Baycol - Another Fluoride Drug Bites the Dust

[Guest guest]

Wow. Statins, Prozac, Paxil, and fluoride - all in one go. Plus a

couple anti-diabetics and anti-biotics. Got to respect Dr Mercola. I think he

must have less fondness for drugs then I do. But ....... facts are facts.

blessings

Shan

 

Baycol - Another Fluoride Drug Bites the Dust

http://www.mercola.com/2001/aug/18/fluoride_drugs.htm

By Andreas Schuld and Wendy Small

Parents of Fluoride Poisoned Children (PFPC)

 

Yet another fluoridated drug was withdrawn from the global market this week.

 

" Baycol " (made by Bayer AG) - a cholesterol-lowering drug taken by 700,000

Americans - was pulled off the market on Wednesday, August 8th. It had been

linked to 31 U.S. deaths. Bayer would not disclose the total number of deaths

worldwide, but at least nine more fatalities abroad are known.

 

Baycol had been found to cause muscle destruction - a condition known as

rhabdomyolysis - and displayed compounded toxicity when used with other drugs.

 

On August 9th, the European Medicines Evaluation Agency announced a safety

review of other drugs in the same class as Bayer 's " Baycol " .

 

 

--

 

COMMENT (by Andreas Schuld and Wendy Small):

 

This is not the only recent withdrawal of a fluorinated drug.

 

The pulling of Baycol follows the earlier withdrawal of other fluorinated

" weight-reducing " drugs such as Redux, Fen-Phen and Pondimin (September 1997).

 

Regarding the once very popular drug combination Fen-Phen, it is important to

note that only the fluorinated compound ( " Fen " - fenfluramine) was withdrawn,

while Phentermine ( " Phen " ) was not pulled.

 

Rhabdomyolysis

 

Concerning rhabdomyolysis - other fluorinated medications have shown the same

adverse effect.

 

Since 1988 - their introduction on the market - many cases of tendonitis and

rhabdomyolysis have also been reported due to fluoroquinolone antibiotics,

which are used in the treament of a large variety of infections.

 

In October 1994 the Japan Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau amended the product

information for Enoxacin, Fleroxacin, Norfloxacin, Sparfloxacin and

Tosufloxacin to state that rhabdomyolysis may occur. (Reference: Information on

Adverse

Reactions to Drugs No.128, October 1994.)

 

In 1996, the Sri Lanka Drug Evaluation Sub-Committee decided that the product

information of fluoroquinolone antibiotics should include a warning stating:

" The onset of tendon pain calls for immediate withdrawal of fluoroquinolone

antibiotics. " (Reference: 27th Meeting of the Drug Evaluation Sub-Committee,

Ministry of Health, Colombo, 26 November 1996.)

 

Fluorophenyl

 

" Baycol " (Cerivastatin) is yet another drug containing a fluorophenyl

compound. Prozac and Paxil are some other well-known drugs containing

fluorophenyl

compounds, as are pesticides including Flusilazole and Fluorbenside.

 

Starting in the 1930s, fluorophenyl compounds were used as successful agents

in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Originally used mainly in the dye and

pesticide industries, it had been found by IG Farben (Bayer) and Knoll's

scientists that all fluoride compounds - organic or inorganic - interfere with

thyroid

hormone activity.

 

[it is important to realize that this disturbance is not caused by the

thyroid gland itself. Any effects on the actual gland are a secondary effect and

a

result of the severe disturbance caused elsewhere in peripheral tissue,

particularly the liver and brain.]

 

Organic fluoride compounds undergo extensive transformation in the liver,

mainly via a process called oxidative demethylation, involving the thyroid

hormone (T3) mediated P-450 enzyme system.

 

In many instances the resulting metabolites may have higher activity and/or

greater toxicity than the original compound.

 

Ironically, an example often used as textbook case to demonstrate of how

more-toxic metabolites are produced after passing through the liver, is a

compound

called " Sevoflurane " , which is one of many fluorinated agents used in

anesthesia.

 

Inorganic fluoride is a normal metabolite of Sevoflurane and thought to be

responsible for the renal failure observed.

 

Fluvoxamine (Luvox) transforms to at least 9 metabolites.

