Fw: [drugawareness] Ban SSRIs! Congressman Bart Stupak

[Guest guest]

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<atracyphd2

<drugawareness >

Friday, October 15, 2004 8:20 AM

[drugawareness] " Ban SSRIs! " Congressman

 

If anyone should be calling for a ban on these drugs, who better than a

Congressman from Michigan - a state that has been devastated by tragedy

after

tragedy caused by these SSRIs?

 

I quote from the article below:

 

Stupak says these antidepressants should be banned until it has been proven

that they are safe and work. " The American people have a right to demand the

FDA look out for their interest and not the interest of the drug companies, "

he

said.

 

" Children, the most vulnerable members of society, are the only group that

we

grant patent extensions to drug companies in exchange for studies, " Stupak

charged.

 

" Patents are extended once pediatric studies are turned into the FDA. There

is no requirement that the studies were actually done well, or actually

showed

whether the drug worked or was safe. And there's no requirement that the

package labeling on these drugs is actually changed before the patent

extension is

granted.

 

" At the very least, parents should get the facts in exchange for those

billions in profits. It's clear today that they aren't, " he concluded.

______________________

 

Rep. Stupak knows firsthand the pain and anguish that comes from the loss of

a child to the greed of the pharmaceutical giants. He and his wife lost

their

teenage son, BJ, to a treatment for acne. He took his life in an

Accutane-induced suicide several years ago. Since then Rep. Stupak has

worked hard to make

changes in warnings on that deadly drug.

 

It is interesting to note that in their arguements defending their drug, the

manufacturer attempted to use the same excuse that the antidepressant

manufacturers have used so successfully for so many years. They stated that

it was the

" underlying disease " (acne) causing these violent suicides in those taking

their drug, rather than the drug itself. Obviously they were hoping that we

were

all born yesterday!

 

I publicly applaud Rep. Bart Stupak for taking up this battle that his son

can no longer fight for himself in an attempt to stop this from happening to

others. He has done a marvelous job of bringing this to the attention of the

public. What a shame that the press has not done as much! Because, even now,

too

few remain unaware of the extreme dangers of Accutane - a drug still given

to

teens as a treatment for acne.

 

 

Ann Blake Tracy, Ph.D.,

Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug Awareness

Author: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare

& audio tape on safe withdrawal: " Help! I Can't Get

Off My Antidepressant! "

 

Order Number: 800-280-0730

Website: www.drugawareness.org

 

 

http://www.ironwooddailyglobe.com/0925stup.htm

 

 

 

 

Stupak backs drug label change

 

Published Monday, September 27, 2004 1:06:01 PM Central Time

 

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, has called on the Food and

Drug Administration to immediately implement a recent FDA Advisory Panel's

recommendation to place " black box " labels on antidepressants that warn of

possible suicidal behavior by the children who take them. Stupak emphasized

that

such labeling needs to be easy to understand and able to be seen.

 

Stupak, who participated in the House hearing relative to those

recommendations, also criticized the FDA for suppressing internal agency

analysis that

found increased rates of suicidal behavior in children who took

antidepressants,

such as Paxil, Effexor, Zoloft and Celexa. He said the FDA has finally

admitted

what they've known for a year -- there is an increased risk of suicidal

thoughts and behavior in children who take antidepressants.

 

Stupak says these antidepressants should be banned until it has been proven

that they are safe and work. " The American people have a right to demand the

FDA look out for their interest and not the interest of the drug companies, "

he

said.

 

People may not realize that the FDA is under no obligation to implement

those

recommendations, according to Stupak. " There are many instances when the FDA

has ignored or scaled back Advisory Committee recommendations, caving to

drug

company pressure. I know from my own experience that the FDA has repeatedly

ignored Advisory Committee recommendations concerning the acne drug

Accutane.

 

" I am particularly concerned the FDA might back away from the recommendation

of package labeling that parents and patients can see and understand. The

FDA

should require information about the safety and efficacy of these drugs be

dispensed with every prescription and on the drug's packaging. The FDA

should

also require parents to sign an informed consent form before treatment can

begin. "

 

Stupak pointed out that in 1997 Congress passed a law beginning a system

where drug companies get patent extensions " worth billions of dollars " to

study

these drugs in children.

 

" Children, the most vulnerable members of society, are the only group that

we

grant patent extensions to drug companies in exchange for studies, " Stupak

charged.

 

" Patents are extended once pediatric studies are turned into the FDA. There

is no requirement that the studies were actually done well, or actually

showed

whether the drug worked or was safe. And there's no requirement that the

package labeling on these drugs is actually changed before the patent

extension is

granted.

 

" At the very least, parents should get the facts in exchange for those

billions in profits. It's clear today that they aren't, " he concluded.