Fibromyalgia Support Group

HI...

This is to all that want to see how our Pharm. Co. really work.... They want there drugs approved...so they fake the results so they can get it on the market and sell it to people like us that are desperate for help and hope..... If you trust them...... you may just change your mind...

article in the ST Pete times...

PLEASE READ:

The pharmaceutical industry's corrupting influence on medical research has reached a new low with a case that has stained the reputations of Harvard University and three of its top researchers in child psychiatry. It took a congressional investigation to uncover a conflict of interest that could violate federal and university rules. As a result, the credibility of a supposed breakthrough in treating childhood bipolar disease is now in doubt.

Dr. Joseph Biederman and two colleagues — who have promoted the use of antipsychotic drugs to treat bipolar children — withheld information about payments they were getting from drugmakers. While the Harvard faculty members were doing their research, some of it paid for by taxpayers, they were quietly taking millions of dollars from drug companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and others that profited from the findings, the New York Times reported.

The researchers were supposed to report earnings in excess of $10,000 as consultants for drug companies, but they failed to do so. Even after Senate investigators forced Biederman to disclose his income, he reported receiving less than the drug companies say they gave him. In all, the three researchers accepted drug company payments of at least $2.6-million over the past seven years.

Did such hefty inducements affect the outcome of their research? It's a question that so far is unanswered. The doctors' findings have been influential but controversial, with 500,000 bipolar children being prescribed antipsychotic drugs. Some doctors say the medication saves young lives, though the side effects can be serious. Others say it is an experimental treatment that hasn't been proved effective over time.

There is no doubt what effect the scandal has had on the medical research field, which relies on a voluntary honor system. "The price we pay for these kinds of revelations is credibility, and we just can't afford to lose any more of that in this field," said Dr. E. Fuller Torrey of the Stanley Medical Research Institute.

Neither the pharmaceutical industry nor the medical researchers they try to influence can be trusted under the current system. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, wants to create a national registry of drug research to keep track of such payments. Maybe a new bureaucracy isn't the answer, but something has to be done before people are injured and the public loses all trust in medical research.

What did you think????

Craig

Craig,

Thanks for posting this, it is sickening and horrifying....but not surprising. Greed trumps everything else, and greed has corrupted these drug companies who are all about making huge profits at the expense of sound medical research and helping people. It has always been a business, yes, but more and more doctors are becoming seduced by the lure of quick cash in their pockets with no paperwork trail to incriminate them. The situation is much more serious than it was twenty or thirty years ago, because the amount of money involved now is staggering. The CEO's of these massive drug companies are motivated solely by power and huge profits and there is nothing and nobody to keep them in check.

And now, with the ads on TV and in magazines and everywhere you go, patients are asking their doctors for these drugs they know nothing about except what the manufacturers tell them in these commercials geared toward getting them to ask their docs for the new "wonder drug." Patients think these meds are as safe as candy....and they are not aware of all of the extremely serious side effects and complications from that drug, as you have pointed out with the Lyrica.

The drug companies fund nearly all of the studies in cahoots with the corrupt FDA, and with greedy docs in their hip pockets. The docs are easily lured in because they hate managed care cutting into their profits and crave the huge incomes from "the good old days..." in medicine.

As we know, there are doctors with huge egos who feel a sense of entitlement, and care little about whether or not these drugs actually work, or if they have any life threatening side effects. The whole system is broke....now how do we fix it? Any ideas?

Post edited by: hipmama42, at: 06/11/2008 21:19

HI.... how many of you remember when you never saw a commercial about medications... except ... alka seltzer or Bayer asprin.... that was it.... then came the other thing tampons and pads. and everything else under the son.... I have gone to doctors and asked about a drug that was on TV and the doctor would say... gee I have not heard of that one where did you hear of it...... I would say on TV..... We are all being ...more or less brain washed with these ads... they showing us that if we take this pill be will be happy and able to do all those things...ride bikes....golf....swim..... your name it take a pill...

They do say in fast low tones it can make you sick to your stomach ect...ect...

But it all comes down to if you want to be happy take this PILL>....

Kinda like the Credit card commercials.... they say if you want happieness you hve to have a VISA.... Well if you want to have good health you have to have this pill........

We need to turn the TV off... .and do research into everything that we put in our mouths....... especially meds......