 

Drug Interaction

 

The activity of organic fluoride compounds on the P-450 enzyme system is also

important as it relates to the elimination of many other drugs. Inhibition of

these enzymes can cause other drugs to accumulate to dangerous levels in the

body, and many cases implicating fluorinated medications are documented in

hundreds of studies on MEDLINE.

 

As just one example, fluoxetine (Prozac) increased up to 13 times the

concentrations of thioridazine and its metabolites in the plasma when both

medications were administered (Daniel et al, 1999).

 

Drug interaction was also part of the reason for the Baycol withdrawal.

 

Liver

 

Liver damage is often observed when fluorinated agents are used. This, again,

is true for all organic fluoride compounds.

 

In 2000, 3M announced a phase-out of " Scotchgard " products after discovering

that the product's primary ingredient-a fluorinated compound called

perfluorooctanylsulfonate (PFOS) -- was found in all tested blood bank

examinations.

 

PFOS and related compounds are known to cause liver dysfunction and liver

cancer.

 

Paxil and Prozac are also known to cause liver disease.

 

Fluoxetine (Prozac) has been shown to cause severe liver dysfunction such as

hepatitis (Cai et al, 1999; Johnston & Wheeler, 1997; Mars et al, 1991;

Friedenberg & Rothstein, 1996).

 

Fluoxetine has also shown tumor-promoting activity in the liver (Lin et al,

1999).

 

Tolrestat (fluorinated anti-diabetic) was withdrawn in 1997 after the

appearance of severe liver toxicity.

 

Thyroid Hormones

 

All fluoride compounds interfere with thyroid hormones.

 

Example: Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

Several studies show that fluoxetine causes a decline inT3 levels and affects

T3 production (Eravci et al, 2000; Lin et al, 1999; Baumgartner et al, 1994;

Shelton et al, 1993).

 

In rat brain, fluoxetine has also been shown to interfere with T3 metabolism

(Eravci et al, 2000; Baumgartner et al, 1994).

 

In 1983 Golstein et al. stated that, " the major effect of the drug seems to

be stimulation of TSH synthesis and release via the inhibition of T4-mediated

thyroid-pituitary feedback. Additionally, fluoxetine could exert a minor direct

central stimulatory effect on TSH secretion " .

 

Fetal/Infancy

 

The metabolites produced by organic fluoride compounds in the liver are

tranferred to the fetus through various pathways, including circulatory via

placental passage, gastrointestinal via fetal swallowing, and respiratory

secondary

to fetal lung absorption (Hostetter et al, 2000). have been reported due to

first trimester exposure to Fluconsazole, a systemic antifungal agent (Pursley

et

al, 1996).

 

Infants who were breastfed by mothers taking fluoxetine (Prozac) demonstrated

a growth curve significantly below that of infants who were breastfed by

mothers who did not take the drug (Chambers et al, 1999).

 

This is of urgent concern. The potential for severe mental dysfunction is

immense.

 

Other F-Drugs Recently Withdrawn:

 

Most of the fluorinated drugs withdrawn have shown to cause serious cardiac

adverse effects, which is not surprising considering their influence on thyroid

hormone activity.

 

(Ironically many were first held of benefit in heart disease).

 

1) In 2000 Cisapride ( " Propulsid " ) was withdrawn because it caused severe

cardiac side effects

 

2) The drug Mibedrafil ( " Posicor " ) was withdrawn after it was shown that

patients with congestive heart failure showed a trend to higher mortality

(1998).

 

3) Flosequinan was withdrawn in 1993 after it was shown that the beneficial

effects on the symptoms of heart failure did not last beyond the first 3 months

of therapy. After the first 3 months of therapy, patients on the drug had a

higher rate of hospitalization than patients taking a placebo.

 

4) Astemizole (allergy drug) was withdrawn in 1999 because it also became

associated with serious life threatening cardiac adverse events.

 

5) Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were withdrawn in 1997 due to serious

cardiac adverse health effects.

 

(Other fluorinated drugs have also shown serious cardiac toxicity, such as

Halofantrine, but remain on the market with only warnings issued so far.)

 

6) Tolrestat (anti-diabetic) was withdrawn in 1997 after the appearance of

severe liver toxicity and deaths.

 

7) In 1992 Abbott withdrew Temafloxacin (anti-biotic) ( " Omniflox " ). The drug

had caused deaths, liver dysfunction, etc.

