Friday, July 30, 2010
weekend ramble
we took the dog to my daughter this week again, and it was another great day. the dog loves running through the wildflowers and tall grass at the dog park. it's not a simple task getting to and from the hospital. today is one of those days a person says, 'what a day'. i was stuck in traffic, not feeling well and the car was overheating so i made a decision to call and say 'won't get there today', which is super difficult for me to do. we'll be going to see her this weekend, i'm hard on myself for these things, part of my one day at a time, do your best is all you can do category. the dog got me up at 4:40am. still morning twilight and he wants to play. on the walk this evening, we heard coyotes close by. they sound totally eerie. we wondered if today was the same day the dog woke us up at 5am or so. one of those days.
CME walk down memory lane: Charles Nemeroff :Atypical Antipsychotics in Major Depressive Disorder, paid by AstraZeneca (SEROQUEL)
Due to the recent 4000 injury claim settlement by AstraZeneca today, I thought it might be a good time to review COI(Conflict of Interest).
Charles Nemeroff, removed from Chair of Psychiatry at Emory University, due to pocketing and not disclosing GSK income (and investigated by Senator Charles Grassley) (to the tune of fine dining in restaurants and country clubs all in the name of "teaching about Paxil" and other oddities), taught the CME course (Continuing Medical Education) funded by AstraZeneca, for Major Depressive Disorder.
Seroquel, the wonder-drug antipsychotic on its last leg of patent life before going generic is becoming the most popular drug for scandal headlines in the pharmaceutical industry, not taking light away from Paxil, Avandia, Vioxx or Zyprexa, --Seroquel just seems to beam with scandal.
Atypical Antipsychotics in Major Depressive Disorder: When Current Treatments Are Not Enough: CME Outfitters
December 2008
The Sales Pitch
"Despite the high prevalence of MDD and the availability of effective treatments, only one-third of patients experience remission.(1) While many patients show improvement with initial therapy, the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) Trial demonstrated that it is not to the level of remission or recovery.(2) Augmentation is particularly helpful in managing patients who have had a partial response to their initial treatment. There has been an increased use of atypical antipsychotics as augmentation agents for patients that do not achieve full remission with traditional antidepressants. For those patients requiring augmentation, is the dose of the atypical antipsychotic different, what is the risk-benefit profile for the use of these agents?
In this evidence-based neuroscienceCME TV activity, experts will explore augmentation strategies to aid clinicians in choosing an individualized treatment plan for patients with difficult to treat depression."
Target Audience
Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, certified case managers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals with an interest in mental health.
Financial Support
CME Outfitters, LLC, gratefully acknowledges an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in support of this CE activity.
Conflict of Interest
Happens when a pharmaceutical company pays for the course that promotes antipsychotics for depression, and that company has (Seroquel) an antipsychotic drug being promoted for MDD.
Charles Nemeroff is so conflicted, he is toxic and glows in the dark, as Bernard Carroll likes to say.Conflict of Interest also happens when the speaker (doctor)Charles Nemeroff has the disclosure list below, which includes AstraZeneca. Nemeroff is currently at U of Miami.
The income from GSK and the research grants from NIH got him into hot water and booted out the door to Miami, hope they like him there.
CME Outfitters Disclosure Declaration
"Dr. Nemeroff has disclosed that he receives research grants from NIH. He is on the scientific advisory boards of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Forest Laboratories, Inc., Janssen/Ortho-McNeil, Mt. Cook Pharma, Inc., NARSAD, PharmaNeuroboost, and Quintiles Transnational Corp. He is a stockholder of or has equity in CeNeRx BioPharma, Corcept Therapeutics, NovaDel Pharma Inc., PharmaNeuroboost, and Reevax. Dr. Nemeroff serves on the Board of Directors of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, George West Mental Health Foundation, Mt. Cook Pharma, Inc., and NovaDel Pharma, Inc. He holds patents for a method and devices for transdermal delivery of lithium (US 6,375,990 B1), method to estimate serotonin and norepinephrine transporter occupancy after drug treatment using patient or animal serum (provisional filing April, 2001)".
Charles Nemeroff, removed from Chair of Psychiatry at Emory University, due to pocketing and not disclosing GSK income (and investigated by Senator Charles Grassley) (to the tune of fine dining in restaurants and country clubs all in the name of "teaching about Paxil" and other oddities), taught the CME course (Continuing Medical Education) funded by AstraZeneca, for Major Depressive Disorder.
Seroquel, the wonder-drug antipsychotic on its last leg of patent life before going generic is becoming the most popular drug for scandal headlines in the pharmaceutical industry, not taking light away from Paxil, Avandia, Vioxx or Zyprexa, --Seroquel just seems to beam with scandal.
Atypical Antipsychotics in Major Depressive Disorder: When Current Treatments Are Not Enough: CME Outfitters
December 2008
The Sales Pitch
"Despite the high prevalence of MDD and the availability of effective treatments, only one-third of patients experience remission.(1) While many patients show improvement with initial therapy, the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) Trial demonstrated that it is not to the level of remission or recovery.(2) Augmentation is particularly helpful in managing patients who have had a partial response to their initial treatment. There has been an increased use of atypical antipsychotics as augmentation agents for patients that do not achieve full remission with traditional antidepressants. For those patients requiring augmentation, is the dose of the atypical antipsychotic different, what is the risk-benefit profile for the use of these agents?
In this evidence-based neuroscienceCME TV activity, experts will explore augmentation strategies to aid clinicians in choosing an individualized treatment plan for patients with difficult to treat depression."
Target Audience
Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, certified case managers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals with an interest in mental health.
Financial Support
CME Outfitters, LLC, gratefully acknowledges an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in support of this CE activity.
Conflict of Interest
Happens when a pharmaceutical company pays for the course that promotes antipsychotics for depression, and that company has (Seroquel) an antipsychotic drug being promoted for MDD.
Charles Nemeroff is so conflicted, he is toxic and glows in the dark, as Bernard Carroll likes to say.Conflict of Interest also happens when the speaker (doctor)Charles Nemeroff has the disclosure list below, which includes AstraZeneca. Nemeroff is currently at U of Miami.
The income from GSK and the research grants from NIH got him into hot water and booted out the door to Miami, hope they like him there.
CME Outfitters Disclosure Declaration
"Dr. Nemeroff has disclosed that he receives research grants from NIH. He is on the scientific advisory boards of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Forest Laboratories, Inc., Janssen/Ortho-McNeil, Mt. Cook Pharma, Inc., NARSAD, PharmaNeuroboost, and Quintiles Transnational Corp. He is a stockholder of or has equity in CeNeRx BioPharma, Corcept Therapeutics, NovaDel Pharma Inc., PharmaNeuroboost, and Reevax. Dr. Nemeroff serves on the Board of Directors of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, George West Mental Health Foundation, Mt. Cook Pharma, Inc., and NovaDel Pharma, Inc. He holds patents for a method and devices for transdermal delivery of lithium (US 6,375,990 B1), method to estimate serotonin and norepinephrine transporter occupancy after drug treatment using patient or animal serum (provisional filing April, 2001)".
AstraZeneca Settles Nearly 4000 Seroquel injury claims, Terms confidential
HAT TIP and direct copy/ paste from PHARMAGOSSIP:
Friday, July 30, 2010
AstraZeneca Settles Nearly 4,000 Seroquel Injury Claims; Terms Confidential
LONDON - (Mealey's) AstraZeneca PLC said July 29 that it has agreed in principle to settle with nearly 4,000 Seroquel product liability plaintiffs.
The company said settlement terms are confidential.
In notes to its second-quarter financial report, AstraZeneca said that as of July 27, mediation ordered by Judge Anne C. Conway in the Seroquel multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida "has resulted in agreements in principle on monetary terms, subject to various subsequent conditions, approvals and agreement on non-monetary terms, with the attorneys representing nearly 4,000 claimants."
"The specific terms of those conditional agreements in principle are by agreement, and at the request of the mediator, confidential at this time but would not be material in the context of the Company's quarterly results," AstraZeneca said.
As of June 29, AstraZeneca said it was defending against 10,363 served or answered Seroquel lawsuits in the United States involving 22,412 plaintiff groups. It said about 72 percent of the cases are in state courts, primarily Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Alabama. The remaining 28 percent are in the MDL court.
As of July 8, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation reported that there were 6,217 active MDL cases, down from a high of 8,187.
Claims of about 1,000 plaintiffs are consolidated in one federal court in California, AstraZeneca said.
In addition, AstraZeneca said it is aware of about 176 additional cases representing about 3,661 plaintiffs that have been filed but not yet served. It said some of the cases involve other drug manufacturers, such as Eli Lilly and Co., Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. and/or Bristol-Myers Squibb Co."
via lexisnexis.com
Friday, July 30, 2010
AstraZeneca Settles Nearly 4,000 Seroquel Injury Claims; Terms Confidential
LONDON - (Mealey's) AstraZeneca PLC said July 29 that it has agreed in principle to settle with nearly 4,000 Seroquel product liability plaintiffs.
The company said settlement terms are confidential.
In notes to its second-quarter financial report, AstraZeneca said that as of July 27, mediation ordered by Judge Anne C. Conway in the Seroquel multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida "has resulted in agreements in principle on monetary terms, subject to various subsequent conditions, approvals and agreement on non-monetary terms, with the attorneys representing nearly 4,000 claimants."
"The specific terms of those conditional agreements in principle are by agreement, and at the request of the mediator, confidential at this time but would not be material in the context of the Company's quarterly results," AstraZeneca said.
As of June 29, AstraZeneca said it was defending against 10,363 served or answered Seroquel lawsuits in the United States involving 22,412 plaintiff groups. It said about 72 percent of the cases are in state courts, primarily Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Alabama. The remaining 28 percent are in the MDL court.
As of July 8, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation reported that there were 6,217 active MDL cases, down from a high of 8,187.
Claims of about 1,000 plaintiffs are consolidated in one federal court in California, AstraZeneca said.
In addition, AstraZeneca said it is aware of about 176 additional cases representing about 3,661 plaintiffs that have been filed but not yet served. It said some of the cases involve other drug manufacturers, such as Eli Lilly and Co., Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. and/or Bristol-Myers Squibb Co."
via lexisnexis.com
Further coverage of this story as it unfolds at
Pharmalot and Stan's blog
Many thanks to Pharmalot for the Hat Tip
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Harry Magnet's Blog: Review of "Anatomy of an Epidemic" by Robert Whitaker
I've read the blog , Harry Magnet's Blog over time, and Harry has left comments here in the past. Harry has an interesting theory research paper regarding psychiatric disorders: HERE.
Harry Magnet's Review of Anatomy of an Epidemic is a well-written, and thoughtful review of Robert Whitaker's new book, released in April 2010.
July 2010-Do Psychiatric Drugs Do More Harm Than Good? A Review of “Anatomy of an Epidemic” by Robert Whitaker-Harry Magnet's blog:
"Whitaker provides examples of how drugs used to treat one condition (e.g. Ritalin for ADHD) lead to some children developing manic symptoms, which led them to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which led them to receive drug “cocktails” including powerful and harmful antipsychotics. They end up on a long-term trajectory of serious physical and mental problems, an outcome which probably would have been much more benign if they hadn’t been prescribed any drugs in the first place.
My own experience with psychiatric drugs was generally a positive one. I didn’t start on drugs until I was 27." -Harry Magnet
AND
"I found this book to be one of the most powerful and thought-provoking books I’ve read in years. I recommend it to anyone concerned with the mental illness epidemic that plagues our country."--Harry Magnet
Continue reading Harry's entire review of the book HERE.
Harry, I wonder what would have happened too.
Harry Magnet's Review of Anatomy of an Epidemic is a well-written, and thoughtful review of Robert Whitaker's new book, released in April 2010.
July 2010-Do Psychiatric Drugs Do More Harm Than Good? A Review of “Anatomy of an Epidemic” by Robert Whitaker-Harry Magnet's blog:
"Whitaker provides examples of how drugs used to treat one condition (e.g. Ritalin for ADHD) lead to some children developing manic symptoms, which led them to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which led them to receive drug “cocktails” including powerful and harmful antipsychotics. They end up on a long-term trajectory of serious physical and mental problems, an outcome which probably would have been much more benign if they hadn’t been prescribed any drugs in the first place.
My own experience with psychiatric drugs was generally a positive one. I didn’t start on drugs until I was 27." -Harry Magnet
AND
"I found this book to be one of the most powerful and thought-provoking books I’ve read in years. I recommend it to anyone concerned with the mental illness epidemic that plagues our country."--Harry Magnet
Continue reading Harry's entire review of the book HERE.
Harry, I wonder what would have happened too.
"Share Your Experience.Your Voice. Your Success"-give rights to your story to AstraZeneca & DBSA for DTC, sales "education"
AstraZeneca Sponsors DBSA contest for bipolar and depression:
To submit your entry online, please visit http://www.speakaboutdepression.com/.
Submissions may be mailed to:
Edelman
Attn: David Barton
250 Hudson StreetNew York, NY 10013
ENTRY FORM SUBMISSIONS *GUIDELINES
Submissions for all categories will be accepted starting on July 20, 2010. To qualify, submis-sions must be received by the following dates for each category:Essay, Song, and Poetry Categories: July 20 - August 13, 2010
Art and Video Categories: July 20 - September 10, 2010For each of the submission categories, judges from patient, advocacy, health care, literary, film, music and art communi-ties will select three entrants as finalists. The judges will be looking for submissions that inspire hope in others so they canrecognize and seek help for their unresolved depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
Criteria used to evaluate the submission for patient stories:
Number of years diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorderHow did your unresolved symptoms affect your life?Your journey to successfully achieve your goals and the importance of managing unresolved de-pressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder to achieve those goalsWords of advice for others, how to manage the depressive symptoms of his or her bipolar disor-der or major depressive disorder, and how to seek to achieve their goals
Contact information including: name, address, phone number, and e-mail addressSubmissions must not include any mention of specific treatments or brand names of medications, or full names of medicalprofessionals, patients, caregivers, family members, or other individuals. Any entries that include this information will bedisqualified. Additionally, for people with bipolar disorder, entries should not include descriptions of manic episodes or theywill be disqualified as well.
