily, they needed advice, or at the very least deserved honest and explicit information about the drug they were about to take".
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Teenage Girls Sue Over GSK's Cancer Jab, Cervarix!
According to the Sunday Express [19th April 2009] a group of teenage girls are suing GlaxoSmithKline over their cervical cancer jab, Cervarix. [See report here]
Only last month, The Daily Mail reported that more than 1,300 schoolgirls have experienced adverse reactions to the controversial cervical cancer jab.
Doctors have reported that girls aged just 12 and 13 have suffered paralysis, convulsions and sight problems after being given the vaccine.
Dozens were described as having pain 'in extremity' while others suffered from nausea, muscle weakness, fever, dizziness and numbness.
Today's news should come as no shock. Last year I highlighted on this blog about the dangers of Cervarix and pointed toward children's websites that were promoting GSK's vaccine.
Websites such as Lola'sLand, where it's young readers are told that HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection and is the main cause of cervical cancer. What the website fails to point out is:
The FDA has, for four years, known that HPV was not the cause of cervical cancer.
and
Why HPV infections are self-limiting and pose no real danger in healthy women.
You may also remember the uproar when Paul Blackburn was appointed to the board of Ofsted last year. Blackburn is a senior vice-president at GlaxoSmithKline. His appointment came two weeks before the company won a reported £100million contract to vaccinate all schoolgirls of 12 and 13 against the sexually transmitted virus linked to cervical cancer.
Blackburn, later resigned due to public pressure. In July last year Ofsted sent me an email after receiving mine. They confirmed that it was agreed in discussions that Paul [Blackburn]would resign.
This won't be the first time GlaxoSmithKline have faced the wrath of teenage girls. A high school science experiment by two 14-year-old girls embarrassed the world's second-largest food and pharmaceutical company, Glaxosmithkline.
This from the New Zealand Herald, Mar 24, 2007
The charges, brought by the Commerce Commission, arose from an investigation by Pakuranga College students Anna Devathasan and Jenny Suo into the vitamin C levels of the popular Ribena drink, which has sales of about $8 million a year.
The students - now 17 - decided in mid-2004 to test the vitamin C levels of their favourite juices, including Ribena, Just Juice and Arano, for a school project.
They calculated that each 100ml of Ribena contained about 22mg of vitamin C.
Just Juice products contained levels of about 72mg.
The figure for Ribena seemed too low, particularly as the company had promoted the product by claiming that blackcurrants had four times the vitamin C of oranges.
"We thought we were doing it wrong, we thought we must have made a mistake," Anna said.
The girls got short shrift when they took their observations to GlaxoSmithKline.
In a letter, the girls described its advertising as "intentionally misleading and quite inappropriate".
When they got no response, they telephoned the company.
"They didn't even really answer our questions. They just said it's the blackcurrants that have it, then they hung up," Jenny said.
Undeterred, the girls contacted the Advertising Standards Authority, and Brandpower, but still got no satisfaction.
But then the television consumer affairs show Fair Go picked up the story and suggested the girls take their findings to the Commerce Commission.
The pair put the matter out of their minds, until the prosecution made the news about a month ago. "It's completely unbelievable," Jenny told the Weekend Herald .
"It's pretty crazy when you realise how much power you can have, as a kid as well." The girls have since visited the company to be thanked "for bringing it to our attention".
GSK's TV advertisements claimed "the blackcurrants in Ribena have four times the vitamin C of oranges".
----
On March 27, 2007, GSK pleaded guilty in an Auckland District Court to 15 charges relating to misleading conduct brought against them under the Fair Trading Act by New Zealand's Commerce Commission.
As for Cervarix, think twice before allowing your daughter this vaccine. If, at this early stage, Glaxo are being threatened with a lawsuit then think about the long-term implications of anyone taking this vaccine. Let's face it, Glaxo have a pretty poor history when it comes to children and the drugs they aim at them.
Fid
The charges, brought by the Commerce Commission, arose from an investigation by Pakuranga College students Anna Devathasan and Jenny Suo into the vitamin C levels of the popular Ribena drink, which has sales of about $8 million a year.
The students - now 17 - decided in mid-2004 to test the vitamin C levels of their favourite juices, including Ribena, Just Juice and Arano, for a school project.
They calculated that each 100ml of Ribena contained about 22mg of vitamin C.
Just Juice products contained levels of about 72mg.
The figure for Ribena seemed too low, particularly as the company had promoted the product by claiming that blackcurrants had four times the vitamin C of oranges.
"We thought we were doing it wrong, we thought we must have made a mistake," Anna said.
The girls got short shrift when they took their observations to GlaxoSmithKline.
In a letter, the girls described its advertising as "intentionally misleading and quite inappropriate".
When they got no response, they telephoned the company.
"They didn't even really answer our questions. They just said it's the blackcurrants that have it, then they hung up," Jenny said.
