FDA HAS BECOME A SERVANT OF THE DRUGGIE INDUSTRY

[Guest guest]

FDA has become a servant of the drug industry

11/22/2004 5:27:26 PM

 

 

 

This may seem irrelevant to some, but the following little article

about

the coziness of the FDA with the $343 BILLION drug industry

demonstrates

why its a bit crazy to think that our industry enjoys equal footing

with

those who enforce the rules, and those who determine what the rules

are.

 

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FDA has become a servant of the drug industry

 

 

" For many years as a physician, I was under the mistaken belief that

the FDA was an independent, almost sacrosanct federal agency,

concerned only about the health and welfare of the citizens of the

United States. Unfortunately this rose-colored glass impression seems

to be fantasy.

 

 

 

In the May 19th edition of the prestigious medical journal Lancet,

editor Richard Horton claims that the FDA has become a " servant of

(the drug) industry. " The editorial describes the inner dealings of

the FDA with Glaxo-Smith-Kline regarding the release of Lotronex, a

drug for irritable bowel syndrome. Lotronex was approved by the FDA

last year but never approved by the European Medicines Evaluation

Agency (apparently because of toxicity). (Lotronex and the FDA: a

fatal erosion of integrity)

 

 

 

Despite multiple deaths from this drug, the FDA did not call for its

withdrawal from the market, but rather just suggested adding a

warning (about when to stop using the drug). FDA scientists felt it

was unreasonable for either the patients or their doctors to judge

any early warning sign complications from the drug. However, their

concerns were dismissed by FDA officials.

 

 

 

The pharmaceutical company eventually withdrew the product from the

United States on November 28th. The editorial accuses the FDA of

receiving hundreds of millions of dollars of funding from the drug

industry.

 

 

Unfortunately, this is only the most recent example of the FDA's

failure to protect U.S. citizens from dangerous drugs. There are many

other examples of the FDA approving drugs and, only after many

deaths, finally admitting their mistakes. Another recent example was

the diabetic drug Rezulin. Many people died of liver failure before

the drug was removed from the market. Several months ago USA Today

published research indicating that nearly 50% of the FDA executives

come from the drug industry and/or go to work for the drug industry

after their FDA tenure. They also reported that many of the doctors

on the FDA advisory committees had ties to the drug industry. (USA

Today Exposes Conflicts of Interest in FDA Drug Approvals)

 

 

Much can be learned from this.

 

 

 

First, we must lobby congress to force the FDA to change. There

should be strict laws against any FDA employee or advisory member

having any current or prior ties and/or compensation with the drug

industry. They should also be prohibited from working for the drug

industry for five years from the time their tenure ends at the FDA.

 

 

 

To reduce the risk of potential drug complications, as a general

rule, I will not prescribe a newly approved medication (unless it is

clearly a life-saving or a life-enhancing drug). I like to sit on the

sidelines for a few months while the drug is being prescribed

throughout the United States in order to determine if there are any

reports of toxicity.

 

Keep in mind that before FDA approval, most drugs are tested with

only a few hundred to a few thousand patients for a short period,

although complications may not manifest until tens of thousands of

patients have been on the drug for many years. Always question your

doctor on the safety of drugs and potential side effects and

interactions with other drugs.

 

 

 

Take responsibility for your own Health

 

 

 

If necessary, do independent research. The internet is always a good

resource. Finally, always look for natural alternatives as a means to

promote optimal health.

 

 

 

As a follow up to this, in a study just published in The

International Journal of Cancer, researchers reported that

individuals who drank green tea appeared to lower the odds of

developing chronic gastritis, a long term stomach inflammation that

can proceed cancer. The active ingredient in green tea is a nutrient

called EGCG. This nutrient, along with other beneficial factors, can

be found in green tea supplemental form. The best products available

are from Smartbasics and Nature's Way. Both products provide

excellent standardized forms of green tea with guaranteed levels of

active ingredients and are in capsules (easier to swallow and better

absorption when compared to tablets). The Smartbasics product is a

much better value at a cost of $1 for every 1,200 mg of green tea

versus the Nature's Way product at a cost of $1 for every 510 mg of

green tea. "

 

 

 

From Allen S. Josephs, an owner of VitaCost, a web based retailer of

supplements