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--- Prominent cardiologist criticizes drug ads
The FDA has proved itself to be utterly worthless. If you see an ad on TV, it's a good indication they're looking for "VOLUNTEERS"!!!!
The FDA has proved itself to be utterly worthless. If you see an ad on TV, it's a good indication they're looking for "VOLUNTEERS"!!!!
MrPepper11 wrote: > > Los Angeles Times > December 29, 2004 > > Cardiologist Criticizes Drug Ads Aimed at the Public > By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Times Staff Writer > > WASHINGTON - The government should reassess its policy of allowing > prescription drugs to be advertised directly to consumers, a prominent > cardiologist urged Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical > Association. > > The heart attack risks of arthritis painkillers Vioxx, Bextra and > Celebrex have exposed a regulatory "house of cards" at the Food and > Drug Administration, wrote Dr. Eric J. Topol, chairman of > cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. > > "Unbridled promotion exacerbated the public health problem," Topol > concluded. "The combination of mass promotion of a medicine with an > unknown and suspect safety profile cannot be tolerated in the future." > > FDA officials have not publicly addressed the issue of whether > high-powered advertising campaigns for newly approved drugs are in the > best interest of public health. > > Other leading academic researchers have suggested that new drugs should > be subject to a trial period before they can be touted directly to > patients. > > Topol's sharply worded opinion article, to be published next month, was > posted on the medical journal's website as part of the growing debate. > > Critics have accused the FDA of being too cozy with the drug industry > and unwilling to pursue evidence of problems with medications that it > has already approved. > > Manufacturer Merck & Co. withdrew Vioxx from the market in late > September after a company-sponsored study confirmed research by Topol > and others that it increased chances of heart attacks and strokes. > Topol was among the chief critics of the drug. > > New warnings have been added to the Bextra label, and concerns have > been raised Yes, folks are going to be crippled by their osteoarthritis in the middle of these concerns. > about possible problems with Celebrex, both produced by > Pfizer Inc. The company recently agreed to suspend Celebrex advertising > while experts sorted out preliminary study findings that indicated a > heart risk for patients taking a high dose over many months. > > All three drugs are of the same family of chemical compounds. > > Celebrex and Vioxx, taken by millions of patients worldwide, were > heavily advertised on television and in magazines and were considered > blockbuster successes for their manufacturers. But though Vioxx had > fewer side effects on the stomach than earlier generations of arthritis > medicines, none of the three drugs was proved to be markedly better at > reducing pain. > > "These drugs were mass-marketed from the moment they were commercially > available in the new world of direct-to-consumer advertising, with > unrealistic expectations about pain relief, marked gastrointestinal > protection and safety," wrote Topol. "One has to question the wisdom of > allowing direct-to-consumer advertising for lifestyle medications that > have no capability of preserving life or preventing major events such > as [heart attack] or stroke." Without God there can be no wisdom. Thanks for the article, Zee. May God bless you this New Year's day, in Christ's name. At His service, Andrew -- Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist ** Suggested Reading: (1) http://makeashorterlink.com/?L26062048 (2) http://makeashorterlink.com/?O2F325D1A (3) http://makeashorterlink.com/?X1C62661A (4) http://makeashorterlink.com/?U1E13130A (5) http://makeashorterlink.com/?K6F72510A (6) http://makeashorterlink.com/?I24E5151A (7) http://makeashorterlink.com/?I22222129 Start « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Related Discussion: XanGo (1 posts) these girls use this service for free - they just want phonesex from real guys 61 (1 posts) Eating Fish Protects Against Stroke (1 posts) Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus through inhibition of the Renin-Angiotensin system. (1 posts) Top Discussions From Our Archives Energy. Resilience. Vitality. Want some? Do you do website promotion with no success? Diabetes Spotted at an Earlier Age Other Discussion Categories Diabetes Symptoms Health Care Policy Health Care Providers HMO
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