Undeterred, the girls contacted the Advertising Standards Authority, and Brandpower, but still got no satisfaction.
But then the television consumer affairs show Fair Go picked up the story and suggested the girls take their findings to the Commerce Commission.
The pair put the matter out of their minds, until the prosecution made the news about a month ago. "It's completely unbelievable," Jenny told the Weekend Herald .
"It's pretty crazy when you realise how much power you can have, as a kid as well." The girls have since visited the company to be thanked "for bringing it to our attention".
GSK's TV advertisements claimed "the blackcurrants in Ribena have four times the vitamin C of oranges".
----
On March 27, 2007, GSK pleaded guilty in an Auckland District Court to 15 charges relating to misleading conduct brought against them under the Fair Trading Act by New Zealand's Commerce Commission.
As for Cervarix, think twice before allowing your daughter this vaccine. If, at this early stage, Glaxo are being threatened with a lawsuit then think about the long-term implications of anyone taking this vaccine. Let's face it, Glaxo have a pretty poor history when it comes to children and the drugs they aim at them.
Fid
Saturday, April 18, 2009
NAMI - Drug Money Laundering is Illegal
The National Alliance for Mental Illness is the latest member of the psycho-pharmaceutical cartel whose Big Pharma money trail is under investigation by the US Senate Finance Committee, with Iowa’s Republican Senator Chuck Grassley leading the charge.
In an April 6, 2009 letter, Grassley asked NAMI to disclose all funding from drug makers and industry created foundations.
Read more of Evelyn Pringle's article HERE
Fid
In an April 6, 2009 letter, Grassley asked NAMI to disclose all funding from drug makers and industry created foundations.
Read more of Evelyn Pringle's article HERE
Fid
SEROXAT SUFFERERS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Out of their M.I.N.D.
A reader of Seroxat Sufferers contacted me via email to express her concerns over a recent email she had received from M.I.N.D. Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.
She had wrote them to tell of her concerns over the lack of help for people withdrawing from antidepressants.
Her email follows [Name REDACTED]
From: REDACTED
Date: 14 April 2009 16:26:52 BDT
To: contact@mind.org.uk
Subject: Lack of NHS support For Seroxat withdrawl sufferrers
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I feel I just had to write to you to ask you for your comments regarding the lack of support available for people who suffer from the withdrawal effects of antidepressants. I have suffered terribly for 4 years after stopping Seroxat. Apart from many debilitating physical symptoms I have also suffered from depression, very bad anxiety, panic,terror, memory loss tinnitus and severe problems with my balance. To date my Gp has offered no help ( although she believes my problems stem from stopping Seroxat) I have been sent for psychological help but waited 13 months for an appointment and was then offered stress management for a few weeks. Recently my Gp said I should try counselling which she arranged through NHs. I waited 7 months for an appointment for this I saw the counsellor today , explained all that's gone on for me over the last four years and she said "So how do you think I can help you?". This really is not good enough it is not for me to say what help I need . It is a very sorry state of affairs when Doctors prescribe drugs to people then abandon them when they suffer adverse effects when they stop them. It seems to me there is far more help and support for people who stop Street drugs than there is for people like me and so many others who have this problem after taking something prescribed by their GP.
I would appreciate your comments.
REDACTED
----
M.I.N.D. replied in the usual 'Fuck off it's not our problem' manner
From: MIND
Date: 17 April 2009 11:30:44 BDT
To: REDACTED
Subject: Lack of NHS support For Seroxat withdrawl sufferers
Hello Mrs REDACTED,
Thank you for your email dated 14 April 2009.
I understand you are looking for Mind’s comments on the lack of support available to people who are coming off Seroxat. You mention you have suffered for the last 4 years after withdrawing from this form of medication, which has caused you a number of side-effects.
It sounds as though you have been going through a difficult time and don’t feel as though you've been getting enough support, despite going to see a counsellor.
The MindinfoLine provides information, options and signposting to enquiries regarding all aspects of mental distress. As an information service, we are unable to comment about the lack of support you have received, however there are several ways you can get help and support outside of the NHS.
You may find it useful to contact the Seroxat user group. You can find more information about the group by clicking on the link below:
http://www.seroxatusergroup.org.uk/
There may also be support in your area. There are a number of local Mind associations (LMAs) throughout the country. Each local Mind association is a charity in its’ own right and affiliated to Mind. Each offers different support services dependent on their individual resources. Some of these services include information, advice, depression management, anxiety management and some LMAs offer a range of support groups. You would have to contact your local Mind association directly to see what is on offer. To find your nearest local Mind association go to:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/
There are several other organisations which may be able to provide you with some support at this time. I have listed their contact details below:
Depression Alliance
tel. 0845 123 2320
web: http://www.depressionalliance.org/
Provides information, support and understanding
First Steps to Freedom
tel: 0845 120 2916
web: http://www.first-steps.org/
Offers practical help to those who suffer from anxiety problems
No Panic
93 Brands Farm Way, Telford, Shropshire TF3 2JQ
helpline: 0808 808 0545
web: http://www.nopanic.org.uk/
Provides a helpline, step-by-step programmes, and support for those with anxiety disorders
You may also find it useful to read the following booklets:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+depression.htm
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+anxiety.htm
I hope this information helps.