The contact information provided will be used solely to communicate with you about your submission and this contest,and will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless you check that appropriate box on the authorization form(electric and hardcopy).
*Submissions will not be returned. Per the authorization form (electric and hardcopy), you give DBSA and AstraZeneca permission to use, reproduce, and disclose your submission in the United States, in any media, including radio, television,print publications, and the Internet (including DBSA and AstraZeneca web properties) for purposes of educating peopleon bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder through educational, promotional, and commercial programs that arerelated to the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with Depression program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
OFFICIAL ENTRY FORMFIRST NAME:LAST NAME:DATE OF BIRTH: (I REPRESENT THAT I AM AT LEAST 19 YEARS OLD)STREET ADDRESS:CITY, STATE, ZIP:PHONE:E-MAIL:TITLE OF ENTRY:The contact information provided will be used solely to communicate with you about your essay/video/art/poem/song sub-mission and this contest, and will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless you check that appropriate box onthe authorization form.I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for_________ (insert number of months and/or years) and am currently tak-ing medication(s) for my bipolar disorder. Please note that you must have been diagnosed and successfully treated for aminimum of six months to submit an entry. Also, entries should not include descriptions of manic episodes or they will bedisqualified.I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder for_________ (insert number of months and/or years) and am cur-rently taking medication(s) for my major depressive disorder. Please note that you must have been diagnosed and suc-cessfully treated for a minimum of six months to submit an entry.Thought Starters to Consider for Your Entry:How did your unresolved symptoms affect you?How did your unresolved depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder affect your life (e.g.work, family, relationships, education, home, hobbies, etc.)?What were some of the challenges you faced before seeking help for your unresolved symptoms?What impact did this have on you? On your family or loved ones?Back on TrackWhat goals did you set for yourself?How did you successfully manage your depressive symptoms in order to achieve your goals?Do you feel that your depressive symptoms have improved enough to start planning for the future?Please check the appropriate box to tell us what category you are submitting your success story to:EssayVideoArtworkPoemSongPlease check the appropriate box to tell us how you heard about this program:
News (print, broadcast or online)DBSA CommunicationFacebook or TwitterMy friend or family memberOther
Please Print Clearly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4
Authorization for Release of Identifying Health InformationThis Authorization describes how the identifying and health information about you, as well as your story of successthat is contained in your essay/video/art/poem/song submission for the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with Depres-sion campaign may be used and disclosed by DBSA and AstraZeneca to the public. Please review the terms of thisAuthorization carefully. You must sign a copy of this Authorization and submit with your entry in order to be eligiblefor participation in this program.NAME:ADDRESS:CITY, STATE, ZIP:PHONE:E-MAIL:DATE OF BIRTH: (I REPRESENT THAT I AM AT LEAST 19 YEARS OLD)The contact information provided above will be used solely to communicate with you about your essay/video/art/poem/song submission and this program, and will not be used to disclose for any other purpose unless, you check the box be-low.Check here if you give DBSA and AstraZeneca permission to contact you about the possibility of using your essay/video/art/poem/song submission in connection with future DBSA initiatives and/or unbranded AstraZeneca campaigns.Even if you check this box, your submission will not be used for these purposes unless you consent at that time.I understand that the purpose of this program is to educate the public and inspire those with depressive symptoms ofbipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, which is also called depression, by sharing stories of success in managingthe symptoms of depression. I authorize the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (“DBSA”), a patient-directed national organization, and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (“AstraZeneca”) to use, reproduce, and disclose my submission in theUnited States, in any media, including radio, television, print publications, video, and the Internet, which may include, butare not limited to, social networking media for purposes of educating people on bipolar disorder and depression througheducational, promotional, and commercial programs that are related to the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with De-pression program. Additionally, I understand that DBSA and AstraZeneca may contact me regarding my essay/video/art/poem/song submission to use, reproduce, and disclose my submission in the United States, in any media, including radio,television, print publications, video, and the Internet, which may include, but are not limited to, social networking media forpurposes of educating people on bipolar disorder and depression through educational programs.I also represent that all of my submitted statements are true, accurate, and reflect my honest opinion, and that my essay/video/art/poem/song submission is original and personally created. I also represent that I own the rights to any photo-graphs, poems, artwork, or other materials that I submit to DBSA and AstraZeneca, and that their use of these materialswill not violate or infringe the rights of any third-party. DBSA and AstraZeneca may use all or any part of my essay/video/art/poem/song, and I agree that I will not have the right to review or approve the manner in which it i payments of anykind and I understand that I will receive no fee or othercompensation from DBSA and AstraZeneca. I also agree that I willnot hold DBSA, AstraZeneca, or anyone who receives permission from it responsible for any liability arising out of theuse of my name, initials, likeness, photograph, or statements in accordance with the terms hereof, including what may bedeemed to be any distortion or optical illusion in the finished materials.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 5
I understand that my submission must not include any mention of specific treatments or brand names of medications, orfull names of medical professionals, patients, caregivers, family members, or other individuals. Any entries that includethis information will be disqualified. Additionally, if I have bipolar disorder, I understand that my entry should not includedescriptions of manic episodes or it will be disqualified as well. Furthermore, I understand that in submitting my essay/video/art/poem/song my full name will not be disclosed but I may be identifiable from the medical and personal informa-tion contained in the entry. I understand that I must obtain the consent of any other person included in my submission thatcould also be identified, as, for example, when they are included in a video clip or artwork. I understand that once I havesigned this Authorization, I cannot change my mind and cancel it. I have read this release form carefully and fully under-stand its meaning and implications.Signature: ______________________________________Printed Name: __________________________________Date: __________________________________________Please send a signed copy of this Authorization to:
Edelman
Attn: David Barton250 Hudson StreetNew York, NY 10013
Please keep a full copy of this Authorization for your records.
----
*the above is the entry form for the contest
MORE
"I also agree that I willnot hold DBSA, AstraZeneca, or anyone who receives permission from it responsible for any liability arising out of theuse of my name, initials, likeness, photograph, or statements in accordance with the terms hereof, including what may bedeemed to be any distortion or optical illusion in the finished materials."
--
Distorted images or optical illusions? and who is 'anyone' who receives permission from them?
--
See previous post:
Friday, July 23, 2010
AstraZeneca sponsors DBSA National Contest: Living With Depression, Bipolar & MDD
AstraZeneca, makers of the antipsychotic SEROQUEL has teamed up with DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) by funding a National Contest:
From AstraZeneca's website:
National contest encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder to speak out
July 20, 2010 – Wilmington, DE – Currently in its second year, the SPEAK and Be Heard… Living With Depression contest, made possible by AstraZeneca in partnership with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (also called depression) to share their stories of success.
To submit your entry online, please visit http://www.speakaboutdepression.com/.
Submissions may be mailed to:
Edelman
Attn: David Barton
250 Hudson StreetNew York, NY 10013
ENTRY FORM SUBMISSIONS *GUIDELINES
Submissions for all categories will be accepted starting on July 20, 2010. To qualify, submis-sions must be received by the following dates for each category:Essay, Song, and Poetry Categories: July 20 - August 13, 2010
Art and Video Categories: July 20 - September 10, 2010For each of the submission categories, judges from patient, advocacy, health care, literary, film, music and art communi-ties will select three entrants as finalists. The judges will be looking for submissions that inspire hope in others so they canrecognize and seek help for their unresolved depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
Criteria used to evaluate the submission for patient stories:
Number of years diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorderHow did your unresolved symptoms affect your life?Your journey to successfully achieve your goals and the importance of managing unresolved de-pressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder to achieve those goalsWords of advice for others, how to manage the depressive symptoms of his or her bipolar disor-der or major depressive disorder, and how to seek to achieve their goals
Contact information including: name, address, phone number, and e-mail addressSubmissions must not include any mention of specific treatments or brand names of medications, or full names of medicalprofessionals, patients, caregivers, family members, or other individuals. Any entries that include this information will bedisqualified. Additionally, for people with bipolar disorder, entries should not include descriptions of manic episodes or theywill be disqualified as well.
The contact information provided will be used solely to communicate with you about your submission and this contest,and will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless you check that appropriate box on the authorization form(electric and hardcopy).
*Submissions will not be returned. Per the authorization form (electric and hardcopy), you give DBSA and AstraZeneca permission to use, reproduce, and disclose your submission in the United States, in any media, including radio, television,print publications, and the Internet (including DBSA and AstraZeneca web properties) for purposes of educating peopleon bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder through educational, promotional, and commercial programs that arerelated to the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with Depression program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
OFFICIAL ENTRY FORMFIRST NAME:LAST NAME:DATE OF BIRTH: (I REPRESENT THAT I AM AT LEAST 19 YEARS OLD)STREET ADDRESS:CITY, STATE, ZIP:PHONE:E-MAIL:TITLE OF ENTRY:The contact information provided will be used solely to communicate with you about your essay/video/art/poem/song sub-mission and this contest, and will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless you check that appropriate box onthe authorization form.I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for_________ (insert number of months and/or years) and am currently tak-ing medication(s) for my bipolar disorder. Please note that you must have been diagnosed and successfully treated for aminimum of six months to submit an entry. Also, entries should not include descriptions of manic episodes or they will bedisqualified.I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder for_________ (insert number of months and/or years) and am cur-rently taking medication(s) for my major depressive disorder. Please note that you must have been diagnosed and suc-cessfully treated for a minimum of six months to submit an entry.Thought Starters to Consider for Your Entry:How did your unresolved symptoms affect you?How did your unresolved depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder affect your life (e.g.work, family, relationships, education, home, hobbies, etc.)?What were some of the challenges you faced before seeking help for your unresolved symptoms?What impact did this have on you? On your family or loved ones?Back on TrackWhat goals did you set for yourself?How did you successfully manage your depressive symptoms in order to achieve your goals?Do you feel that your depressive symptoms have improved enough to start planning for the future?Please check the appropriate box to tell us what category you are submitting your success story to:EssayVideoArtworkPoemSongPlease check the appropriate box to tell us how you heard about this program:
News (print, broadcast or online)DBSA CommunicationFacebook or TwitterMy friend or family memberOther
Please Print Clearly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4
Authorization for Release of Identifying Health InformationThis Authorization describes how the identifying and health information about you, as well as your story of successthat is contained in your essay/video/art/poem/song submission for the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with Depres-sion campaign may be used and disclosed by DBSA and AstraZeneca to the public. Please review the terms of thisAuthorization carefully. You must sign a copy of this Authorization and submit with your entry in order to be eligiblefor participation in this program.NAME:ADDRESS:CITY, STATE, ZIP:PHONE:E-MAIL:DATE OF BIRTH: (I REPRESENT THAT I AM AT LEAST 19 YEARS OLD)The contact information provided above will be used solely to communicate with you about your essay/video/art/poem/song submission and this program, and will not be used to disclose for any other purpose unless, you check the box be-low.Check here if you give DBSA and AstraZeneca permission to contact you about the possibility of using your essay/video/art/poem/song submission in connection with future DBSA initiatives and/or unbranded AstraZeneca campaigns.Even if you check this box, your submission will not be used for these purposes unless you consent at that time.I understand that the purpose of this program is to educate the public and inspire those with depressive symptoms ofbipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, which is also called depression, by sharing stories of success in managingthe symptoms of depression. I authorize the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (“DBSA”), a patient-directed national organization, and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (“AstraZeneca”) to use, reproduce, and disclose my submission in theUnited States, in any media, including radio, television, print publications, video, and the Internet, which may include, butare not limited to, social networking media for purposes of educating people on bipolar disorder and depression througheducational, promotional, and commercial programs that are related to the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with De-pression program. Additionally, I understand that DBSA and AstraZeneca may contact me regarding my essay/video/art/poem/song submission to use, reproduce, and disclose my submission in the United States, in any media, including radio,television, print publications, video, and the Internet, which may include, but are not limited to, social networking media forpurposes of educating people on bipolar disorder and depression through educational programs.I also represent that all of my submitted statements are true, accurate, and reflect my honest opinion, and that my essay/video/art/poem/song submission is original and personally created. I also represent that I own the rights to any photo-graphs, poems, artwork, or other materials that I submit to DBSA and AstraZeneca, and that their use of these materialswill not violate or infringe the rights of any third-party. DBSA and AstraZeneca may use all or any part of my essay/video/art/poem/song, and I agree that I will not have the right to review or approve the manner in which it i payments of anykind and I understand that I will receive no fee or othercompensation from DBSA and AstraZeneca. I also agree that I willnot hold DBSA, AstraZeneca, or anyone who receives permission from it responsible for any liability arising out of theuse of my name, initials, likeness, photograph, or statements in accordance with the terms hereof, including what may bedeemed to be any distortion or optical illusion in the finished materials.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 5
I understand that my submission must not include any mention of specific treatments or brand names of medications, orfull names of medical professionals, patients, caregivers, family members, or other individuals. Any entries that includethis information will be disqualified. Additionally, if I have bipolar disorder, I understand that my entry should not includedescriptions of manic episodes or it will be disqualified as well. Furthermore, I understand that in submitting my essay/video/art/poem/song my full name will not be disclosed but I may be identifiable from the medical and personal informa-tion contained in the entry. I understand that I must obtain the consent of any other person included in my submission thatcould also be identified, as, for example, when they are included in a video clip or artwork. I understand that once I havesigned this Authorization, I cannot change my mind and cancel it. I have read this release form carefully and fully under-stand its meaning and implications.Signature: ______________________________________Printed Name: __________________________________Date: __________________________________________Please send a signed copy of this Authorization to:
Edelman
Attn: David Barton250 Hudson StreetNew York, NY 10013
Please keep a full copy of this Authorization for your records.
