[Attorney_Victim]

"The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the main industry lobbying group, said it supports giving more safety information to doctors and patients, but worries that some will be needlessly alarmed.

"Our reservation is that patients will be abruptly stopping therapy," said Alan Goldhammer, a vice president of the organization."

...sure, they're worried about people stopping the drugs alright...because then there goes the drug companies profits!!

"My message to patients is this: Don't stop taking your medicine," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, who heads the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "If your doctor has prescribed a drug that appears on this list, you should continue taking it unless your doctor advises you differently."

...and the FDA just happens to mimic the same concerns as the drug companies...go figure :roll: Do the drug companies directly fund the FDA, or are we pretending they don't have any influence at all on the FDA

[pharmarunner]

Attorney_VIctim!!
As I was reading though what the head lobbiest said - I was saying the exact same things you posted below!
What great news though --- I think I might have to post if on cafepharma -- they may find this of interest...I want to make sure all the ssri reps are aware of what is going on with cymbalta. education is always important...
You made my weekend!!

[pharmarunner]

FDA Unveils List of 20 Drugs
In Side-Effect Probes
Goal Is to Provide
Signs of Possibility
Of Adverse Effects
By JARED A. FAVOLE and SHIRLEY S. WANG
September 6, 2008; Page A4, Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration on Friday unveiled a report listing 20 drugs that the agency is investigating for potential side effects, as part of a new policy to warn patients and health-care professionals as early as possible.

The list includes a wide array of drugs, from Eli Lilly & Co.'s antidepressant Cymbalta to Purdue Pharma LP's painkiller Oxycontin.

The FDA's intention is for patients and doctors to use the list to be aware of potential adverse events and to encourage them to report any problems. The list doesn't represent a comprehensive list of drugs the FDA is investigating, the FDA's Mr. Seligman said.

The report is generated from the agency's adverse-event-reporting database. That compilation consists of voluntary reports from patients and health-care professionals, and is widely considered to capture only a fraction of the actual adverse events associated with any given drug.

Mr. Seligman said the FDA is hopeful the quarterly reports will encourage people to report adverse events.



IT LOOKS LIKE THE FDA IS IN COVER YOUR ASS MODE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO REPORT THESE ADVERSE EVENTS - IT IS THE ONE PLACE WHERE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NUMBERS. WE SHOULDN'T FEEL HELPLESS - WE HAVE THE POWER TO OVERCOME THIS!

[jean]

Did you guys see the television show "Boston Legal" last night? One of the lawyers is suing a drug company claiming that they are using advertising to get people to take meds that they don't necessarily need. The lawyer gave a wonderful speech denouncing the drug companies for funding research to prove their drugs are effective and not being completly honest about potential side effects. Sound familiar? Jean

[DuneAlia]

Delete my account.