----
Nice to see the leading mental health charity in England and Wales passing the buck to patient support groups - Amazing isn't it, these patient support groups were initially set up to offer help that charities such as MIND cannot give. It's high time they started to give patients support, they have much more clout than patient run groups... and much more money too!
The Seroxat User Group is a helpful group with tips on withdrawal. It's run by Janice Simmons, whom I have had the pleasure in speaking with. Janice has worked her nuts off regarding Seroxat awareness and has held meetings in the past with Gordon Brown and the MHRA on many occasions.
Depression Alliance?
I was quite shocked to see MIND recommend a 'charity' whose former CEO, Jim Thompson, acted like a petulant school kid when brought to task over funding DA received.
Type in 'Depression Alliance' in the search box at the top left of this page and you will get a gist of how and exactly what kind of people run Depression Alliance!
Another great source for information on Depression Alliance and it's former CEO is Seroxat Secrets.
Once again, we have a concerned patient writing to a leading mental health charity for support, once again this very same concerned patient is more or less told to 'fuck off and stop being a nuisance.'
This is appalling behaviour.
Help the woman, don't pass her around like some used rag doll. And if you are going to send her links to Depression Alliance then please do your homework on them first!
http://seroxatsecrets.wordpress.com/?s=depression+alliance
Fid
She had wrote them to tell of her concerns over the lack of help for people withdrawing from antidepressants.
Her email follows [Name REDACTED]
From: REDACTED
Date: 14 April 2009 16:26:52 BDT
To: contact@mind.org.uk
Subject: Lack of NHS support For Seroxat withdrawl sufferrers
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I feel I just had to write to you to ask you for your comments regarding the lack of support available for people who suffer from the withdrawal effects of antidepressants. I have suffered terribly for 4 years after stopping Seroxat. Apart from many debilitating physical symptoms I have also suffered from depression, very bad anxiety, panic,terror, memory loss tinnitus and severe problems with my balance. To date my Gp has offered no help ( although she believes my problems stem from stopping Seroxat) I have been sent for psychological help but waited 13 months for an appointment and was then offered stress management for a few weeks. Recently my Gp said I should try counselling which she arranged through NHs. I waited 7 months for an appointment for this I saw the counsellor today , explained all that's gone on for me over the last four years and she said "So how do you think I can help you?". This really is not good enough it is not for me to say what help I need . It is a very sorry state of affairs when Doctors prescribe drugs to people then abandon them when they suffer adverse effects when they stop them. It seems to me there is far more help and support for people who stop Street drugs than there is for people like me and so many others who have this problem after taking something prescribed by their GP.
I would appreciate your comments.
REDACTED
----
M.I.N.D. replied in the usual 'Fuck off it's not our problem' manner
From: MIND
Date: 17 April 2009 11:30:44 BDT
To: REDACTED
Subject: Lack of NHS support For Seroxat withdrawl sufferers
Hello Mrs REDACTED,
Thank you for your email dated 14 April 2009.
I understand you are looking for Mind’s comments on the lack of support available to people who are coming off Seroxat. You mention you have suffered for the last 4 years after withdrawing from this form of medication, which has caused you a number of side-effects.
It sounds as though you have been going through a difficult time and don’t feel as though you've been getting enough support, despite going to see a counsellor.
The MindinfoLine provides information, options and signposting to enquiries regarding all aspects of mental distress. As an information service, we are unable to comment about the lack of support you have received, however there are several ways you can get help and support outside of the NHS.
You may find it useful to contact the Seroxat user group. You can find more information about the group by clicking on the link below:
http://www.seroxatusergroup.org.uk/
There may also be support in your area. There are a number of local Mind associations (LMAs) throughout the country. Each local Mind association is a charity in its’ own right and affiliated to Mind. Each offers different support services dependent on their individual resources. Some of these services include information, advice, depression management, anxiety management and some LMAs offer a range of support groups. You would have to contact your local Mind association directly to see what is on offer. To find your nearest local Mind association go to:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/
There are several other organisations which may be able to provide you with some support at this time. I have listed their contact details below:
Depression Alliance
tel. 0845 123 2320
web: http://www.depressionalliance.org/
Provides information, support and understanding
First Steps to Freedom
tel: 0845 120 2916
web: http://www.first-steps.org/
Offers practical help to those who suffer from anxiety problems
No Panic
93 Brands Farm Way, Telford, Shropshire TF3 2JQ
helpline: 0808 808 0545
web: http://www.nopanic.org.uk/
Provides a helpline, step-by-step programmes, and support for those with anxiety disorders
You may also find it useful to read the following booklets:
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+depression.htm
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+anxiety.htm
I hope this information helps.