----
*the above is the entry form for the contest
MORE
"I also agree that I willnot hold DBSA, AstraZeneca, or anyone who receives permission from it responsible for any liability arising out of theuse of my name, initials, likeness, photograph, or statements in accordance with the terms hereof, including what may bedeemed to be any distortion or optical illusion in the finished materials."
--
Distorted images or optical illusions? and who is 'anyone' who receives permission from them?
--
See previous post:
Friday, July 23, 2010
AstraZeneca sponsors DBSA National Contest: Living With Depression, Bipolar & MDD
AstraZeneca, makers of the antipsychotic SEROQUEL has teamed up with DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) by funding a National Contest:
From AstraZeneca's website:
National contest encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder to speak out
July 20, 2010 – Wilmington, DE – Currently in its second year, the SPEAK and Be Heard… Living With Depression contest, made possible by AstraZeneca in partnership with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (also called depression) to share their stories of success.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Blogger recovering from suicide attempt: send some good thoughts and comments
Many of you may read Mike's blog Golch Central's Rambling Stuff. I was glad to read that he is OK after he posted about his attempt at killing himself by overdosing with psychiatric medications.
Go HERE to leave Mike some positive affirmations. I'm glad he's OK. He was taking Lamictal and Celexa, and the doctors are evaluating his heart for any damage from the O.D.
A quote for Mike
"Perhaps it's done already, perhaps they have said me already, perhaps they have carried me to the threshold of my story, before the door that opens on my story, that would surprise me, if it opens, it will be I, it will be the silence, where I am, I don't know, I'll never know, in the silence you don't know, you must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on." --Samuel Beckett
Go HERE to leave Mike some positive affirmations. I'm glad he's OK. He was taking Lamictal and Celexa, and the doctors are evaluating his heart for any damage from the O.D.
A quote for Mike
"Perhaps it's done already, perhaps they have said me already, perhaps they have carried me to the threshold of my story, before the door that opens on my story, that would surprise me, if it opens, it will be I, it will be the silence, where I am, I don't know, I'll never know, in the silence you don't know, you must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on." --Samuel Beckett
Autistic man dies at care facility: left in van on hottest day of the year
This is a tragic story, and a prime example of some residential care facilities that take care of our most vulnerable citizens. The lack of communication excuse, lack of checking on clients with such vulnerabilities, is something I have personally witnessed, in another facility not the one in this news story. I have had to telephone the police when my daughter was mute, and missing in the middle of the night, and only finding out after a staff phoned me to inform me they would NOT be calling the police, and how she was in fact not seen for 3-4 hours before that phone call to me. I phoned the police, and drove in a search for her until 1AM that night, until the police called my cell phone and told me they found her, and talked me through how to find where they were. When I turned the corner, I saw the flashing lights of the police car and my daughter, standing next to a vehicle exactly in appearance and color of my own. She had stopped by something familiar. It wasn't mom's car. Thank God she was alive.
---
Hat Tip VIA Facing Autism in New Brunswick.
VIA The Intelligencer.
VIA MSNBC.
"The young man with severe autism was in the car for five hours on the hottest day of the year.
Middletown police are investigating the death of a 20-year-old Woods Services resident with severe autism who was left inside a van parked on the campus for more than five hours on the hottest day of the year.
Brian Nevins, originally from Queens, N.Y., died of hyperthermia Saturday after he returned with several others from a day trip to the Sesame Place theme park, said Bucks County Coroner Dr. Joseph Campbell.
"This is a horrible tragedy. I really feel for this family,'' Campbell said. "He was probably dead within an hour with those temperatures."
The death is the second in less than a year involving a resident of the private personal care facility for children and adults with severe physical or developmental disabilities in Middletown. Wood Services also has personal care centers in Montgomery and Chester counties.
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, which licenses the center, is assisting in the investigation, which local law enforcement and New York's children and youth agency are heading, a state spokeswoman said. No criminal charges have been filed as the police investigation is continuing.
One unidentified staff person has been suspended, Woods Services spokeswoman Cheryl Kauffman said Monday. The center has not suspended day trips for residents.
Nevins was found lying on his back inside the van about 5:35 p.m. Saturday, after a nurse discovered him missing from his room, said Middletown Detective Jeffry Sproehnle.
Earlier in the day, Nevins and three other Woods clients and two residential counselors had gone on a brief trip to Sesame Place, returning about noon in a Kia Sedona minivan. The van can hold up to seven people.
The one male counselor escorted his two clients to their residences after they returned from the trip.
The other, a female counselor, took one client back to the residence but for an unknown reason left behind Nevins, who was seated in the far rear seat of the van.
The female counselor later dropped off the van keys at the end of her shift Saturday, police said.
A nurse who came on duty about 4 p.m. went to Nevins' room to give him his medicine. She could not locate him and called a supervisor. The person in charge of Nevins' residence thought he was still on the Sesame Place trip, police said.
They went looking throughout every building and residence, and finally found him in the van parked outside. The engine was not running. The Sedona has dark, tinted windows.
Police estimate that Nevins had been inside the van for up to five and a half hours.
Temperatures Saturday reached a record high of 97 degrees with the heat index - the combination of temperature and humidity - hitting triple digits.
Police and state officials say it's unclear why the counselor did not return for Nevins, but a state welfare spokeswoman said it appears to be a "lack of communication among the organization."
"That is not an excuse. The counselors have a responsibility to check the vans and make sure all the clients are off and safely in their residences," Sproehnle said.
Woods Services cannot do its internal investigation into the death until after the state and law enforcement are finished, Kauffman said. Nevins is one of a set of triplets; he was described as very low functioning, unable to speak, but able to walk. He had lived at Woods Services for the last six years, police said."
The Residential Care Facility
Woods Services
Residential Programs
"Whether living in a home on our campus or in the community, life at Woods is safe, attractive, stimulating, comfortable and consistent with the rhythms of everyday life.
People at Woods have a remarkable way of demonstrating their care and concern for each and every person served. The supportive relationships between our staff and the people who live at Woods form the cornerstone of our organization. Our staff is dedicated to developing programs that open eyes, stimulate minds and unlock human potential. Balancing these efforts are total concern for the welfare and benefit of each resident as well as a commitment to the peace of mind of each family member or guardian."
--
The death of the young 20 year old man was a preventable tragedy.
There ARE NO excuses, reasons or answers I will personally ever listen to when any of them make a statement, if they ever do.
I have seen the "lack of communication" BS with my own eyes, and this place may look good on paper, but that is not always the truth.
I send my condolences to this family, this is completely heartbreaking.
---
Hat Tip VIA Facing Autism in New Brunswick.
VIA The Intelligencer.
VIA MSNBC.
"The young man with severe autism was in the car for five hours on the hottest day of the year.
Middletown police are investigating the death of a 20-year-old Woods Services resident with severe autism who was left inside a van parked on the campus for more than five hours on the hottest day of the year.
Brian Nevins, originally from Queens, N.Y., died of hyperthermia Saturday after he returned with several others from a day trip to the Sesame Place theme park, said Bucks County Coroner Dr. Joseph Campbell.
"This is a horrible tragedy. I really feel for this family,'' Campbell said. "He was probably dead within an hour with those temperatures."
The death is the second in less than a year involving a resident of the private personal care facility for children and adults with severe physical or developmental disabilities in Middletown. Wood Services also has personal care centers in Montgomery and Chester counties.
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, which licenses the center, is assisting in the investigation, which local law enforcement and New York's children and youth agency are heading, a state spokeswoman said. No criminal charges have been filed as the police investigation is continuing.
One unidentified staff person has been suspended, Woods Services spokeswoman Cheryl Kauffman said Monday. The center has not suspended day trips for residents.
Nevins was found lying on his back inside the van about 5:35 p.m. Saturday, after a nurse discovered him missing from his room, said Middletown Detective Jeffry Sproehnle.
Earlier in the day, Nevins and three other Woods clients and two residential counselors had gone on a brief trip to Sesame Place, returning about noon in a Kia Sedona minivan. The van can hold up to seven people.
The one male counselor escorted his two clients to their residences after they returned from the trip.
The other, a female counselor, took one client back to the residence but for an unknown reason left behind Nevins, who was seated in the far rear seat of the van.
The female counselor later dropped off the van keys at the end of her shift Saturday, police said.
A nurse who came on duty about 4 p.m. went to Nevins' room to give him his medicine. She could not locate him and called a supervisor. The person in charge of Nevins' residence thought he was still on the Sesame Place trip, police said.
They went looking throughout every building and residence, and finally found him in the van parked outside. The engine was not running. The Sedona has dark, tinted windows.
Police estimate that Nevins had been inside the van for up to five and a half hours.
Temperatures Saturday reached a record high of 97 degrees with the heat index - the combination of temperature and humidity - hitting triple digits.
Police and state officials say it's unclear why the counselor did not return for Nevins, but a state welfare spokeswoman said it appears to be a "lack of communication among the organization."
"That is not an excuse. The counselors have a responsibility to check the vans and make sure all the clients are off and safely in their residences," Sproehnle said.
Woods Services cannot do its internal investigation into the death until after the state and law enforcement are finished, Kauffman said. Nevins is one of a set of triplets; he was described as very low functioning, unable to speak, but able to walk. He had lived at Woods Services for the last six years, police said."
The Residential Care Facility
Woods Services
Residential Programs
"Whether living in a home on our campus or in the community, life at Woods is safe, attractive, stimulating, comfortable and consistent with the rhythms of everyday life.
People at Woods have a remarkable way of demonstrating their care and concern for each and every person served. The supportive relationships between our staff and the people who live at Woods form the cornerstone of our organization. Our staff is dedicated to developing programs that open eyes, stimulate minds and unlock human potential. Balancing these efforts are total concern for the welfare and benefit of each resident as well as a commitment to the peace of mind of each family member or guardian."
--
The death of the young 20 year old man was a preventable tragedy.
There ARE NO excuses, reasons or answers I will personally ever listen to when any of them make a statement, if they ever do.
I have seen the "lack of communication" BS with my own eyes, and this place may look good on paper, but that is not always the truth.
I send my condolences to this family, this is completely heartbreaking.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Quetiapine Addiction? Letter to the Editor, American Journal of Psychiatry- 2007 (Seroquel)
American Journal of Psychiatry
Am J Psychiatry 164:174, January 2007
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.164.1.174
© 2007 American Psychiatric Association
Letter to the Editor
Quetiapine Addiction?
EMIL R. PINTA, M.D.
Columbus, Ohio, and ROBERT E. TAYLOR, M.D.
Cambridge, Ohio
To the Editor:
Quetiapine is not a controlled substance and is not considered addictive. Yet there are several reports describing abuse among inmates in jails and prisons (1, 2).
The pharmaceutical formulary for the Ohio correctional system contains three second-generation antipsychotics, but quetiapine is not one of them. It may be prescribed with special authorization for patients with serious mental disorders who have not responded to formulary agents. However, inmates entering prison on quetiapine for other conditions, such as sleep and anxiety disorders, must have it tapered and discontinued.
The authors have treated a number of inmates who have engaged in drug-seeking and sometimes illegal behavior to obtain this medication. The following case is illustrative:
A 39-year-old incarcerated male with hepatitis C and a history of opiate abuse was treated for generalized anxiety disorder. When seen by the prison psychiatrist, he was receiving quetiapine 800 mg and clonidine 0.9 mg at bedtime.
The psychiatrist was concerned about the risks of prescribing an antipsychotic medication for a patient with hepatitis without a serious mental disorder. The patient refused to discuss other treatment alternatives stating, "I need my Seroquel." Efforts to enlist his cooperation for a quetiapine taper were unsuccessful. He abruptly left a treatment team meeting and informed staff that he would purchase quetiapine illegally from other inmates and had done this before.
We have treated other prisoners who have threatened legal action and even suicide when presented with discontinuation of quetiapine. We have not seen similar drug-seeking behavior with other second-generation antipsychotics of comparable efficacy. Emil R. Pinta, M.D. has worked as a prison consultant for 35 years and can only recall similar behavior to obtain controlled substances.
Hussain et al. suggest that quetiapine abuse may be more prevalent among prisoners because commonly abused drugs are less readily available (2). Another reason may be that quetiapine treats anxiety and sleeplessness associated with substance use withdrawal—with prisoners having high rates for these disorders (3). However, an internet search yielded a number of self-reports by individuals who believe they have become addicted to this agent (4). There is a popular rap song in which "seroquel" is included in a long list of addictive substances (5). In street jargon, quetiapine is known as "quell" and "Susie-Q."
Our experience indicates the need for additional studies to explore the addiction-potential of quetiapine. Quetiapine is an effective medication for treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related illnesses. We believe clinicians should be extremely cautious when prescribing this medication for nonserious mental disorders and for individuals with histories of substance abuse.
Footnotes
The authors report no competing interests."
---
Thought: Street drug abuse vs.prescription drug abuse which comes first? are they different? numb is numb.
Quetiapine (Seroquel) for treatment of alcohol dependence
Quetiapine for treatment of alcohol dependence:
Quetiapine for treatment of alcohol dependence.
Monnelly EP, Ciraulo DA, Knapp C, LoCastro J, Sepulveda I.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. edward.monnelly@med.va.gov
Abstract
Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that has sedative effects. In this retrospective study, indices of alcohol use were compared for alcohol-dependent subjects who either were (n = 30) or were not (n = 20) treated with quetiapine (25 to 200 mg nightly) for disturbed sleep. Indices examined included total days of abstinence, number of hospitalizations for detoxification, and days to first relapse over 1 year of clinic treatment. Subjects were male veterans. All subjects had a diagnosis of alcohol dependence, and 90% of subjects in each group were also diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. Both treatment groups contained a large number of subjects treated with psychiatric medications other than quetiapine. Significant differences were not found between the groups with respect to mean age, detoxifications undergone during the previous year, frequency of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder or depression, or antidepressant use. The mean number of days abstinent was significantly greater, and the number of hospitalizations was significantly lower for the quetiapine than for the control group during the period studied. The mean number of days to relapse approached significance for the quetiapine as compared to the control group. This study has the usual limitations of a retrospective review, including the lack of standardized assessments of alcohol use.
