Monday, September 28, 2009

BigPharma’s Deceptive Plan to Include Everyone as a Antidepressant Candidate-Our Case study is Cymbalta by Eli Lilly

Firstly you need to know that Pharmaceutical company’s assessment is only a theory. They have no idea what causes depression. They have no scientific study or evidence that drugging someone will alleviate depression. Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) is FDA approved for depression and also for general anxiety disorder and management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. This is from a Cymbalta Ad “There are many theories about the cause of depression. One common theory is that depression is caused by an imbalance of naturally occurring substances in the brain and spinal cord”.
(that is correct it is FDA approved drug based on a theory).

A typical Ad for Cymbalta try’s to include anyone with any malady as a possible effect of depression. Here is a synopsis of how Cymbalta categorizes depression.
Major depressive disorder "depression" is a serious medical condition with a variety of symptoms (they are trying to generalize). Emotional symptoms can include sadness, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, restlessness, and trouble concentrating or making decisions (this can include virtually anyone). Physical symptoms can include fatigue, lack of energy, and changes in weight (all humans) or sleep patterns (again any active person can get fatigued and lack energy). Additional symptoms of depression may include vague aches and pains (vague pains come on be serious, again generalizing), irritability, anxiety, and thoughts of death or suicide. Suicide is a known risk of depression and some other psychiatric disorders. (Here they indicate thoughts of suicide is a sign of depression, and also taking their drugs can cause suicide)
People with a family history of depression (They don’t know the cause or depressions but here they indicate depression can be genetic) may be more likely to get the disease, but anyone (including everyone here) can become depressed. Sometimes the triggers are external — for example, relationship troubles or financial problems (the planet is in a recession, that’s everyone here). At other times the disease may begin with physical illness or hormonal shifts (a normal woman’s hormonal change is depression according to Eli Lilly, how did the human race evolve). Depression also may occur without any identifiable trigger at all. (they admit here again they don’t know the cause)
The point we are trying to make is pharmaceutical companies in this case Eli Lilly-drug Cymbalta describes everyone as a candidate for their drug. Their entire plan is to put the human race on an antidepressant. Yet they have no scientific evidence for the cause of depression. Does that sound like a good plan for the human race? A placebo has been found to be as effective as antidepressants. Research the studies for yourself. In addition their drug can give children and young adults suicidal thoughts and actions.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Anti-Smoking Drugs Can Create Suicidal Thoughts and Aggressive Behavior

In January of this year, David Collins killed himself with a shotgun just three months after he began taking Chantix (varenicline) a smoking cessation drug made by Pfizer. Linda Collins who is David Collins widow has filed a lawsuit in Indianapolis against Pfizer over Chantix (Champix in other countries) its side effects and its possible failure to provide warnings to users. Mr. Collins had no prior history of mental illness, but before his suicide Mr. Collins exhibited aggression and strange behavior. More details will be divulged once the lawsuit progresses and apparently increases in size (chantixsuicidelawsuits.com). The FDA had reported thirty nine suicides and nearly five hundred cases of suicide behavior or thoughts of suicide from the use of Chantix. These suicide behaviors regarding Chantix are similar to the black box warnings that all drug companies are compelled to divulge on their antidepressant labels. Just two months ago, the FDA required Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban to carry a black box warning due to side effects including depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal actions.
Zyban made by GlaxoSmithKline involves bupropion an antidepressant drug which acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor and nicotinic antagonist. This drug is cross marketed as an antidepressant and smoking cessation drug. To our knowledge Chantix is not cross marketed as an antidepressant. But apparently Pfizer likes to cross market drugs legally or not. This week Pfizer settled with the Department of Justice for $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the DOJ. It resolved their criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products. Pfizer “off labeled” drugs for uses the FDA didn’t previously approve of. $1 billion was allocated to resolve allegations under the civil False Claims Act that Pfizer illegally promoted the drugs Bextra, Geodon an anti-psychotic drug, Zyvox, an antibiotic, and Lyrica, an anti-epileptic drug. What is worse is that Pfizer is a habitual criminal company since they have been found guilty before in a similar case.
Tony West the DOJ Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division was quoted by news releases, “Illegal conduct and fraud by pharmaceutical companies puts the public health at risk, corrupts medical decisions by health care providers, and costs the government billions of dollars”. Perhaps this massive fine will curtail Pfizer to some degree, but they will likely need at least three strikes. We think this is the beginning of more and more lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for cross labeling, inadequate tests and warnings, and drugs that create suicidal thoughts, and aggressive behavior. Consumers need to fully perform their due diligence before taking drugs which have clear controversial effects. Chantix and Zyban have a new warning that the drug can produce suicidal thoughts and behavior. Do you want to stop smoking or stop life?