Paxil Kills (Ditto Prozac, Zoloft)

Anderson Valley Advertiser ^ | August 13, 2003 | Fred Gardner

[ActionNewsBill]

The Times puts the total number of SSRI prescriptions issued in the U.S. at just under 120 million, with about six million going to kids and teenagers.

That's almost half of the total population.

And these death-drugs are legal?

[WL-law]

Idiotic article. You might s well say that since people with headaches take aspirin, that "aspirin is linked to headaches" so therefore "aspirin causes headaches".

[ActionNewsBill]

The Columbine shooters, and several other (if not all) school shooters were on one or more of these drugs.

[NittanyLion]

British government regulators analyzed data from nine studies and concluded that Paxil more than tripled the incidence of suicide attempts -not just fantasies-in children and teenagers.

Similarly, Preparation H users are three times as likely to have hemorrhoids. Better pull it from the shelves...

Moreover, Paxil is only slightly more effective than sugar pills at relieving depression. Since Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and other "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors" affect the same neurotransmitters, they presumably have similar safety and efficacy profiles.

Now I'm convinced. It's only slightly more effective. How could anyone stand in the face of such solid evidence?

The drug companies have responded to the British report with a predictable array of tactics-deny, obfuscate, claim benefit instead of harm, stall in the name of science, then negotiate the mildest possible slap on the wrist.

No bias in this article. No sir, none at all...

[aardvark1]

It's okay that the article is biased, though, because pharmaceutical companies are on the PC "Okay to bash" list along with conservatives.

[11B3]

And they say street drugs are dangerous! Time for the WOD to turn on the big pharm co's.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Paxil is only slightly more effective than sugar pills at relieving depression.

Mmmmmm! Sugar pills!!

[ARCADIA]

The "peer review" process involves an editor at a journal ( supported by drug-company ads ) submitting an article to researchers of his acquaintance ( who are employed directly or indirectly by drug companies ) for approval prior to publication. As if that made the results irrefragably true!

??? This describes the entire medical and most of the legal and insurance profession. Perhaps the crackpot author would prefer the peer review conducted by plumbers, or iron workers???

[sauropod]

Correlation is not causation.

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

Dumb article, but Prozac, Sarafem, etc. are NOT wonder drugs.

While people with emotional problems who take these meds are obviously more prone to suicide than the average population, my experience is that these 'happy pills' are evil.

My wife started taking them about 18 months ago. While she was a bit bi-polar (fun to be around when she was happy, run for the hills when she got mad), now she's emotionally empty and either angry or depressed almost all of the time.

She lost all positive emotions immediately, our sex life stopped, she lost weight for a few months, then gained what she lost times 3, drinks to excess frequently - not a pretty picture, but common side effects of these drugs.

Our marriage is now basically nil - you just can't solve your problems with a pill.

Her cousin started taking these about the same time. Marriage over, husband doesn't know what hit him, kids scarred for life.

We tell our kids 'don't do drugs'. We should follow the same advise. SARAFEM RUINED MY WIFE!

[csvset]

That stuff sounds dangerous. I'm glad it carries the FDA seal of approval. /sarcasm

[Lil'freeper]

British government regulators analyzed data from nine studies and concluded that Paxil more than tripled the incidence of suicide attempts -not just fantasies-in children and teenagers.

It would be so nice to have a footnoted reference or two for assertions like this because the author leaves the reader asking the obvious question: "To whom was the Paxil group compared? The non-depressed teen population or depressed but untreated teens?"

Additionally, the criticism of the peer review process is well deserved but poorly presented. It's unfortunate that it comes across as hysterical and easily dismissed, because it is a subject that deserves serious debate.

[Guillermo]

When the makeers of Prozac are pushing to have TWO year olds take their drug, they DESERVE to be bashed.

Of course the position of the drug co's will be "there is a pill for every ill and 'hyper' child", but that doesn't mean we should call them on it.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I am sorry to hear of your wifes troubles. SeraFem, and the marketing of it (initially, there were TV commercials touting it for PMS!!!) make me nuts. SeraFem IS Prozac repackaged (with a daisy on the box!). That is it. Prozac for bloating and irritability. That is what it was marketed at. Don't give up on your family...can you get your wife to go to another doc?

[Maria S]

"It's okay that the article is biased, though, because pharmaceutical companies are on the PC "Okay to bash" list along with conservatives."

Good one. The liberals are having a hey-day bashing pharmaceutical companies right now. Check out the website below that gives lots of in-depth info about who gives financial support to each party. Hint: Trial lawyers, for example, DON'T give a whole heck of a lot to Republicans. But, Boy! Do they GIVE!!

http://www.opensecrets.org

[Guillermo]

*shouldn't call them*, rather.

Need that cup of coffee!

[Wolfie]

Link to original article referenced by the author.

Debate Resumes On The Safey Of Depression's Wonder Drugs

[Petronski]

Where is that pic of "Oh Geez, not this shit again!" when we need it?

[Petronski]

Look at the masthead of the source paper. Read those quotes.