The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that the use of quetiapine to improve disturbed sleep may help alcohol-dependent patients maintain abstinence, although decreased drinking may also be a result of improving posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms or of a direct action of quetiapine to reduce alcohol use.
--
Oxy Cotton, Lil'Wyte
"Scarecrow, scarecrow whats that you popping?
A powerful pill they call Oxycontin
But it'so tiny, that it catch you dragging
Haven't you heard big things come in small packages
I prefer the orange's with the black O-C
Take 2 and you cannot move up out your seat
Some people melt em down in a needle and shoot em up
But I pop 'em with Seroquel like glue, I am stuck."
--
Further reading:
March 2009
March 2009-Seroquel: Treatment for alcoholism : Wayne MacFadden, AstraZeneca funded study-soulful sepulcher blog
Am J Psychiatry 164:174, January 2007
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.164.1.174
© 2007 American Psychiatric Association
Letter to the Editor
Quetiapine Addiction?
EMIL R. PINTA, M.D.
Columbus, Ohio, and ROBERT E. TAYLOR, M.D.
Cambridge, Ohio
To the Editor:
Quetiapine is not a controlled substance and is not considered addictive. Yet there are several reports describing abuse among inmates in jails and prisons (1, 2).
The pharmaceutical formulary for the Ohio correctional system contains three second-generation antipsychotics, but quetiapine is not one of them. It may be prescribed with special authorization for patients with serious mental disorders who have not responded to formulary agents. However, inmates entering prison on quetiapine for other conditions, such as sleep and anxiety disorders, must have it tapered and discontinued.
The authors have treated a number of inmates who have engaged in drug-seeking and sometimes illegal behavior to obtain this medication. The following case is illustrative:
A 39-year-old incarcerated male with hepatitis C and a history of opiate abuse was treated for generalized anxiety disorder. When seen by the prison psychiatrist, he was receiving quetiapine 800 mg and clonidine 0.9 mg at bedtime.
The psychiatrist was concerned about the risks of prescribing an antipsychotic medication for a patient with hepatitis without a serious mental disorder. The patient refused to discuss other treatment alternatives stating, "I need my Seroquel." Efforts to enlist his cooperation for a quetiapine taper were unsuccessful. He abruptly left a treatment team meeting and informed staff that he would purchase quetiapine illegally from other inmates and had done this before.
We have treated other prisoners who have threatened legal action and even suicide when presented with discontinuation of quetiapine. We have not seen similar drug-seeking behavior with other second-generation antipsychotics of comparable efficacy. Emil R. Pinta, M.D. has worked as a prison consultant for 35 years and can only recall similar behavior to obtain controlled substances.
Hussain et al. suggest that quetiapine abuse may be more prevalent among prisoners because commonly abused drugs are less readily available (2). Another reason may be that quetiapine treats anxiety and sleeplessness associated with substance use withdrawal—with prisoners having high rates for these disorders (3). However, an internet search yielded a number of self-reports by individuals who believe they have become addicted to this agent (4). There is a popular rap song in which "seroquel" is included in a long list of addictive substances (5). In street jargon, quetiapine is known as "quell" and "Susie-Q."
Our experience indicates the need for additional studies to explore the addiction-potential of quetiapine. Quetiapine is an effective medication for treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related illnesses. We believe clinicians should be extremely cautious when prescribing this medication for nonserious mental disorders and for individuals with histories of substance abuse.
Footnotes
The authors report no competing interests."
---
Thought: Street drug abuse vs.prescription drug abuse which comes first? are they different? numb is numb.
Quetiapine (Seroquel) for treatment of alcohol dependence
Quetiapine for treatment of alcohol dependence:
Quetiapine for treatment of alcohol dependence.
Monnelly EP, Ciraulo DA, Knapp C, LoCastro J, Sepulveda I.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. edward.monnelly@med.va.gov
Abstract
Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that has sedative effects. In this retrospective study, indices of alcohol use were compared for alcohol-dependent subjects who either were (n = 30) or were not (n = 20) treated with quetiapine (25 to 200 mg nightly) for disturbed sleep. Indices examined included total days of abstinence, number of hospitalizations for detoxification, and days to first relapse over 1 year of clinic treatment. Subjects were male veterans. All subjects had a diagnosis of alcohol dependence, and 90% of subjects in each group were also diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. Both treatment groups contained a large number of subjects treated with psychiatric medications other than quetiapine. Significant differences were not found between the groups with respect to mean age, detoxifications undergone during the previous year, frequency of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder or depression, or antidepressant use. The mean number of days abstinent was significantly greater, and the number of hospitalizations was significantly lower for the quetiapine than for the control group during the period studied. The mean number of days to relapse approached significance for the quetiapine as compared to the control group. This study has the usual limitations of a retrospective review, including the lack of standardized assessments of alcohol use.
The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that the use of quetiapine to improve disturbed sleep may help alcohol-dependent patients maintain abstinence, although decreased drinking may also be a result of improving posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms or of a direct action of quetiapine to reduce alcohol use.
--
Oxy Cotton, Lil'Wyte
"Scarecrow, scarecrow whats that you popping?
A powerful pill they call Oxycontin
But it'so tiny, that it catch you dragging
Haven't you heard big things come in small packages
I prefer the orange's with the black O-C
Take 2 and you cannot move up out your seat
Some people melt em down in a needle and shoot em up
But I pop 'em with Seroquel like glue, I am stuck."
--
Further reading:
March 2009
March 2009-Seroquel: Treatment for alcoholism : Wayne MacFadden, AstraZeneca funded study-soulful sepulcher blog
a walk in the park
we took the dog to visit my daughter yesterday. she loved it. we all went to the dog park and walked with dogs, watched them play and it was a very pretty summer day. the field had tall grass and flowers growing, and it was the most photographic scene, watching the dog run through the field playing. my daughter sat with him in the car and we went to mcDonald's and then ate under the shade of a tree. a very good outing. she's doing very good.
FDA Warning: Tardive Dyskinesia & Metroclopramide use: Let's talk about Seroquel & Abilify too
Re-post February 28, 2009
Warning Tardive Dyskenisia:
FDA Warning:Tardive Dyskinesia & Metroclopramide use--let's talk about Seroquel and Abilify too
neuroleptic/antipsychotic medication permanent damage from use
antipsychotics and children-fox news
Tardive Dyskinesia(involuntary movement).
"What is Tardive Dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused by the long-term use of neuroleptic (antipsychotics)drugs. Neuroleptic drugs are generally prescribed for psychiatric disorders, as well as for some gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Features of the disorder may include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms, legs, and trunk may also occur. Involuntary movements of the fingers may appear as though the patient is playing an invisible guitar or piano."
What drugs are neuroleptics? antipsychotics? for example:
Abilify
Clozaril
Haldol
Seroquel
Zyprexa
FDA Warning-February 27, 2009-Tardive Dyskinesia & Metroclopramide:
"ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 27 -- Drugs containing the antiemetic metoclopramide must carry a boxed warning about the risk of tardive dyskinesia, the FDA announced."
"The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia can continue after stopping the drugs and are rarely reversible."
"The FDA said manufacturers of drugs that include metoclopramide must also implement a risk mitigation strategy that would ensure patients receive a medication guide with each prescription detailing the risks.
Metoclopramide-containing drugs include tablets, syrups, and injections used for short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients who have not responded to other therapies, as well as diabetic gastroparesis."
Reglan(Metoclopramide).
Warning:
"Mental depression has occurred in patients with and without prior history of depression. Symptoms have ranged from mild to severe and have included suicidal ideation and suicide. Metoclopramide should be given to patients with a prior history of depression only if the expected benefits outweigh the potential risks."
How important is it to understand the fine print of any drug you take? (very)
Note, that the Reglan is not an antipsychotic, yet carries a box warning for Tardive Dyskinesia.
Note, that Abilify and Seroquel are antipsychotics, not antidepressants. If you have been prescibed one of these drugs for depression, it is imperative you understand this. They are neuroleptics, and very potent chemicals, typically reserved for severe psychosis or schizophrenia.
Abilify has a new marketing stragedy to increase sales: use as an "add-on" to an existing antidepressant. It's an antipsychotic, with a black box warning for diabetes, same as Seroquel and Zyprexa. AstraZeneca (Seroquel) is in court now regarding hidden internal documents that may show the company buried data that showed diabetes was a known side effect. Lilly (Zyprexa) already went to court and settled that lawsuit.
Are you willing to take a drug that can cause permanent damage even after you stop taking the drug? If a person can live with their symptoms and not use antipsychotics, should they have the choice? yes!
Warning Tardive Dyskenisia:
FDA Warning:Tardive Dyskinesia & Metroclopramide use--let's talk about Seroquel and Abilify too
neuroleptic/antipsychotic medication permanent damage from use
antipsychotics and children-fox news
Tardive Dyskinesia(involuntary movement).
"What is Tardive Dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused by the long-term use of neuroleptic (antipsychotics)drugs. Neuroleptic drugs are generally prescribed for psychiatric disorders, as well as for some gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Features of the disorder may include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms, legs, and trunk may also occur. Involuntary movements of the fingers may appear as though the patient is playing an invisible guitar or piano."
What drugs are neuroleptics? antipsychotics? for example:
Abilify
Clozaril
Haldol
Seroquel
Zyprexa
FDA Warning-February 27, 2009-Tardive Dyskinesia & Metroclopramide:
"ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 27 -- Drugs containing the antiemetic metoclopramide must carry a boxed warning about the risk of tardive dyskinesia, the FDA announced."
"The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia can continue after stopping the drugs and are rarely reversible."
"The FDA said manufacturers of drugs that include metoclopramide must also implement a risk mitigation strategy that would ensure patients receive a medication guide with each prescription detailing the risks.
Metoclopramide-containing drugs include tablets, syrups, and injections used for short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients who have not responded to other therapies, as well as diabetic gastroparesis."
Reglan(Metoclopramide).
Warning:
"Mental depression has occurred in patients with and without prior history of depression. Symptoms have ranged from mild to severe and have included suicidal ideation and suicide. Metoclopramide should be given to patients with a prior history of depression only if the expected benefits outweigh the potential risks."
How important is it to understand the fine print of any drug you take? (very)
Note, that the Reglan is not an antipsychotic, yet carries a box warning for Tardive Dyskinesia.
Note, that Abilify and Seroquel are antipsychotics, not antidepressants. If you have been prescibed one of these drugs for depression, it is imperative you understand this. They are neuroleptics, and very potent chemicals, typically reserved for severe psychosis or schizophrenia.
Abilify has a new marketing stragedy to increase sales: use as an "add-on" to an existing antidepressant. It's an antipsychotic, with a black box warning for diabetes, same as Seroquel and Zyprexa. AstraZeneca (Seroquel) is in court now regarding hidden internal documents that may show the company buried data that showed diabetes was a known side effect. Lilly (Zyprexa) already went to court and settled that lawsuit.
Are you willing to take a drug that can cause permanent damage even after you stop taking the drug? If a person can live with their symptoms and not use antipsychotics, should they have the choice? yes!
Friday, July 23, 2010
AstraZeneca sponsors DBSA National Contest: Living With Depression, Bipolar & MDD
AstraZeneca, makers of the antipsychotic SEROQUEL has teamed up with DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) by funding a National Contest:
From AstraZeneca's website:
National contest encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder to speak out
July 20, 2010 – Wilmington, DE – Currently in its second year, the SPEAK and Be Heard… Living With Depression contest, made possible by AstraZeneca in partnership with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (also called depression) to share their stories of success. Submissions are now being accepted for the program, and finalists, selected by judges from patient, advocacy, healthcare, literary, film, music and art communities, will have the opportunity to inspire people living with unresolved symptoms of depression such as sadness and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed through their stories of successfully managing their disease.1
Combined, bipolar disorder and depression affect as many as 22 million American adults1,2,3,4 and, in a clinical study, nearly 2 out of 3 people with depression experience unresolved symptoms after initial antidepressant treatment.5
Stories can be submitted online at SpeakAboutDepression in the form of an essay, song, art, poetry, or video. To qualify, essay, song and poem submissions must be received by August 13; and art and video submissions by September 10. "
--
In bed with the drug company
It appears that DBSA has joined the ranks with NAMI receiving pharamceutical funding from AstraZeneca. The contest is sponsored by a drug company that makes Seroquel, an antipsychotic, turned antidepressant via a marketing campaign, a company that is in current litigation for 26,000 lawsuits by injured patients who became diabetic while taking the drug (alleged). AstraZeneca was fined $520 million dollars by the US DOJ for marketing ethics.
THE CONTEST RULES
YOU MUST BE IN CURRENT MEDICATION TREATMENT (ON PILLS)
"Any US Citizen between the ages of 19-64 who has been professionally diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder (often referred to simply as depression), is currently under professional medical care and medical treatment, and has successfully managed the depressive symptoms for at least six months is invited to submit a success story–in the form of a written essay, song, artwork, poem, or video—for the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living With Depression campaign."
--
A contest based on a medication based treatment paradigm, sponsored by a $32 BILLION dollar drug company, that promotes Seroquel for bipolar and depression treatment.
Speak and be heard, indeed.
How about beating depression with walking, running, biking, swimming, talk therapy, pet therapy, healthy diet, yoga....oh, but no pills involved disqualifies you, and bet your last dollar that your story will be chosen if you toot the horn loud enough that Seroquel is your personal wonder drug. (actually, you will be disqualfied if you name the drug names, after all that could be conflict of interest, and AstraZeneca nevertolerates THAT.) But, you will have to release an authorization of medical records ( identifying health information) for proof of treatment on the entry form. Just how much do you want AstraZenena to know about you for their demographics?