 

8) Grepafloxacin was removed from the market in 1999 because of serious

cardiac events.

 

Etc., etc., etc...

 

This is also what we call - fluoride poisoning.

 

Andreas Schuld, Wendy Small Parents of Fluoride Poisoned Children (PFPC) -

http://www.bruha.com/fluoride/

 

Vancouver, BC, Canada

 

PS: Last year, U.S. District Judge Louis C. Bechtle approved a $3.75 billion

national settlement of health claims stemming from " Fen-Phen " . More than 9,000

lawsuits were filed against American Home Products, maker of fenfluramine.

 

 

 

--

 

Additional comments from Jeff Green of Citizens for Safe Drinking Water

(phone - 800-728-3833):

 

One of the most frequently used anesthesias for general surgery is

fluorinated halothane. A finding of significantly higher incidence of cardiac

arrhythmias in children who were undergoing outpatient dental extraction and who

were

anaesthetised with halothane compared with sevoflurane, is reported on at:

http://www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/cmo99_13.htm

 

 

 

--

 

For more information, please refer to the following:

 

Scientific References - Fluoride and the Thyroid

 

Scientific References - PFOA/PFOS (Scotchgard)

 

3M and Scotchgard: " Heroes of Chemistry " or a 20-year coverup?

 

 

 

--

 

References:

 

Baumgartner A, Dubeyko M, Campos-Barros A, Eravci M, Meinhold H - " Subchronic

administration of fluoxetine to rats affects triiodothyronine production and

deiodination in regions of the cortex and in the limbic forebrain " Brain Res

635(1-2):68-74 (1994)

 

Chambers CD, Anderson PO, Thomas RG, Dick LM, Felix RJ, Johnson KA, Jones KL

- " Weight gain in infants breastfed by mothers who take fluoxetine " Pediatrics

104(5):e61 (1999)

 

Eravci M, Pinna G, Meinhold H, Baumgartner A - " Effects of pharmacological

and nonpharmacological treatments on thyroid hormone metabolism and

concentrations in rat brain " Endocrinology 141(3):1027-40 (2000)

 

Friedenberg FK, Rothstein KD - " Hepatitis secondary to fluoxetine treatment "

Am J Psychiatry 153(4):580(1996)

 

Golstein J, Schreiber S, Velkeniers B, Vanhaelst L - " Effect of fluoxetine, a

serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on the pituitary-thyroid axis in rat " Eur J

Pharmacol 91(2-3):239-43 (1983)

 

Hostetter A, Ritchie JC, Stowe ZN - " Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood

concentrations of antidepressants in three women " Biol Psychiatry

48(10):1032-4 (2000)

 

Jackson IM, Luo LG - " Antidepressants inhibit the glucocorticoid stimulation

of thyrotropin releasing hormone expression in cultured hypothalamic neurons "

J Investig Med 1998 Dec;46(9):470-4 (1988)

 

Johnston DE, Wheeler DE - " Chronic hepatitis related to use of fluoxetine. "

Am J Gastroenterol 92(7):1225-6 (1997)

 

Lin X, Levitsky DA, King JM, Campbell TC - " The promotion effect of anorectic

drugs on aflatoxin B(1)-induced hepatic preneoplastic foci " Carcinogenesis

20(9):1793-9 (1999)

 

Mars F, Dumas de la Roque G, Goissen P - " Acute hepatitis during treatment

with fluoxetine " Gastroenterol Clin Biol 15(3):270-1 (1991)

 

Pursley TJ, Blomquist IK, Abraham J, Andersen HF, Bartley JA -

" Fluconazole-induced congenital anomalies in three infants " Clin Infect Dis

22(2):336-40

(1996)

 

Shelton RC, Winn S, Ekhatore N, Loosen PT - " The effects of antidepressants

on the thyroid axis in depression. " Biol Psychiatry 33(2):120-6 (1993)

 

Be sure to read the other two articles on Baycol in this week's issue:

 

Baycol Pulled From Market as Numerous Deaths Linked to It

 

The Baycol Recall: How Safe Is Your Statin?

 

Related Articles:

 

Cholesterol Drugs: How Expensive Is Too Expensive?

 

New Cholesterol Guidelines Issued

 

Lipitor May Suppress Your Immune System: There Are Far Better Options