Speaking of Credit cards I had an offer for one the other day that said great new APR % like 2.5% well if you read the fine print.... once your first 6 billing cycles were up... your NEW interest rate was now.... GET THIS...... 23.5% if you have good credit..... I about fell over..... . The credit card I have has like a 5.9% interest rate..... so you know what I did with this so called offer.... seems like I get 3 to 5 of those darn things a day..

sorry about the credit bit....

Craig

Post edited by: Fletch2ya, at: 06/12/2008 02:19

It is disgusting but we have to remember it is not ALL drug companies that do that. There have been some fantastic medications released within the last 10 years that has helped to improve our lives. How about that Provigil, Craig? It was initially made for soldiers to keep them alert during wartime. And now there are tons of ppl on it for staying awake or alert during the day. We have to unfortunately take the bad with the good when it comes to pharmaceutical research. I worked for a dr for 6 yrs that does pharm research. He and his partners want to market a pill that helps ppl with 2-3 problems all in one pill. You would not believe the crap you have to go through to get a medication on the market. It is a long long process, and yes there are those that are not ethical or moral out there just trying to make a buck.

Oh and the commercials. I hated it when patients came in and said I want that drug I saw on tv, it said to ask my doctor. We would them the name of the drug, they would tell us and over half the time it was for a condition they didnt even have. They said well it said to ask your doctor... I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are a lot of not too smart ppl in the world, esp when it comes to taking charge of their own medical conditions.

I will now step off my soapbox..

HI.... well you know I have never said there are not some good drugs out there that do a lot of good.... BUT,,,, let say the jury is still out on most drugs....even PROVIGIL.... because we have no idea what the real long term effects are on this med.... HAVE we been told the truth..... I go back to Vioxx, the drug companies KNEW that it caused tons of problems, but withheld that information from the public and the FDA... So...I am the NA----sayer here....

I was on Vioxx for 5 yrs...... now..don't you think I am going to question any med that comes out now..... you bet your last dollar on the one... and you will win...

Again I have not ever said there are not some good drugs out on the market.... We are now finding though that a lot of the drugs for diabetics are not ok...long term.... like the oral ones.... now is that not the purpose of these drugs for you to be on them long term......... .. I am sorry .... you will not sway me from my feelings on this subject.....I will..... keep telling everyone to do your research..... and make sure you are taking the med that is best for you...... Do not take just your doctors word on it... because he might have just gone to a luncheon that was sponsored by a drug company that afternoon.....or sent on a trip to the tropics..... or given a car.... who knows... Do not trust the Drug Co.. they are out to make a PROFIT... and the FDA...is just another government agency....that bends with the wind of money....

;but really are you really ever going to be sure.....no....... but you have to do your

best.........

Craig......

PS... Debbi it is great having these conversations with you......

Post edited by: Fletch2ya, at: 06/12/2008 07:18

I found a book call "Your Daily Meds" and it is an eye opener...drug company's make up diseases to sell drugs...You guy's need to read it...it is making me think really hard about things Dr's do and say...

Thanks Craig! I like the debates too.

As for drug luncheons, cars, trips. Most of that has gone by the wayside. Yes they still bring lunch for the office, but the cars and trips, uh big fat no on that one. And yes some drs will let the phar rep sway them but not most. We could be eating a lobster lunch and the drs I worked for would listen,ask questions, sign for the samples and then make up their own minds on what to prescribe. We would laugh at the reps when they left most of the time with their chests all puffed out like they were really something, that they had convinced the dr to prescribe their meds. LOL Gosh I miss those days.

Oh and I took Vioxx for around 7 yrs. EEK! I also took Phen-fen, and Bextra, all taken off the market. And I agree with you, we dont know what will happen to us long term on these meds. When I swallow that Coumadin every night I think what is this really doing to me taking rat poison?? LOL

After all the talk about research I wanted to tell you about a website that I used to find out about my scripts. It's www.drugdigest.com it will allow you to look up your meds and it will also allow you to put in all your meds and check for interactions. I found this site very useful so try it.

Also CVS is now putting the color, shape, and any numbers on the pill on the outside of the bottle so it makes it easier to see if what you are supposed to have is what is in the bottle. Just a few tips hope they help.