FINE PRINT IF YOU ENTER
*"Submissions will not be returned. Per the authorization form (electric and hardcopy), you give DBSA and AstraZeneca permission to use, reproduce, and disclose your submission in the United States, in any media, including radio, television, print publications, and the Internet (including DBSA and AstraZeneca web properties) for purposes of educating people on bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder through educational, promotional, and commercial programs that are related to the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with Depression program."
In other words, you have now signed on to be a patient representative of AstraZeneca to promote their drugs (product) via the guise of a contest and educational of the public. (You are an unpaid pharma rep, and a DTC promotion of AstraZeneca as a result of just entering the contest. Whether you take Seroquel or Zyprexa, Cymbalta or Lexapro, Risperdal or Abilify, Depakote or Trileptal, Neurontin or Lithium....whatever you take, your info will be used by AstraZeneca to promote their company....which makes Seroquel.
From AstraZeneca's website:
National contest encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder to speak out
July 20, 2010 – Wilmington, DE – Currently in its second year, the SPEAK and Be Heard… Living With Depression contest, made possible by AstraZeneca in partnership with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), encourages people with depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (also called depression) to share their stories of success. Submissions are now being accepted for the program, and finalists, selected by judges from patient, advocacy, healthcare, literary, film, music and art communities, will have the opportunity to inspire people living with unresolved symptoms of depression such as sadness and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed through their stories of successfully managing their disease.1
Combined, bipolar disorder and depression affect as many as 22 million American adults1,2,3,4 and, in a clinical study, nearly 2 out of 3 people with depression experience unresolved symptoms after initial antidepressant treatment.5
Stories can be submitted online at SpeakAboutDepression in the form of an essay, song, art, poetry, or video. To qualify, essay, song and poem submissions must be received by August 13; and art and video submissions by September 10. "
--
In bed with the drug company
It appears that DBSA has joined the ranks with NAMI receiving pharamceutical funding from AstraZeneca. The contest is sponsored by a drug company that makes Seroquel, an antipsychotic, turned antidepressant via a marketing campaign, a company that is in current litigation for 26,000 lawsuits by injured patients who became diabetic while taking the drug (alleged). AstraZeneca was fined $520 million dollars by the US DOJ for marketing ethics.
THE CONTEST RULES
YOU MUST BE IN CURRENT MEDICATION TREATMENT (ON PILLS)
"Any US Citizen between the ages of 19-64 who has been professionally diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder (often referred to simply as depression), is currently under professional medical care and medical treatment, and has successfully managed the depressive symptoms for at least six months is invited to submit a success story–in the form of a written essay, song, artwork, poem, or video—for the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living With Depression campaign."
--
A contest based on a medication based treatment paradigm, sponsored by a $32 BILLION dollar drug company, that promotes Seroquel for bipolar and depression treatment.
Speak and be heard, indeed.
How about beating depression with walking, running, biking, swimming, talk therapy, pet therapy, healthy diet, yoga....oh, but no pills involved disqualifies you, and bet your last dollar that your story will be chosen if you toot the horn loud enough that Seroquel is your personal wonder drug. (actually, you will be disqualfied if you name the drug names, after all that could be conflict of interest, and AstraZeneca nevertolerates THAT.) But, you will have to release an authorization of medical records ( identifying health information) for proof of treatment on the entry form. Just how much do you want AstraZenena to know about you for their demographics?
FINE PRINT IF YOU ENTER
*"Submissions will not be returned. Per the authorization form (electric and hardcopy), you give DBSA and AstraZeneca permission to use, reproduce, and disclose your submission in the United States, in any media, including radio, television, print publications, and the Internet (including DBSA and AstraZeneca web properties) for purposes of educating people on bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder through educational, promotional, and commercial programs that are related to the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with Depression program."
In other words, you have now signed on to be a patient representative of AstraZeneca to promote their drugs (product) via the guise of a contest and educational of the public. (You are an unpaid pharma rep, and a DTC promotion of AstraZeneca as a result of just entering the contest. Whether you take Seroquel or Zyprexa, Cymbalta or Lexapro, Risperdal or Abilify, Depakote or Trileptal, Neurontin or Lithium....whatever you take, your info will be used by AstraZeneca to promote their company....which makes Seroquel.
Giving Herrad Sunshine
Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis has left Herrad incapacitated at a very fast pace the last several years. She first noted an inability to walk her usual stride and pace, and received the blanket news she had MS, leaving her and her loving husband Richie alone in a stark wilderness finding a way to live their lives while Herrad progressed to where she is today....virtually paralyzed, and in need of 24/7 care.
This is quite a shock for someone as vivacious and lively as Herrad. She is a high spirited woman, who loves to live life to the fullest. Always optimistic in her worst times, she keeps her chin up, and attempts to live in the moment every single day. Just to receive a comment from Herrad is a joy, and one known fact is that she can not often type easily, and has recently used a voice recognition system to do blog posts.
It is the world of the Internet that has expanded her horizon to a world wide support group. Stop by and send Herrad a "hello" today. She is again, waiting to sit in her wheelchair to go outside due to a sensitive skin issue, where a recent long battle with a pressure wound healed, only to peel again. Sending everyone into a fright, now she waits to go outside again for at least a week.
To have pain and numbness, loss of use of legs, torso, bladder and bowel control is beyond comprehension. Herrad writes about her life with fast progressing MS with dignity and strength, and is a true inspiration to me.
Further reading:
The Unvarnished Truth.
A brilliant and beautiful photo essay
I am still me.
What is MS?
wikipedia.
*this is dedicated to Sherry and Donna too, and all of my other blog buddies struggling with physical limitations, yet are full of life and much to give to this world, including inspiring everyone.
*Check out Psychology Today, where Sherry's blog,Word Salads is highlighted,because Sherry is eternally optimistic, though having to overcome MS, and the loss of her daughter and more.
Also, check out Donna's blog, Arranging Shoes,where you will find beautiful photos of high mountain places and wonders she has been via climbing, only to now be riddled with a mystery of why she cannot walk and climb like she used to...her photos are an inspiration to me, and bittersweet memories for her.
Morton at Caring and Sharing blog, lives with MS, and also a carer of his mum. With all of that, he always manages quite a garden full of beautiful flowers, and posts photos of them in the Summer.
This is quite a shock for someone as vivacious and lively as Herrad. She is a high spirited woman, who loves to live life to the fullest. Always optimistic in her worst times, she keeps her chin up, and attempts to live in the moment every single day. Just to receive a comment from Herrad is a joy, and one known fact is that she can not often type easily, and has recently used a voice recognition system to do blog posts.
It is the world of the Internet that has expanded her horizon to a world wide support group. Stop by and send Herrad a "hello" today. She is again, waiting to sit in her wheelchair to go outside due to a sensitive skin issue, where a recent long battle with a pressure wound healed, only to peel again. Sending everyone into a fright, now she waits to go outside again for at least a week.
To have pain and numbness, loss of use of legs, torso, bladder and bowel control is beyond comprehension. Herrad writes about her life with fast progressing MS with dignity and strength, and is a true inspiration to me.
Further reading:
The Unvarnished Truth.
A brilliant and beautiful photo essay
I am still me.
What is MS?
wikipedia.
*this is dedicated to Sherry and Donna too, and all of my other blog buddies struggling with physical limitations, yet are full of life and much to give to this world, including inspiring everyone.
*Check out Psychology Today, where Sherry's blog,Word Salads is highlighted,because Sherry is eternally optimistic, though having to overcome MS, and the loss of her daughter and more.
Also, check out Donna's blog, Arranging Shoes,where you will find beautiful photos of high mountain places and wonders she has been via climbing, only to now be riddled with a mystery of why she cannot walk and climb like she used to...her photos are an inspiration to me, and bittersweet memories for her.
Morton at Caring and Sharing blog, lives with MS, and also a carer of his mum. With all of that, he always manages quite a garden full of beautiful flowers, and posts photos of them in the Summer.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
thanks to a blogger
Thank you, Susan! WOW.I totally do not deserve these flowers at all! but what a great surprise to find them waiting for me after the long haul drive to visit my daughter today! thank you very much.
$I'll give you $10,000 if you agree to have a life long drug-induced illness and shorter life span: AstraZeneca to settle 200 Seroquel lawsuits
Seroquel sample box
AstraZeneca's old marketing campaign
From the file of "You have to be out of your mind"!
VIA Bloomberg:
"AstraZeneca Plc agreed to pay $2 million to settle more than 200 cases over its antipsychotic drug Seroquel in the first resolution of lawsuits alleging the medicine causes diabetes, people familiar with the accords said.
The settlement, which provides an average payout of more than $10,000 per case, came as the result of a U.S. court-ordered mediation involving 26,000 cases filed against London-based AstraZeneca over Seroquel, the people said."
AND
"“AstraZeneca continues to participate in good faith in the court-ordered mediation process,” Tony Jewell, a company spokesman, said in an interview. “The mediator has asked the parties to maintain the confidentiality of those discussions. AstraZeneca will honor the mediator’s request."
---
VIA Bloomberg:
"AstraZeneca Plc agreed to pay $2 million to settle more than 200 cases over its antipsychotic drug Seroquel in the first resolution of lawsuits alleging the medicine causes diabetes, people familiar with the accords said.
The settlement, which provides an average payout of more than $10,000 per case, came as the result of a U.S. court-ordered mediation involving 26,000 cases filed against London-based AstraZeneca over Seroquel, the people said."
AND
"“AstraZeneca continues to participate in good faith in the court-ordered mediation process,” Tony Jewell, a company spokesman, said in an interview. “The mediator has asked the parties to maintain the confidentiality of those discussions. AstraZeneca will honor the mediator’s request."
---
The cases in Florida are 200 of 26,000 cases of innocent victims (PEOPLE) who took Seroquel off-label in many cases, for insomnia, and bipolar disorder etc. The drug is a powerful neuroleptic antipsychotic. The side effects are diabetes and weight gain. Seroquel was marketed even though ASTRAZENECA KNEW IT HAD THESE SIDE EFFECTS YET DID NOT DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION.
If spokesman Tony Jewell wants to make a statement about "participating in good faith", then he should join the ranks of James Wetta, the ex-pharma rep who blew the whistle on AstraZeneca to the tune of a $520million dollar fine from the DOJ (Department of Justice)last Spring, and AstraZeneca signed a CIA(Corporate Integrity Act).
If $10,000 is compensation that appears to be reasonable in this settlement, then the Judge has lost all perspective.
A lifetime illness due to taking a drug, permanent disability and a life span cut short. The internal documents show the drug maker knew this could happen and the FDA STILL allows Seroquel to be on the market--now boasted as an antidepressant and off-label use of Seroquel for insomnia is quite common.
What is a life worth? well, I can safely say that $10,000 does not cover a couple of months of loss of work wages from being out sick while trialing a diabetes medication and diet routine, and suffering permanent loss of job as a result and loss of insurance to cover diabetes care as a result.
I bet Tony Jewell, the spokesperson for AstraZeneca spends $10,000 a month on expenses defending the company, but then this is all my opinion, so the lawyers reading this blog as well as the internal spy network hired by AstraZeneca, V-Fluence who has me in a "Google reader", can take my words and shove them where....Florida's sun don't shine.
Where's Wayne MacFadden? Remember him?
HAT TIP Pharmalot
Also:
PharmaGossip
Stan's blog
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
New rules for Harvard doctors: Will Biederman's $1.5 million from drug companies be given to charity for atonement?
VIA Jack's posterous and the Boston Globe:
Senator Charles Grassley investigated Dr. Joseph Biederman, the dominating K.O.L. (Key Opinion Leader)of the infamous Pediatric Bipolar Disorder gang for pocketing $1.5 million dollars into his personal bank account, money received from pharmaceutical companies, and money he did not disclose (COI-Conflict of Interest). Let's not get too excited about Harvard having new rules for their doctors.
(from Jack's posterous)
Faculty can still:
■ Conduct industry-funded research
■ Work as paid consultants for industry
■ Found biotechnology companies
■ Hold stock in health care companies (limited to $30,000 in a public company; no stock can be held in a private company if the company sponsors the faculty member’s research)
■ Be a paid member of company scientific advisory boards
Faculty cannot:
■ Give talks as paid members of company speakers bureaus
■ Earn more than $10,000 annually from a company on whose products they conduct clinical trials (Previous limit was $20,000)
■ Accept personal gifts, travel, or meals from companies
Other provisions
■ Harvard will post on its website faculty members’ financial interests in, or payments from, drug and medical device companies of $5,000 or more.
■ Companies can no longer pay for specific Harvard-run continuing medical education courses for doctors, unless more than one company sponsors the course and no one company funds more than 50 percent.
■ Industry exhibits and programs must be at a separate time and place from Harvard continuing medical education courses.
■ The medical school must give permission for faculty to join the fiduciary boards of for-profit health care companies
--
From Boston Globe
"Harvard administrators would not comment on whether the new rules, had they been in place, would have prevented the public run-in with Grassley. He has accused Dr. Joseph Biederman, a well-known Mass. General child psychiatrist and a leading advocate of diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder in children, of failing to make timely disclosures to Harvard of more than $1.5 million that drug companies paid him in consulting and speaking fees.
Biederman has said in statements and letters to the Globe that he complied with conflict-of-interest and disclosure rules. Harvard’s investigation into the matter is not completed, the school said. But Flier and Mayer said that there has been general confusion among faculty over what they must disclose, and this policy will help clarify what is expected. Faculty will have to complete online education courses on conflict-of-interest rules before filing their annual disclosure forms, and Harvard will conduct random internal audits."
---
What do you think? I think they have left the door open for pharmaceutical influence, business as usual. Whether they can receive $10,000 or $20,000 from a drug maker of the product they are trialing is still influence, and bet your bottom dollar, the data outcome will be favorable for that product---money directly influences these people, why should there be any kickbacks allowed at all? Are there such things as drug trials without the drug companies greedy tentacles all over it and the researchers?
