“The scariest thing is that nobody knows” risks of depression drugs for children Mon, 10 May 2004 Forest Laboratories, manufacturer of the antidepressant, Celexa / Lexapro, is the latest manufacturer to issue warnings (April 2004) about the possibility that “patients with major depressive disorder, both adult and pediatric, may experience…
Bristol Myers Squibb Takes Serzone off the market on June 14 – AP Wed, 19 May 2004 The antidepressant Serzone, TAKEN OFF THE MARKET as of June 14 (for “business reasons” the company says). The drug was already taken off the market in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In…
Comprehensive scientific review concluded: All pesticides pose serious health risks to humans–especially children Sat, 8 May 2004 The Ontario College of Family Physicians (“the voice of family medicine in Ontario”) conducted an exhaustive review of the medical/scientific pesticide literature from around the world (1990–2003) on the health effects of commonly…
NIH Conflict of Interest Rules_”Option of Corruption”_ children victimized Tue, 18 May 2004 Lawmakers accused leaders of the National Institutes of Health of encouraging “the option of corruption.” NIH medical researchers, who receive the highest salaries in government, think they, unlike others, are entitled to moonlight while employed at taxpayers…
More than 100 top regulatory officials represented industry as lobbyists, lawyers… – Denver Post Mon, 24 May 2004 To understand why government policies affecting healthcare, drug safety, food safety and the environment appear to promote industry interests at the expense of public safety and health, the Denver Post has investigated…
The Evidence base: rock of certainty or shifting sands? – BMJ Wed, 5 May 2004 Dr. John Dewhurst, has written an extraordinary article from his first-hand experience as a pharmaceutical company physician who discovered the disparity that exists between the claimed and actual evidence of drug effectiveness–and the reality-based severe,…
Prescriptions for antidepressant declined 10% Thu, 13 May 2004 The controversy over the safety of antidepressant drugs is broadening. The Newark Star Ledger reports a drop in antidepressant prescriptions since the Feb 2 FDA advisory committee meeting. Disclosure of long concealed evidence about the severe adverse drug effects–as well as…
More Spent on Psych Drugs for preschool kids than antibiotics or asthma – AP Mon, 17 May 2004 Data analysis by MEDCO, the nation’s largest prescription benefit manager found that between 2000–2003 there was a 49% increase in the use of psychotropic drugs for children and a 369% increase in…
NIH Panel Recommendations Fail to Resolve Conflicts of Interest Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 Following the disclosure by the Los Angeles Times (December 2003) that “NIH officials now allow more than 94% of the agency’s top-paid employees to keep their consulting income confidential,” Congress demanded full disclosure and an overhaul…
US Preventive Services Task Force: No evidence that screening for suicide reduces suicide Fri, 21 May 2004 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued its findings and recommendation against screening for suicide. The USPSTF findings corroborate those of the Canadian PSTF. “USPSTF found no evidence that screening for suicide…
Pfizer Admits Guilt in Promotion of Neurontin–Agrees to Pay $430 Million Sun, 16 May 2004 A lawsuit initiated by Dr. David Franklin, a whistleblower, has been settled: Pfizer pleaded guilty to criminal fraud in the promotion of Neurontin, and agreed to pay $430 million. This case is but an example…
Government sanctioned Assault on Children and Pregnant Women Fri, 23 Jul 2004 President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health has set off aggressive “screening for mental illness” initiatives that are nothing short of an assault on personal dignity and legal rights. The target population of forced mental health “screening,”…