----
Nice to see the leading mental health charity in England and Wales passing the buck to patient support groups - Amazing isn't it, these patient support groups were initially set up to offer help that charities such as MIND cannot give. It's high time they started to give patients support, they have much more clout than patient run groups... and much more money too!
The Seroxat User Group is a helpful group with tips on withdrawal. It's run by Janice Simmons, whom I have had the pleasure in speaking with. Janice has worked her nuts off regarding Seroxat awareness and has held meetings in the past with Gordon Brown and the MHRA on many occasions.
Depression Alliance?
I was quite shocked to see MIND recommend a 'charity' whose former CEO, Jim Thompson, acted like a petulant school kid when brought to task over funding DA received.
Type in 'Depression Alliance' in the search box at the top left of this page and you will get a gist of how and exactly what kind of people run Depression Alliance!
Another great source for information on Depression Alliance and it's former CEO is Seroxat Secrets.
Once again, we have a concerned patient writing to a leading mental health charity for support, once again this very same concerned patient is more or less told to 'fuck off and stop being a nuisance.'
This is appalling behaviour.
Help the woman, don't pass her around like some used rag doll. And if you are going to send her links to Depression Alliance then please do your homework on them first!
http://seroxatsecrets.wordpress.com/?s=depression+alliance
Fid
SEROXAT SUFFERERS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Friday, April 17, 2009
Off Label Prescription Drugs - Unlicensed to Kill
It's that time of year when reality dawns. I sit here playing AC/DC, they played their first night in the UK last night and hit my hometown next week. My son and I will be attending, it will be our last time out together as he is heading off soon for a journey that will be 'eye opening' to say the least. Intensive training for 28 weeks then a future of tours with the British Army.
I'd love to give him the send off he deserves... I shall leave that to AC/DC. Anyway, I digress.
I wish to have a rant about off label prescriptions, more importantly, why I think this practice is unethical, dangerous and criminal.
For those that don't know, a doctor can prescribe drugs to patients that the MHRA have otherwise told him/her not to. This is called 'Off Label Prescribing' and leaves both the MHRA and pharmaceutical companies in the clear should the patient have adverse reactions to the drug... or worse still, die from taking it.
It's a powerful tool for both pharma and the MHRA because it lays no blame on them and they can use it as an excuse when questioned about the safety and efficacy of any given drug.
A classic example is witnessed in this video here. Chairman of the MHRA, Alasdair Breckenridge, clearly puts the onus on doctors regarding prescriptions being written for Seroxat and taken by children [0.56 Secs]
Breckenridge: "Remember Seroxat has never been licenced in children, it has never been licenced in children at all. But nevertheless, practitioners have, on their own behest, have used it extensively... our best evidence is that some 7,000 children a year were.. um children and adolescents... were receiving Seroxat."
I use Seroxat and Breckenridge as an example here because it is what I write about and because I have no video evidence of any MHRA member talking about any other SSRi.
Read more
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
I'd love to give him the send off he deserves... I shall leave that to AC/DC. Anyway, I digress.
I wish to have a rant about off label prescriptions, more importantly, why I think this practice is unethical, dangerous and criminal.
For those that don't know, a doctor can prescribe drugs to patients that the MHRA have otherwise told him/her not to. This is called 'Off Label Prescribing' and leaves both the MHRA and pharmaceutical companies in the clear should the patient have adverse reactions to the drug... or worse still, die from taking it.
It's a powerful tool for both pharma and the MHRA because it lays no blame on them and they can use it as an excuse when questioned about the safety and efficacy of any given drug.
A classic example is witnessed in this video here. Chairman of the MHRA, Alasdair Breckenridge, clearly puts the onus on doctors regarding prescriptions being written for Seroxat and taken by children [0.56 Secs]
Breckenridge: "Remember Seroxat has never been licenced in children, it has never been licenced in children at all. But nevertheless, practitioners have, on their own behest, have used it extensively... our best evidence is that some 7,000 children a year were.. um children and adolescents... were receiving Seroxat."
I use Seroxat and Breckenridge as an example here because it is what I write about and because I have no video evidence of any MHRA member talking about any other SSRi.
Read more
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
David Healy in fine form
Author of Shyness: How Normal Behavior Became a Sickness, Christopher Lane, has uploaded a recent interview he did with Prof. David Healy.
David Healy agreed to answer a number of questions about the growing prevalence and expanded definition of bipolar disorder.
Full Interview can be read here
----
Fid
David Healy agreed to answer a number of questions about the growing prevalence and expanded definition of bipolar disorder.