Senator Charles Grassley investigated Dr. Joseph Biederman, the dominating K.O.L. (Key Opinion Leader)of the infamous Pediatric Bipolar Disorder gang for pocketing $1.5 million dollars into his personal bank account, money received from pharmaceutical companies, and money he did not disclose (COI-Conflict of Interest). Let's not get too excited about Harvard having new rules for their doctors.
(from Jack's posterous)
Faculty can still:
■ Conduct industry-funded research
■ Work as paid consultants for industry
■ Found biotechnology companies
■ Hold stock in health care companies (limited to $30,000 in a public company; no stock can be held in a private company if the company sponsors the faculty member’s research)
■ Be a paid member of company scientific advisory boards
Faculty cannot:
■ Give talks as paid members of company speakers bureaus
■ Earn more than $10,000 annually from a company on whose products they conduct clinical trials (Previous limit was $20,000)
■ Accept personal gifts, travel, or meals from companies
Other provisions
■ Harvard will post on its website faculty members’ financial interests in, or payments from, drug and medical device companies of $5,000 or more.
■ Companies can no longer pay for specific Harvard-run continuing medical education courses for doctors, unless more than one company sponsors the course and no one company funds more than 50 percent.
■ Industry exhibits and programs must be at a separate time and place from Harvard continuing medical education courses.
■ The medical school must give permission for faculty to join the fiduciary boards of for-profit health care companies
--
From Boston Globe
"Harvard administrators would not comment on whether the new rules, had they been in place, would have prevented the public run-in with Grassley. He has accused Dr. Joseph Biederman, a well-known Mass. General child psychiatrist and a leading advocate of diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder in children, of failing to make timely disclosures to Harvard of more than $1.5 million that drug companies paid him in consulting and speaking fees.
Biederman has said in statements and letters to the Globe that he complied with conflict-of-interest and disclosure rules. Harvard’s investigation into the matter is not completed, the school said. But Flier and Mayer said that there has been general confusion among faculty over what they must disclose, and this policy will help clarify what is expected. Faculty will have to complete online education courses on conflict-of-interest rules before filing their annual disclosure forms, and Harvard will conduct random internal audits."
---
What do you think? I think they have left the door open for pharmaceutical influence, business as usual. Whether they can receive $10,000 or $20,000 from a drug maker of the product they are trialing is still influence, and bet your bottom dollar, the data outcome will be favorable for that product---money directly influences these people, why should there be any kickbacks allowed at all? Are there such things as drug trials without the drug companies greedy tentacles all over it and the researchers?
Monday, July 19, 2010
Florida watches over children in psychotropic drug trials: the FDA DOES NOT protect foster children from drug trials
Gabriel Myers was a 7 year old foster child in the state of Florida, when he killed himself, by hanging himself in his foster parents home. The FDA does not agree with a prohibition of enrolling of foster kids in the trials, when asked by George Sheldon, of Florida's Department of Children and Families. The Department of Children and families considers its job of protecting innocent foster children (unable to make informed choices!)to be a serious one, and the FDA appears to believe children are dispensable. The pharmaceutical industry preys on situations such as this, and to have the FDA leave the door open is disgusting, and a callous disregard for innocent children, in my opinion.
VIA Pharmalot, with an interview:
"A department spokeswoman writes us to say this: “There is no impasse. While we appreciate the information provided by the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Children and Families, not the FDA, is responsible for the protection of children in its care and takes those responsibilities extremely seriously. To that end, we have, by administrative procedures, prohibited the use of children in state care in clinical trials relating to the development of new psychotropic medications."
"At no time shall a child in the custody of the Department be allowed to participate in a clinical trial that is designed to develop new psychotropic medications or evaluate the suitability of providing medications previously approved for adults to children"
--
AMERICA IS ALLOWING CHILDREN TO BE SUBJECTED TO PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGGING AND DEATH BY TOLERATING THE FDA'S DECISION.
Write letters to Margaret Hamburg,M.D. FDA Commissioner, appointed in May 2009, a graduate of Harvard, and studied neuropharmacology at NIMH, apparently didn't pay attention to the dangers of psychotropic use in children.
Just because the drugs have not been tested in children, why use innocent foster children? because they are on the Government's paycheck...apparently, cash cows for America's pharmaceutical industry.
United States Department of Health and Human Services Employee
Hamburg
First name Margaret
Middle name A
Agency FDA
Organization DHHS/FDA/OC
Internet e-mail
margaret.hamburg@fda.hhs.gov
VIA Pharmalot, with an interview:
"A department spokeswoman writes us to say this: “There is no impasse. While we appreciate the information provided by the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Children and Families, not the FDA, is responsible for the protection of children in its care and takes those responsibilities extremely seriously. To that end, we have, by administrative procedures, prohibited the use of children in state care in clinical trials relating to the development of new psychotropic medications."
"At no time shall a child in the custody of the Department be allowed to participate in a clinical trial that is designed to develop new psychotropic medications or evaluate the suitability of providing medications previously approved for adults to children"
--
AMERICA IS ALLOWING CHILDREN TO BE SUBJECTED TO PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGGING AND DEATH BY TOLERATING THE FDA'S DECISION.
Write letters to Margaret Hamburg,M.D. FDA Commissioner, appointed in May 2009, a graduate of Harvard, and studied neuropharmacology at NIMH, apparently didn't pay attention to the dangers of psychotropic use in children.
Just because the drugs have not been tested in children, why use innocent foster children? because they are on the Government's paycheck...apparently, cash cows for America's pharmaceutical industry.
---
United States Department of Health and Human Services Employee
Hamburg
First name Margaret
Middle name A
Agency FDA
Organization DHHS/FDA/OC
Internet e-mail
margaret.hamburg@fda.hhs.gov
Sunday, July 18, 2010
walking as a group, being independent
today, we took my daughter out for lunch and on a nice long walk through the dog park nearby. we enjoyed the outside time and the wide open, and quite large old farm area all in full bloom of summer grass and flowers. it has been 4 months since we, as a team have been together fighting (advocating)for my daughter's rights as the person she is, and for outside time, and the eventual move to where she is currently. her advocate, and my friend, has not been here to reap the reward of seeing her in action, and to view her wonderful, independent living-stepping-stone to the world 'own room' and life in the habilitative setting. it was the advocate who was vocal in all of the meetings from december until march--setting the way for the future. i was able to keep the pace going from there.
today, we were all back together.
enjoying more freedom and watching independence with my daughter, are all reasons why never to give up. several seasons have passed, and we walked with her in all of them. right along side, encouraging, and offering choices. it was a great moment for me, to watch my friend be able to see where she is now. you know, life is not always predictable, in fact if we can embrace that, we can do anything. keep on going. one walk at a time.
today, we were all back together.
enjoying more freedom and watching independence with my daughter, are all reasons why never to give up. several seasons have passed, and we walked with her in all of them. right along side, encouraging, and offering choices. it was a great moment for me, to watch my friend be able to see where she is now. you know, life is not always predictable, in fact if we can embrace that, we can do anything. keep on going. one walk at a time.
sunday diversion: pillow talk
perhaps, if we did this more often we wouldn't need therapists, psychiatrists or pills.
John Blenkinsopp, former AstraZeneca employee speaks out in January 2010 :Journal of Bioethical Inquiry
This is a Re-post from my blog from January 2010, where an ex AstraZeneca employee speaks out in the comment section of Pharmalot blog. It's noteworthy of a re-post.
-----
From Evidence-based Medicine to Marketing-based Medicine: Evidence from Internal Industry Documents
Glen I. Spielmans1 and Peter I. Parry2
(1)
Department of Psychology, Metropolitan State University, 1450 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
(2)
Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
Abstract
"While much excitement has been generated surrounding evidence-based medicine, internal documents from the pharmaceutical industry suggest that the publicly available evidence base may not accurately represent the underlying data regarding its products.
The industry and its associated medical communication firms state that publications in the medical literature primarily serve marketing interests. Suppression and spinning of negative data and ghostwriting have emerged as tools to help manage medical journal publications to best suit product sales, while disease mongering and market segmentation of physicians are also used to efficiently maximize profits. We propose that while evidence-based medicine is a noble ideal, marketing-based medicine is the current reality. " (full article pdf here).
Keywords Evidence-based medicine - Marketing - Marketing-based medicine - Pharmaceutical industry - Olanzapine - Quetiapine (Seroquel, Zyprexa)
----
VIA "Jack Friday" 's comment at Pharmalot blog:"AstraZeneca Pressured Medical Manager over Seroquel".
Read more at Furious Seasons"AstraZeneca Exec Was Pressed To Lie About Seroquel Weight Gain":
"'In the end I was put under quite a significant amount of pressure by the marketeers to sign off claims with regards to the lack of weight gain and I was unwilling to sign that off. The marketeers made it clear it could be career limiting for me," Mr Blenkinsopp added.'"
and at PharmaGossip, "This is a must read!".
Addendum:
VIA Pharmalot blog comment section, HERE:
The authors of the paper chime in as well as the AstraZeneca employee who was pressured by the Seroquel marketing team, in their own words, candidly speaking.
From John Blenkinsopp, former AstraZeneca employee:
" I am the ex-AZ employee who spoke on the recent BBC File on 4 radio programme.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8478924.stm
I was asked at the time to “sign off” promotional claims for Seroquel in the UK which I believed didn’t reflect the totality of the data.
This I refused to do.
I would like to congratulate Drs. Spielmans and Parry on a fine piece of work.
The release of the legal documents pertaining to the US litigation last year was the first opportunity I had to piece together the shenanigans my US and HQ colleagues were up to.
Once again - kudos to Spielmans and Parry for their forensic dissection of this grey literature."
--John Blenkinsopp, former AstraZeneca employee
-----
From Evidence-based Medicine to Marketing-based Medicine: Evidence from Internal Industry Documents
Glen I. Spielmans1 and Peter I. Parry2
(1)
Department of Psychology, Metropolitan State University, 1450 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
(2)
Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
Abstract
"While much excitement has been generated surrounding evidence-based medicine, internal documents from the pharmaceutical industry suggest that the publicly available evidence base may not accurately represent the underlying data regarding its products.
The industry and its associated medical communication firms state that publications in the medical literature primarily serve marketing interests. Suppression and spinning of negative data and ghostwriting have emerged as tools to help manage medical journal publications to best suit product sales, while disease mongering and market segmentation of physicians are also used to efficiently maximize profits. We propose that while evidence-based medicine is a noble ideal, marketing-based medicine is the current reality. " (full article pdf here).
Keywords Evidence-based medicine - Marketing - Marketing-based medicine - Pharmaceutical industry - Olanzapine - Quetiapine (Seroquel, Zyprexa)
----
VIA "Jack Friday" 's comment at Pharmalot blog:"AstraZeneca Pressured Medical Manager over Seroquel".
Read more at Furious Seasons"AstraZeneca Exec Was Pressed To Lie About Seroquel Weight Gain":
"'In the end I was put under quite a significant amount of pressure by the marketeers to sign off claims with regards to the lack of weight gain and I was unwilling to sign that off. The marketeers made it clear it could be career limiting for me," Mr Blenkinsopp added.'"
and at PharmaGossip, "This is a must read!".
Addendum:
VIA Pharmalot blog comment section, HERE:
The authors of the paper chime in as well as the AstraZeneca employee who was pressured by the Seroquel marketing team, in their own words, candidly speaking.
From John Blenkinsopp, former AstraZeneca employee:
" I am the ex-AZ employee who spoke on the recent BBC File on 4 radio programme.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8478924.stm
I was asked at the time to “sign off” promotional claims for Seroquel in the UK which I believed didn’t reflect the totality of the data.
This I refused to do.
I would like to congratulate Drs. Spielmans and Parry on a fine piece of work.
The release of the legal documents pertaining to the US litigation last year was the first opportunity I had to piece together the shenanigans my US and HQ colleagues were up to.
Once again - kudos to Spielmans and Parry for their forensic dissection of this grey literature."
--John Blenkinsopp, former AstraZeneca employee
Thursday, July 15, 2010
roadside rambles
i've been off of the beaten path the last few days, and this was one of the views from the passenger seat. that's mt.shasta in california.today, my daughter looked good, was smiling and happy greeting me. she paid for her snacks, at the store by reading the amount due, counted out the correct amount of money to give and receive change back. she made her bed like an expert after i had announced her fitted sheet surely was too short, she whipped that bed into the neatest bed made in town. she's doing really good. small victories and a lot of high 5's.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
AstraZeneca's SEROQUEL: the wonder drug- it's an antipsychotic turned antidepressant and a truth suppressant all in one! PMCPA complaints in U.K.
AstraZeneca's SEROQUEL: the wonder drug- it's an antipsychotic turned antidepressant and a truth suppressant all in one! PMCPA complaints in U.K.
VIA PharmaGossip-The Case of the odd advert
AstraZeneca's antipsychotic, SEROQUEL, which is currently popular for prescription as a sleep aid, and add-on treatment for bipolar depression, major depressive disorder, with known side effects of weight gain and diabetes, in current litigation to the tune of 25,000 + lawsuits by individuals claiming to be injured via the drug, apparently also causes suppression of truth from the public, until it was too late.But, it's never too late to advertise!
It's not too late for the U.S. FDA to remove the neuroleptic, a mind altering, body changing, metabolic changing drug from the market. Of course, the reason that won't happen is due to corruption that runs rampant in the pharmaceutical industry, all the way to the White House. AstraZeneca's Wayne MacFadden traded sex for inside information, James Wetta, a former drug rep just won millions of dollars by whistle blowing on the company, David Brennan, inside meetings at the White House, the US Department of Justice fined AZ $520million dollars, AZ signed several CIA's (Corporate Integrity Agreements), people gained weight for a reason, the suppression of Study 15, and now the long lost mysterious advertisement in the 2004 British Journal of Psychiatry has resurfaced in complaints to PMCPA in the U.K.
Three complaints were received about the promotion of Seroquel (quetiapine) by AstraZeneca in the U.K.
PMCPA
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) is responsible for administering The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s (ABPI) Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry at arm’s length from the ABPI.
The Code covers:
-the promotion of medicines for prescribing to health professionals
-the provision of information to the public about prescription only medicines in the UK
This search searches within PDFs of full case reports and Code of Practice Reviews:
AstraZeneca + Seroquel
Search results
AUTH/2294/1/10 - Journalist v AstraZeneca
... Number: AUTH/2294/1/10 Case Ref: Journalist v AstraZeneca Description: Promotion of Seroquel Breach: Breaches Clauses 7.2, 7.4 and 7.9 Appeal: No ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/07/2010 - 11:06 - 1 attachment
"In Case AUTH/2294/1/10 a journalist alleged that a Seroquel advertisement in the British Journal of Psychiatry, April 2004 featured a claim for ‘no weight gain’, long after AstraZeneca was aware of precisely such effects.
In Case AUTH/2296/1/10 a member of the public asked the Authority to review an online BBC news item, ‘Firm “suppressed” drug test data’, published 26 January 2010 in relation to the Code."
"The news item stated that a former medical adviser for Seroquel was pressurised to approve promotional material which stated that weight gain was not an issue. The medical adviser stated that clinical data available when Seroquel was launched showed patients gained statistically and clinically significant weight. The medical adviser further stated that he was put under quite significant pressure to sign off claims with regard to lack of weight gain and he was unwilling to sign that off. The news item stated that in the US Seroquel was marketed with claims that it would not cause weight gain. That was not done in the UK except for one advertisement published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, April 2004."
AUTH/2296/1/10 - Member of the public v AstraZeneca
... AUTH/2296/1/10 Case Ref: Member of the public v AstraZeneca Description: Promotion of Seroquel Breach: Breaches Clauses 7.2, 7.4, 7.9 and 9.1 Appeal: No ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/07/2010 - 11:17 - 1 attachment
AUTH/2297/1/10 - Ex-employee v AstraZeneca
... Number: AUTH/2297/1/10 Case Ref: Ex-employee v AstraZeneca Description: Promotion of Seroquel Breach: Breaches Clauses 7.2, 7.4, 7.9 and 9.1 Appeal: ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/07/2010 - 11:28 - 1 attachment
AUTH/2300/2/10 - Ex-employee v AstraZeneca
... Number: AUTH/2300/2/10 Case Ref: Ex-employee v AstraZeneca Description: Legibility of prescribing information ... whether the prescribing information in advertisements for Seroquel XL (quetiapine), Zoladex (goserelin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin), all ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 06/29/2010 - 13:18 - 1 attachment
AUTH/2311/4/10 - Anonymous v AstraZeneca
... Complainant: Anonymous Respondent: AstraZeneca Subject: Promotion of Seroquel Case Status: The complainant can appeal (Case Reports, ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/01/2010 - 12:55 - 0 attachments
---
Further reading for review
AstraZeneca Corporate Witness and Key Opinion Leader Deposition Exhibits-Seroquel Internal Documents- Muddy waters for consumers, profit for AstraZeneca
Seroquel Documents: Study 15 Shows Seroquel Not Efficacious
AstraZeneca:Resources, Skills and Capabilities
How we deliver our strategy:
Sales and marketing ethics
"Driving high ethical standards across all our sales and marketing activity is one of our top priorities. It is an important part of our overall commitment to patient health and safety, and to delivering business success responsibly."
Breaches of external sales and marketing regulations or codes
2009- 24
2008- 15
2007- 32
---
Perhaps AstraZeneca can promote, sell and profit from a truth serum drug next. I wonder what Tony Jewell would think about that idea?
AstraZeneca - Seroquel - The 5 billion dollar a year pathological lie
AstraZeneca spokesman Tony Jewell said Friday ( for the umpteenth time as the energizer tony just keeps frothing) that although the company denies any liability and wrongdoing, the settlement is the best way to resolve the matter and focus on its core business.
January 2010- soulful sepulcher blog
From Evidence based medicine to...- an abstract, and a comment from ex-AstraZeneca employee regarding marketing of SEROQUEL. (Dr. John Blenkinsopp, the company's former UK medical manager)
VIA PharmaGossip-The Case of the odd advert
AstraZeneca's antipsychotic, SEROQUEL, which is currently popular for prescription as a sleep aid, and add-on treatment for bipolar depression, major depressive disorder, with known side effects of weight gain and diabetes, in current litigation to the tune of 25,000 + lawsuits by individuals claiming to be injured via the drug, apparently also causes suppression of truth from the public, until it was too late.But, it's never too late to advertise!
It's not too late for the U.S. FDA to remove the neuroleptic, a mind altering, body changing, metabolic changing drug from the market. Of course, the reason that won't happen is due to corruption that runs rampant in the pharmaceutical industry, all the way to the White House. AstraZeneca's Wayne MacFadden traded sex for inside information, James Wetta, a former drug rep just won millions of dollars by whistle blowing on the company, David Brennan, inside meetings at the White House, the US Department of Justice fined AZ $520million dollars, AZ signed several CIA's (Corporate Integrity Agreements), people gained weight for a reason, the suppression of Study 15, and now the long lost mysterious advertisement in the 2004 British Journal of Psychiatry has resurfaced in complaints to PMCPA in the U.K.
Three complaints were received about the promotion of Seroquel (quetiapine) by AstraZeneca in the U.K.
PMCPA
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) is responsible for administering The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s (ABPI) Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry at arm’s length from the ABPI.
The Code covers:
-the promotion of medicines for prescribing to health professionals
-the provision of information to the public about prescription only medicines in the UK
This search searches within PDFs of full case reports and Code of Practice Reviews:
AstraZeneca + Seroquel
Search results
AUTH/2294/1/10 - Journalist v AstraZeneca
... Number: AUTH/2294/1/10 Case Ref: Journalist v AstraZeneca Description: Promotion of Seroquel Breach: Breaches Clauses 7.2, 7.4 and 7.9 Appeal: No ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/07/2010 - 11:06 - 1 attachment
"In Case AUTH/2294/1/10 a journalist alleged that a Seroquel advertisement in the British Journal of Psychiatry, April 2004 featured a claim for ‘no weight gain’, long after AstraZeneca was aware of precisely such effects.
In Case AUTH/2296/1/10 a member of the public asked the Authority to review an online BBC news item, ‘Firm “suppressed” drug test data’, published 26 January 2010 in relation to the Code."
"The news item stated that a former medical adviser for Seroquel was pressurised to approve promotional material which stated that weight gain was not an issue. The medical adviser stated that clinical data available when Seroquel was launched showed patients gained statistically and clinically significant weight. The medical adviser further stated that he was put under quite significant pressure to sign off claims with regard to lack of weight gain and he was unwilling to sign that off. The news item stated that in the US Seroquel was marketed with claims that it would not cause weight gain. That was not done in the UK except for one advertisement published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, April 2004."
AUTH/2296/1/10 - Member of the public v AstraZeneca
... AUTH/2296/1/10 Case Ref: Member of the public v AstraZeneca Description: Promotion of Seroquel Breach: Breaches Clauses 7.2, 7.4, 7.9 and 9.1 Appeal: No ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/07/2010 - 11:17 - 1 attachment
AUTH/2297/1/10 - Ex-employee v AstraZeneca
... Number: AUTH/2297/1/10 Case Ref: Ex-employee v AstraZeneca Description: Promotion of Seroquel Breach: Breaches Clauses 7.2, 7.4, 7.9 and 9.1 Appeal: ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/07/2010 - 11:28 - 1 attachment
AUTH/2300/2/10 - Ex-employee v AstraZeneca
... Number: AUTH/2300/2/10 Case Ref: Ex-employee v AstraZeneca Description: Legibility of prescribing information ... whether the prescribing information in advertisements for Seroquel XL (quetiapine), Zoladex (goserelin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin), all ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 06/29/2010 - 13:18 - 1 attachment
AUTH/2311/4/10 - Anonymous v AstraZeneca
... Complainant: Anonymous Respondent: AstraZeneca Subject: Promotion of Seroquel Case Status: The complainant can appeal (Case Reports, ...
PMCPA Case - peterclift - 07/01/2010 - 12:55 - 0 attachments
---
Further reading for review
AstraZeneca Corporate Witness and Key Opinion Leader Deposition Exhibits-Seroquel Internal Documents- Muddy waters for consumers, profit for AstraZeneca
Seroquel Documents: Study 15 Shows Seroquel Not Efficacious
AstraZeneca:Resources, Skills and Capabilities
How we deliver our strategy:
Sales and marketing ethics
"Driving high ethical standards across all our sales and marketing activity is one of our top priorities. It is an important part of our overall commitment to patient health and safety, and to delivering business success responsibly."
Breaches of external sales and marketing regulations or codes
2009- 24
2008- 15
2007- 32
---
Perhaps AstraZeneca can promote, sell and profit from a truth serum drug next. I wonder what Tony Jewell would think about that idea?
AstraZeneca - Seroquel - The 5 billion dollar a year pathological lie
AstraZeneca spokesman Tony Jewell said Friday ( for the umpteenth time as the energizer tony just keeps frothing) that although the company denies any liability and wrongdoing, the settlement is the best way to resolve the matter and focus on its core business.
January 2010- soulful sepulcher blog
From Evidence based medicine to...- an abstract, and a comment from ex-AstraZeneca employee regarding marketing of SEROQUEL. (Dr. John Blenkinsopp, the company's former UK medical manager)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
sunday reading and viewing recommendation: Preventable tragedy
there has been much to write about, regarding children, younger and younger being diagnosed with mental illness and the dangerous medications being casually given as a result.while i wrap my mind around the thoughts on this topic, i highly recommend reading this post about the drugging of America's children: within that post view the link to the Robert Whitaker program discussing psychotropic use in children in America.
Whitaker puts the pieces of the puzzle together that will explain my life with my daughter the last decade.
You'll find yourself asking why the mental illness diagnosis increase in children is only an epidemic in America, and you'll ask yourself why, with all of the data and evidence Whitaker discusses, do parents buy into the dangerous medical modality of psychotropic use of medication in children, now at younger and younger ages.
As I watched the program, it was watching a timeline of my life the last decade with my daughter, and my daughter's outcome was:
A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY
My daughter has been on antipsychotics as a result of a marketing plan to expand the sale of psychiatric medications by marketing them to children. All of the background evidence was happening, while I was tossed, blindly into the drug paradigm, only to receive horrific results, a grown adult child, with brain function loss, having to re learn to do things she could do before, and a long term outcome that is still unknown. It is with grave concern and regret of a decade, that I recommend the viewing of the Whitaker program. Please, watch it, and please learn from it. This information was not available to me a decade ago, and I learned quickly by watching my daughter's decline the last 10 years how devastating the drugging of children's brains truly is, in real life. Parents now, have more information and they truly can prevent a tragic outcome...remember there is no guarantee how a brain or body will respond to neuroleptics, and you're playing russian roulette with your child's life, ability to think, speak, walk, talk and cutting lifetime down by maybe 20 years. I watched that program and all I could think, was my God, half of her life on antipsychotics...what have I done. What I would do to rewind time. I cannot do that. I live with this, and most importantly, my daughter is a direct result of this....you want to know long term outcome and evidence based on use of most ALL psych meds? a decade on antipsychotics? try visiting your adult child who was once full of life in a rehabilitative setting, and having joy when she says 3 word sentences and you receive a once in a while smile...she has had a corporate crime happen to her...
Zyprexa, Risperdal, Melleril, Seroquel.
Clozaril,Trileptal,Depakote,Zoloft, Luvox,BuSpar, Ativan.
Lithium, Lithobid,Abilify and more.
All in the name of AMERICA'S EPIDEMIC.
Who created this epidemic? That's your answer.
The assault on American children via drugging and younger and younger diagnosing of behaviors as mental illness, will destroy children's lives. One thing I might add here, is that it also destroys the lives of the children's families, it creates a ripple effect of devastating results, I was there with my daughter and it is with much effort that I take steps to heal and walk out of the destruction. Some parents might read this and think, oh that won't happen to my child, that is a rare case,....guess what? it is more common that you know.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
good afternoon, from my garden
this foxglove is last year's photo, and the same one came back in all it's glory (poison, though it is not for eating or touching!) they grow up to 4 feet tall or higher. there's a few in the wildflower planter too. it's scorching hot here, about 85 which isn't so bad--unless you go from 55 and rain for months! so we finally have a summer heatwave, and fruit and vegetables actually seem appealing to me now. lolupdate on the $3000.00 ambulance against the will of the person strapped down gurney to mental health court bills that came in the mail. i handed them over to the social worker yesterday( see my other post) and this morning, the person called to tell me, it's all handled and the company will receive NO payment for not billing the correct entity in a timely manner. so there! they were trying to get top dollar from an old private insurance company and it failed. now they receive no payment, and all i can say is YES, because there is no way a few miles charged for mileage for gas is 230 dollars, nor is the wear and tear on the vehicle or the crew driving worth 550. each way. one trip to mental health court 1468.00---yeah right.
i'm out to mow the grass now and completely enjoy the moment.
have a nice day or two!
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
what a racket!
so my daughter, who has not lived in my home for years and is now in her habilitative setting, receives 2 bills in the mail. last september 2009 the inpatient psychiatric hospital (the first one) sent her to mental health court. via ambulance ,strapped down 5 points, actually it was shit. they didn't have the correct wrist straps, so the person had her arm above her head strapped via a cloth strip. let me tell you this is a memory i hope to God i never see again. and they would never undue the wrist strap. by the 2nd arrival 2 weeks later, is when i stepped in and demanded as usual--she not be transported, strapped to a gurney, non-verbal in so called mental health court. i was designated to go to represent her instead. so dredge up the crap with the paperwork in the mail.