Full Interview can be read here
----
Fid
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Paroxetine - Brand name confusion
It has always baffled me why paroxetine has so many different brand names, the obvious choice would be to call the brand the same throughout the world wouldn't it?
Coca Cola, McDonalds, Pepsi are three world renowned brand names.
Why would a seller of a product wish to give that product a different name?
The skeptics amongst us [of which I know there are many] may suggest that it could be to deter future sales from falling should the product get a bad rap. Someone taking Seroxat here in the UK may read an article in a newspaper or magazine about Paxil or Aropax, they may read how a patient had suffered severe withdrawal effects and how advocates were calling for the drug to be banned... or at the very least, investigated.
It's clever marketing, a stroke of genius by Glaxo's marketing team.
The average amount of time the word 'Seroxat' is searched for on the Google search engine is approx 22,200 per month. [Using a world-wide search rather than regional]
Let's take a look at the other brand names:
Aropax or Oxetine in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Brazil, - 8,100/390 - Total 8,490
Aroxat or Aroxat CR in Chile, 880/58 - Total 938
Cebrilin in Latin America, 1,900
Deroxat in Switzerland and France, 590
Motivan and Paroxetina in Spain, 2,900/1,600 - Total 4,500
Optipar in Finland, 260
Paroxat in Germany and Hungary, 170
Paxil or Paxil CR in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Japan and Venezuela, 673,000/33,100 - Total 706,100
Pondera in Brazil, 3,600 [Note, that Pondera is also a County in the USA]
Posivil in Chile, 260
Pexot, Paraxyle and Plasare in Pakistan, 28/0/1,300 - Total 1,328 [Note, that Plasare is also a word used in many other countries]
Paradise CR in India 480
----
Hardly surprising that the UK and USA come out on top, both countries will on most search terms. If the source is correct, it baffles me why paroxetine goes by two different brands in Brazil and Chile and why it goes by three different brand names in Pakistan? All very odd yet quite genius.
There have been lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline regarding Paxil in the USA and there is a current Group Action against GlaxoSmithKline regarding Seroxat here in the UK. How long before other countries follow?
If Glaxo had given paroxetine just one brand name then this particular SSRi would have been up there with Coca Cola, McDonalds and Pepsi.
Maybe the reason they chose to use a whole host of different brand names was to keep their product's withdrawal reactions away from the watchful eyes of other countries.
Or am I just being cynical?
Fid
Brand names taken from http://www.mindsite.com/article/28/paroxetine
Search terms courtesy of https://adwords.google.com/
Coca Cola, McDonalds, Pepsi are three world renowned brand names.
Why would a seller of a product wish to give that product a different name?
The skeptics amongst us [of which I know there are many] may suggest that it could be to deter future sales from falling should the product get a bad rap. Someone taking Seroxat here in the UK may read an article in a newspaper or magazine about Paxil or Aropax, they may read how a patient had suffered severe withdrawal effects and how advocates were calling for the drug to be banned... or at the very least, investigated.
It's clever marketing, a stroke of genius by Glaxo's marketing team.
The average amount of time the word 'Seroxat' is searched for on the Google search engine is approx 22,200 per month. [Using a world-wide search rather than regional]
Let's take a look at the other brand names:
Aropax or Oxetine in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Brazil, - 8,100/390 - Total 8,490
Aroxat or Aroxat CR in Chile, 880/58 - Total 938
Cebrilin in Latin America, 1,900
Deroxat in Switzerland and France, 590
Motivan and Paroxetina in Spain, 2,900/1,600 - Total 4,500
Optipar in Finland, 260
Paroxat in Germany and Hungary, 170
Paxil or Paxil CR in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Japan and Venezuela, 673,000/33,100 - Total 706,100
Pondera in Brazil, 3,600 [Note, that Pondera is also a County in the USA]
Posivil in Chile, 260
Pexot, Paraxyle and Plasare in Pakistan, 28/0/1,300 - Total 1,328 [Note, that Plasare is also a word used in many other countries]
Paradise CR in India 480
----
Hardly surprising that the UK and USA come out on top, both countries will on most search terms. If the source is correct, it baffles me why paroxetine goes by two different brands in Brazil and Chile and why it goes by three different brand names in Pakistan? All very odd yet quite genius.
There have been lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline regarding Paxil in the USA and there is a current Group Action against GlaxoSmithKline regarding Seroxat here in the UK. How long before other countries follow?
If Glaxo had given paroxetine just one brand name then this particular SSRi would have been up there with Coca Cola, McDonalds and Pepsi.
Maybe the reason they chose to use a whole host of different brand names was to keep their product's withdrawal reactions away from the watchful eyes of other countries.
Or am I just being cynical?
Fid
Brand names taken from http://www.mindsite.com/article/28/paroxetine
Search terms courtesy of https://adwords.google.com/
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Mothers Act: Bad Movie Rerun
Mothers Act: Bad Movie Rerun
by Evelyn Pringle / April 15th, 2009
The promotion of the Mother’s Act is like a rewind of a bad movie dating back to the 1960’s when rock stars were singing songs about “mother’s little helpers.”