$1468.00 to drive a few miles from the locked (first)psych hosp to mental health court.
and that is EVERY TIME THEY GO TO COURT.
Medicaid will be picking up the tab. or some other entity your tax dollar pays out. that trip on those 2 bills were for about 15 miles at the most. imagine what they charged to ship her to the institution dozens of miles away. i handed the bills over to the social worker. for once, i don't have to deal with it. in the past i would spend hours on the phone telling them she can't talk, she's disabled and you didn't bill medicaid, you tried to bill the private insurance company she has not had for over 4 yrs.
YES, the mental health system is a cash cow. you better believe it. this is just one outrageous fee charged to the American tax payer's "Health care reform" BS. Read it and weep. Most of the people transported don't even have family, let alone an address to send a bill to....most of the people are the forgotten souls locked away in psych wards, and these companies charge the hell outta the system.
Victims, over and over again. at the expense of their health and charged to America for payment. What a crock.....
$1468.00 to drive a few miles from the locked (first)psych hosp to mental health court.
and that is EVERY TIME THEY GO TO COURT.
Medicaid will be picking up the tab. or some other entity your tax dollar pays out. that trip on those 2 bills were for about 15 miles at the most. imagine what they charged to ship her to the institution dozens of miles away. i handed the bills over to the social worker. for once, i don't have to deal with it. in the past i would spend hours on the phone telling them she can't talk, she's disabled and you didn't bill medicaid, you tried to bill the private insurance company she has not had for over 4 yrs.
YES, the mental health system is a cash cow. you better believe it. this is just one outrageous fee charged to the American tax payer's "Health care reform" BS. Read it and weep. Most of the people transported don't even have family, let alone an address to send a bill to....most of the people are the forgotten souls locked away in psych wards, and these companies charge the hell outta the system.
Victims, over and over again. at the expense of their health and charged to America for payment. What a crock.....
Monday, July 05, 2010
diversions and the universe
most people reading don't click on the music videos. you should. though 'should's' aren't my thing.
i've thrown shiny paper glitter from roof tops. i'm a confetti junkie. i've tossed it. i've caught it. i've saved it.
--
there are times, when i lay awake at night drenched in sweat worrying(planning)(worrying)about my immediate future. transparently speaking, this is the place i deemed per the title, 'a deep and sacred burial ground', over 3 years ago. as a result i write. somehow, i've run with the warriors in the mental health and health blogs as a result. hell, there are some damn fine reporters and doctors who read this. have you ever tossed the glitter into the air and turned around toward that empty road before you, never knowing where you'll arrive, while the glitter lands behind you?
--
have you ever
been in situation that drove you down into the ground to save a child's future, only to stop one freight train while the other is broadsiding you? have you ever spent years with your bills paid, hours in the volunteer world then finding yourself a recipient?
i've thrown shiny paper glitter from roof tops. i'm a confetti junkie. i've tossed it. i've caught it. i've saved it.
--
there are times, when i lay awake at night drenched in sweat worrying(planning)(worrying)about my immediate future. transparently speaking, this is the place i deemed per the title, 'a deep and sacred burial ground', over 3 years ago. as a result i write. somehow, i've run with the warriors in the mental health and health blogs as a result. hell, there are some damn fine reporters and doctors who read this. have you ever tossed the glitter into the air and turned around toward that empty road before you, never knowing where you'll arrive, while the glitter lands behind you?
--
have you ever
been in situation that drove you down into the ground to save a child's future, only to stop one freight train while the other is broadsiding you? have you ever spent years with your bills paid, hours in the volunteer world then finding yourself a recipient?
have you ever
watched your child cry in an MRI tunnel?
have you ever
sat in mental health court?
have you ever, stood up in your tennis shoes to say, "i object?"
---
have you ever looked fear in the face?
Sunday, July 04, 2010
When Big Pharma Courts Academia: 2002 - 2010 AstraZeneca's "unethical minefields"
AstraZeneca, makers of the antipsychotic, now re-marketed as an antidepressant, SEROQUEL
Academic alliances with pharmaceutical companies create ethical challenges that some institutions learn to manage -2002
2002
"Observers of such academic-industry alliances say the agreements can create ethical minefields distort or corrupt the mission of academic science or result in the commercialization of university research departments and the exploitation of students as a de facto labor force. "There are conflicts of interest when an academic researcher's primary commitment to the use of sound procedures in the unbiased search for truth is placed in competition with other [financial or personal] interests that might eclipse the primary commitment," says Virginia Ashby Sharpe, integrity in science project director for the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Science in the Public Interest."
---
2010
VIA PharmaGossip,
(Via Financial Times)
AstraZeneca secures deal with academia
FT.com - AstraZeneca secures deal with academia
"AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company, is to share many of its experimental drug compounds with academic researchers, in a deal that will give it privileged access to early-stage science.
The company will combine up to 100,000 compounds from its proprietary “library” with 50,000 controlled by the commercial spin-off arm of the UK’s Medical Research Council, the government-backed funder of academic science."
---
AstraZeneca was fined $520million dollars by the U.S. DOJ (Dept of Justice) for illegal marketing of Seroquel. Seroquel is the drug part of 25,000+ lawsuits due to injury via diabetes, death and weight gain. AstraZeneca's internal documents, emails, and notes show the company --the people in charge---new about the side effects, and Seroquel was marketed anyway.
Seroquel is currently on the market, though the lawsuits are current, though the company was fined $520million.
James Wetta was just one whistle blower ex pharma rep to gain millions for speaking out against AstraZeneca. The whistle blowers benefit from the DOJ outcome, but again, I ask, what about the innocent victims? the adults and children who suffered death or diabetes as a result of taking this drug?
Again, I remind readers, Seroquel is an antipsychotic with a black box warning for diabetes. The drug's patent extension kicker is that it is being re-marketed as an antidepressant.
Don't be a gullible fool in the unethical minefield, in the name of drug companyPROFIT.
Academic alliances with pharmaceutical companies create ethical challenges that some institutions learn to manage -2002
2002
"Observers of such academic-industry alliances say the agreements can create ethical minefields distort or corrupt the mission of academic science or result in the commercialization of university research departments and the exploitation of students as a de facto labor force. "There are conflicts of interest when an academic researcher's primary commitment to the use of sound procedures in the unbiased search for truth is placed in competition with other [financial or personal] interests that might eclipse the primary commitment," says Virginia Ashby Sharpe, integrity in science project director for the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Science in the Public Interest."
---
2010
VIA PharmaGossip,
(Via Financial Times)
AstraZeneca secures deal with academia
FT.com - AstraZeneca secures deal with academia
"AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company, is to share many of its experimental drug compounds with academic researchers, in a deal that will give it privileged access to early-stage science.
The company will combine up to 100,000 compounds from its proprietary “library” with 50,000 controlled by the commercial spin-off arm of the UK’s Medical Research Council, the government-backed funder of academic science."
---
AstraZeneca was fined $520million dollars by the U.S. DOJ (Dept of Justice) for illegal marketing of Seroquel. Seroquel is the drug part of 25,000+ lawsuits due to injury via diabetes, death and weight gain. AstraZeneca's internal documents, emails, and notes show the company --the people in charge---new about the side effects, and Seroquel was marketed anyway.
Seroquel is currently on the market, though the lawsuits are current, though the company was fined $520million.
James Wetta was just one whistle blower ex pharma rep to gain millions for speaking out against AstraZeneca. The whistle blowers benefit from the DOJ outcome, but again, I ask, what about the innocent victims? the adults and children who suffered death or diabetes as a result of taking this drug?
Again, I remind readers, Seroquel is an antipsychotic with a black box warning for diabetes. The drug's patent extension kicker is that it is being re-marketed as an antidepressant.
Don't be a gullible fool in the unethical minefield, in the name of drug companyPROFIT.
Happy 4th of July, be grateful for your freedom, civil liberties and human dignity
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Patricia Deegan speaks about labels, and recovery.
"Swallowing pills does not make a recovery". Listen---it's about "changing our lives, not changing our chemistry".
Pat Deegan,PhD
When Help is Not Helpful:
"After a brief interview with a psychiatrist, I was taken to a room and injected with an antipsychotic drug called haloperidol. When I awoke from that drug-induced stupor, I could barely recognize myself. My tongue was thick. My vision was blurred. Saliva drooled and leaked down my face. The medication made it hard to swallow, so food spilled and soiled my shirt. I began to smell of last night's supper. Just weeks before I had been a strong athlete who excelled in sports. Now I was in a chemical straightjacket. I moved stiffly and slowly, as if some old woman had crawled into my body and my bones were nothing but arthritic crutches, propping me up against the wall of a mental institution.
Drugged on haloperidol I could not feel anything." Continue reading HERE.
Pat Deegan,Ph.D.
" Pat is a psychiatric survivor, having first been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Duquesne University in 1984. She worked as a clinical director of community based programs for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health from 1983-1987. In August of 1988, Dr. Deegan took a position as a program director with the Northeast Independent Living Program. In this capacity she designed and implemented a model for working with people with psychiatric disabilities in Independent Living/cross disability settings."
---
Please remember those who are residing behind locked psychiatric hospital doors today. There are 1000's of people in every state in America, who would like to be at at BBQ or watching the fireworks display, or just sitting at home enjoying their freedom with their family, friends and loved ones. Consider taking a few minutes and drive to the local psychiatric hospital today, and drop off a few magazines, or other items. Think of them when you look up at the night sky tonight.
Patricia Deegan speaks about labels, and recovery.
"Swallowing pills does not make a recovery". Listen---it's about "changing our lives, not changing our chemistry".
Pat Deegan,PhD
When Help is Not Helpful:
"After a brief interview with a psychiatrist, I was taken to a room and injected with an antipsychotic drug called haloperidol. When I awoke from that drug-induced stupor, I could barely recognize myself. My tongue was thick. My vision was blurred. Saliva drooled and leaked down my face. The medication made it hard to swallow, so food spilled and soiled my shirt. I began to smell of last night's supper. Just weeks before I had been a strong athlete who excelled in sports. Now I was in a chemical straightjacket. I moved stiffly and slowly, as if some old woman had crawled into my body and my bones were nothing but arthritic crutches, propping me up against the wall of a mental institution.
Drugged on haloperidol I could not feel anything." Continue reading HERE.
Pat Deegan,Ph.D.
" Pat is a psychiatric survivor, having first been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Duquesne University in 1984. She worked as a clinical director of community based programs for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health from 1983-1987. In August of 1988, Dr. Deegan took a position as a program director with the Northeast Independent Living Program. In this capacity she designed and implemented a model for working with people with psychiatric disabilities in Independent Living/cross disability settings."
---
Please remember those who are residing behind locked psychiatric hospital doors today. There are 1000's of people in every state in America, who would like to be at at BBQ or watching the fireworks display, or just sitting at home enjoying their freedom with their family, friends and loved ones. Consider taking a few minutes and drive to the local psychiatric hospital today, and drop off a few magazines, or other items. Think of them when you look up at the night sky tonight.
Friday, July 02, 2010
did they have visitors?
Via Dr.X's blog , New Scientist has a photo gallery of images from Christopher Payne's book Asylum: Inside the closed world of state mental hospitals. (rows of unclaimed copper cremation urns at Oregon State Hospital)
-----
winter 2010
as i stood taking this photograph of the old tree, the hospital was on my right down the road that was part of the hospital's old dairy farm. the cemetery is behind where i am standing. the winter day was misty with rain, the sky held its winter essence, and the trees stood as mighty giants that contain history and stories no one will ever know. i would like to imagine this tree being a place of solace for one of the patients, as they worked on the farm. those days of freedom on the hospital grounds are over. but the memory of the people who were there before shall not be forgotten.
-----
winter 2010
as i stood taking this photograph of the old tree, the hospital was on my right down the road that was part of the hospital's old dairy farm. the cemetery is behind where i am standing. the winter day was misty with rain, the sky held its winter essence, and the trees stood as mighty giants that contain history and stories no one will ever know. i would like to imagine this tree being a place of solace for one of the patients, as they worked on the farm. those days of freedom on the hospital grounds are over. but the memory of the people who were there before shall not be forgotten.
Western State Hospital cemetery's unmarked graves are named,October 2009
"...a gray granite headstone was added to the grave of Mary Beran Hart, until now known only by a stone with the number "1300."
Hart lies in a cemetery with 3,200 other people, all patients of Western State Hospital between 1876 and 1953."
my reaction to seeing the cemetery. it felt very sacred, and demanded respect. it is an all-encompassing sadness to imagine the people dying locked up in what was then called an "insane asyllum". it's grounding to see the buildings as they stand there now housing patients in 2010, knowing that ECT, lobotomy and insulin shock therapy once was the treatment. many of the graves are marked as death in 1934, that's the time insulin shock therapy was being used, and it's enough to make you wonder why so many died the same year (as in was it the treatment that killed them?) there is a dog park now spreading over 22 acres alongside the cemetery. the thought of anyone walking on this old dairy farm that used to be ran by patients of Western, made me want to stop and ask the people using the park if they know the history of where they stand. i feel a great responsibility to those who suffered at western, in a way that can only be described as deep compassion, and desire to make things better now, so many decades later. care is still so archaic, based on medications that are proving to be useless, if they worked, that place would be empty. and the medications are the only new treatment there since ECT, insulin shock and lobotomy. the fact that these people are slowly being given proper named grave markers is a start, but let me tell you it is a humbling and moving experience walking through the cemetery, past numbered pieces of cement...knowing that is a human being, who was locked away until they died. 3200 people, and that's just this cemetery. dignity comes with such a price.
---
Further reading
Welcome to the Snake Pit of the 21st Century-Emory U. Dr. Doug Bremner-July 2010
A mother's interview:Emily's story: locked up since 9-2009-July 2010
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