Women fought for years to gain acceptance of the fact that many female health problems were real and not symptoms of hypochondria. The psycho-pharmaceutical cartel’s profit-driven invention of an epidemic of pregnancy-related mental disorders will wipe out a century of work toward that acceptance.
Sadly, the end result of this latest marketing scheme will be that the relatively few women who truly do suffer from postpartum depression will not be taken seriously.
Read Full Article Here
Other Evelyn Pringle Articles
by Evelyn Pringle / April 15th, 2009
The promotion of the Mother’s Act is like a rewind of a bad movie dating back to the 1960’s when rock stars were singing songs about “mother’s little helpers.”
Women fought for years to gain acceptance of the fact that many female health problems were real and not symptoms of hypochondria. The psycho-pharmaceutical cartel’s profit-driven invention of an epidemic of pregnancy-related mental disorders will wipe out a century of work toward that acceptance.
Sadly, the end result of this latest marketing scheme will be that the relatively few women who truly do suffer from postpartum depression will not be taken seriously.
Read Full Article Here
Other Evelyn Pringle Articles
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Prescription Drug Keywords
Amazingly if you type the words 'Prescription Drugs' into popular search engines you are taken to a host of websites and blogs. One of the most popular searches, it seems, is 'drugs online without a prescription', which doubles the requests for the search term, 'side effects of prescription drugs'.
What is worrying is that the most popular search terms seem to be from people wishing to purchase prescription drugs without actually having to go and visit their doctor.
Search terms such as, 'prescription drugs without prescription', 'purchase drugs without prescription', 'rx drugs without prescription', and 'prescription drugs online,' seem to be very popular.
More blogging is needed from patient advocates/activists, to highlight the dangers.
Popular search terms for 'Paxil' include, 'paxil side effects' and 'paxil withdrawal symptoms.'
At least people are now asking questions of the Internet rather than their drug regulators... and that can only be a good thing.
Fid
What is worrying is that the most popular search terms seem to be from people wishing to purchase prescription drugs without actually having to go and visit their doctor.
Search terms such as, 'prescription drugs without prescription', 'purchase drugs without prescription', 'rx drugs without prescription', and 'prescription drugs online,' seem to be very popular.
More blogging is needed from patient advocates/activists, to highlight the dangers.
Popular search terms for 'Paxil' include, 'paxil side effects' and 'paxil withdrawal symptoms.'
At least people are now asking questions of the Internet rather than their drug regulators... and that can only be a good thing.
Fid
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
20 Years: Hillsborough Disaster
20 years ago today I sat in horror whilst events at Hillsborough unfolded on TV. 96 people died at a sporting event due to overcrowding during a football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
No blame has ever been laid, the fans suggest it was the police, whilst the police suggest it was over-enthusiastic fans gaining entrance to the ground without tickets.
The Hillsborough disaster has changed the face of football here in the UK. Stadiums are now all-seaters so a tragedy like this can never occur again.
The English Football Association [F.A.] chose to play this particular semi-final at Hillsborough in Sheffield. Other football grounds were suggested but the F.A. opted for Hillsborough because of the security fences that were erected [to keep fans off the pitch]. Ironically, it was these very same security fences that people were crushed against and lost their lives. Thankfully, British football stadia no longer sees these fences.
I remember travelling up to Hillsborough when they re-opened the section of the ground where all those people had lost their lives. My team, Aston Villa, opened the season with a visit to Hillsborough.
I will never forget walking through the tunnel to the Leppings Lane end and taking my seat. Haunted by the ghosts of those who were crushed to death... all because of a football match.
May they all rest in peace and hopefully someday those that they left behind will find justice.
The two videos below highlight the tragedy.
R.I.P.
Fid
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
No blame has ever been laid, the fans suggest it was the police, whilst the police suggest it was over-enthusiastic fans gaining entrance to the ground without tickets.
The Hillsborough disaster has changed the face of football here in the UK. Stadiums are now all-seaters so a tragedy like this can never occur again.
The English Football Association [F.A.] chose to play this particular semi-final at Hillsborough in Sheffield. Other football grounds were suggested but the F.A. opted for Hillsborough because of the security fences that were erected [to keep fans off the pitch]. Ironically, it was these very same security fences that people were crushed against and lost their lives. Thankfully, British football stadia no longer sees these fences.
I remember travelling up to Hillsborough when they re-opened the section of the ground where all those people had lost their lives. My team, Aston Villa, opened the season with a visit to Hillsborough.
I will never forget walking through the tunnel to the Leppings Lane end and taking my seat. Haunted by the ghosts of those who were crushed to death... all because of a football match.
May they all rest in peace and hopefully someday those that they left behind will find justice.
The two videos below highlight the tragedy.
R.I.P.
Fid
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
GSK Threatens Access to Weight Loss Supplements
Washington, DC - GlaxoSmithKline, the second-largest pharmaceutical company in the world, has threatened your access to supplements by petitioning the FDA to classify weight loss claims for dietary supplements as ‘disease claims’.
Washington, DC - On April 17th, 2008, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) submitted a Citizen Petition calling for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reclassify all weight loss support claims for dietary supplements as disease claims. Read the full petition here.
Read full story at Citizens For Health
Fid
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Washington, DC - On April 17th, 2008, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) submitted a Citizen Petition calling for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reclassify all weight loss support claims for dietary supplements as disease claims. Read the full petition here.
Read full story at Citizens For Health
Fid
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Rally in Denver for Ten Year Anniversary of Columbine
Source: Evelyn Pringle
Ten years ago this month the violence and suicide caused by SSRI antidepressants gained international recognition in headlines all over the world when it became known that one of the teen shooters at the Columbine massacre, Eric Harris, had taken Zoloft in the past and was on Luvox at the time of the murder-suicide spree.
A friend of Dylan Klebold, the other shooter, would later come forward to say she had been trying to help Dylan get off Paxil and Zoloft.
A total of 12 students and one teacher would be killed, and 24 others wounded on April 20, 1999, before the two teens ended the rampage by committing suicide.
FULL ARTICLE HERE
Evelyn Pringle
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Ten years ago this month the violence and suicide caused by SSRI antidepressants gained international recognition in headlines all over the world when it became known that one of the teen shooters at the Columbine massacre, Eric Harris, had taken Zoloft in the past and was on Luvox at the time of the murder-suicide spree.
A friend of Dylan Klebold, the other shooter, would later come forward to say she had been trying to help Dylan get off Paxil and Zoloft.
A total of 12 students and one teacher would be killed, and 24 others wounded on April 20, 1999, before the two teens ended the rampage by committing suicide.
FULL ARTICLE HERE
Evelyn Pringle
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Man fined £800,000 for treating customers with illegal Flabjab injection
Source: Nursing Times
Man fined £800,000 for treating customers with illegal Flabjab injection
"MHRA head of enforcement Mick Deats said: ‘This case highlights the robust action the MHRA takes against those who illegally advertise, sell and administer unlicensed medicines for cosmetic purposes." FULL STORY
Illegally advertise?
Here's where the MHRA think differently:
PFIZER & MHRA AIR AD IN CINEMAS
and
Is British TV Promoting Erectile Dysfunction Tablets?
Fid
Man fined £800,000 for treating customers with illegal Flabjab injection
"MHRA head of enforcement Mick Deats said: ‘This case highlights the robust action the MHRA takes against those who illegally advertise, sell and administer unlicensed medicines for cosmetic purposes." FULL STORY
Illegally advertise?
Here's where the MHRA think differently:
PFIZER & MHRA AIR AD IN CINEMAS
and
Is British TV Promoting Erectile Dysfunction Tablets?
Fid
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Ed Silverman is considering reviving his blog, Pharmalot.
Bad news for Pharma... Great news for advocates!
Source: BNET Pharma
Hat-Tip: The Truthman
Former Star-Ledger pharmaceuticals reporter Ed Silverman is considering reviving his blog, Pharmalot. He is now the legal owner of “Pharmalot.com” and is keeping the brand alive in the form of a Twitter stream until he can figure out what to do with it.
The blog, which went dark in January, was probably the best-read drug news outlet on the web. Its closing prompted an unusually emotional outcry from an industry known for its taciturn demeanor. Silverman’s goodbye message attracted more than 200 comments.
More HERE
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Source: BNET Pharma
Hat-Tip: The Truthman
Former Star-Ledger pharmaceuticals reporter Ed Silverman is considering reviving his blog, Pharmalot. He is now the legal owner of “Pharmalot.com” and is keeping the brand alive in the form of a Twitter stream until he can figure out what to do with it.
The blog, which went dark in January, was probably the best-read drug news outlet on the web. Its closing prompted an unusually emotional outcry from an industry known for its taciturn demeanor. Silverman’s goodbye message attracted more than 200 comments.
More HERE
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Monday, April 13, 2009
Empty bottles: Easing clients off meds
Article on Tapering off medication at APA Online.
Some will agree, some will disagree.
I think the sooner the Patient Information Leaflet is changed for the benefit of the patient and NOT the pharmaceutical company then doctor's prescribing these bullets will get a better understanding of the symptoms of withdrawal.
Face it - They are addictive.
Fid
What to know about discontinuation of psychotropic medications.
By Laurie Meyers
Monitor Staff
What is the practitioner’s role when a patient comes off medication? What should a psychologist do for a client who is experiencing significant side effects? And what about clients on multiple medications?
As the health professional who often has the most contact with a client, a psychologist may be in the best position to spot or even help prevent seriously adverse reactions to medication withdrawal—if he or she knows what to look for.
“Psychologists need to be on top of what patients are taking,” says John Sexton, PhD, one of 10 participants in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) 1991–1997 pilot program to grant psychologists prescriptive authority. “It’s important for us to know what is going into a person’s body.”
Discontinuation dilemmas
A particular red flag to watch for: It’s all too common for patients to abruptly stop taking medication on their own, which can have unpleasant or dangerous consequences, says Sexton, who is now working in psychological and counseling services at the University of California at San Diego.
Patients may not discuss discontinuing medication with the physician who prescribed the medication, or they may not pay attention to the tapering directions they are given, points out psychologist Michael Enright, PhD, APRN, who works in a primary-care clinic in Wyoming and can prescribe because he holds a nurse-practitioner’s license. So, it’s important for practitioners to consult with the prescribing physician when possible, to get information such as the original drug dosage and how long tapering should continue, he adds. Psychologists should also be aware of the following side effects associated with particular classes of psychotropic drugs:
• Antidepressants—Due to the short time they stay in the body, some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—a class that includes drugs such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro—can cause a discontinuation syndrome with symptoms including nausea, headache, problems sleeping, tingling or shock-like sensations, and, in some cases, flu-like symptoms. Paxil and Effexor—which is actually a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor—are the most likely to cause the syndrome and Prozac is the least likely, Enright notes. These reactions can be uncomfortable, but are not generally life threatening, he says.
Psychologists can help ease the patient’s discomfort by explaining that the symptoms are temporary. They can also teach patients to self-monitor and to contact their physician or visit the emergency room for serious symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, depersonalization and suicidal thoughts or urges, say Enright and Sexton. It’s also important for practitioners to watch for rebound anxiety or depression, emphasizes Enright. In some cases of severe withdrawal, the physician may prescribe a short course of Prozac, which is so long-acting that it requires little or no tapering. Another option is to increase the dosage of the current medication and taper more slowly, he notes. Other antidepressants can also cause similar withdrawal side-effects such as nausea and flu-like symptoms.
Full article HERE
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
Some will agree, some will disagree.
I think the sooner the Patient Information Leaflet is changed for the benefit of the patient and NOT the pharmaceutical company then doctor's prescribing these bullets will get a better understanding of the symptoms of withdrawal.
Face it - They are addictive.
Fid
What to know about discontinuation of psychotropic medications.
By Laurie Meyers
Monitor Staff
What is the practitioner’s role when a patient comes off medication? What should a psychologist do for a client who is experiencing significant side effects? And what about clients on multiple medications?
As the health professional who often has the most contact with a client, a psychologist may be in the best position to spot or even help prevent seriously adverse reactions to medication withdrawal—if he or she knows what to look for.
“Psychologists need to be on top of what patients are taking,” says John Sexton, PhD, one of 10 participants in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) 1991–1997 pilot program to grant psychologists prescriptive authority. “It’s important for us to know what is going into a person’s body.”
Discontinuation dilemmas
A particular red flag to watch for: It’s all too common for patients to abruptly stop taking medication on their own, which can have unpleasant or dangerous consequences, says Sexton, who is now working in psychological and counseling services at the University of California at San Diego.
Patients may not discuss discontinuing medication with the physician who prescribed the medication, or they may not pay attention to the tapering directions they are given, points out psychologist Michael Enright, PhD, APRN, who works in a primary-care clinic in Wyoming and can prescribe because he holds a nurse-practitioner’s license. So, it’s important for practitioners to consult with the prescribing physician when possible, to get information such as the original drug dosage and how long tapering should continue, he adds. Psychologists should also be aware of the following side effects associated with particular classes of psychotropic drugs:
• Antidepressants—Due to the short time they stay in the body, some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—a class that includes drugs such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro—can cause a discontinuation syndrome with symptoms including nausea, headache, problems sleeping, tingling or shock-like sensations, and, in some cases, flu-like symptoms. Paxil and Effexor—which is actually a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor—are the most likely to cause the syndrome and Prozac is the least likely, Enright notes. These reactions can be uncomfortable, but are not generally life threatening, he says.
Psychologists can help ease the patient’s discomfort by explaining that the symptoms are temporary. They can also teach patients to self-monitor and to contact their physician or visit the emergency room for serious symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, depersonalization and suicidal thoughts or urges, say Enright and Sexton. It’s also important for practitioners to watch for rebound anxiety or depression, emphasizes Enright. In some cases of severe withdrawal, the physician may prescribe a short course of Prozac, which is so long-acting that it requires little or no tapering. Another option is to increase the dosage of the current medication and taper more slowly, he notes. Other antidepressants can also cause similar withdrawal side-effects such as nausea and flu-like symptoms.
Full article HERE
Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal
ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING
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