Business Report - Paxil Boycott and Protest

[Guest guest]

http://biz./prnews/050920/nytu185.html?.v=16

Press Release Source: The Paxil Protest

Consumers Join Forces to Protest Against Antidepressant Paxil and Kickoff

Boycott of Drug Company GlaxoKline Sept. 26-28

Tuesday September 20, 2:47 pm ET

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer drug advocates from

the United States, Canada and elsewhere are converging on pharmaceutical

giant GlaxoKline's Philadelphia, PA corporate headquarters September

26th through 28th to demonstrate against the company's top selling

antidepressant drug called Paxil.

Several hundred people are expected to participate in the protest over the

course of the three-day event.

" Recent media attention has swirled around the apparent link between Paxil

and suicide, yet the common side effect of withdrawal from the drug has

largely been overlooked, " stated events coordinator Rob .

added that " a review of the medical literature shows that, on

average, over one-third of people taking Paxil for any extended period of

time experience withdrawal symptoms, and of those, 21% experience severe

withdrawal symptoms. In the clinical trials of Paxil, a significant

percentage of patients (up to 50% according to some studies) experienced

withdrawal. "

" I think the best the public could hope for coming out of this event is for

GlaxoKline to initiate a phased withdrawal of Paxil from the

marketplace in conjunction with worldwide regulatory agencies,

said. At the same we would hope to see production of Paxil tablets in 1/4,

1/2, 1 and 5 milligram doses so patients will have a better chance of

getting off the drug using a tapering regimen as recommended by

GlaxoKline in Paxil's prescribing information

(http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_paxil.pdf )

Finally, we would like to see the Food and Drug Administration (US)

implement a risk management program to ensure patients and physicians are

fully informed of risks and possible benefits of Paxil if the drug remains

on the market. "

Survivors and families of individuals who have taken SSRI/SNRI drugs

including Prozac, Effexor and Zoloft are expected to attend the protest in a

show of community support.

A plane towing a Paxil Protest banner will fly overhead during the event.

The http://www.paxilprotest.com web site for the protest, launched on August

8th, 2005, has received over a half million hits.

This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merging e-

mail and satellite distribution technologies to reach business analysts and

media outlets worldwide. For more information, visit

http://www.XpressPress.com

Contact: Rob

Event Coordinator

The Paxil Protest

+1-423-313-5203 (cell)

http://www.paxilprotest.com

Cassandra Dawn Casey

A.S.P.I.R.E.

http://www.aspire.us

" Achieving acceptable drug safety evaluation standards is perfectly

feasible, it's a matter of political will to put the public health first,

commercial considerations second. "

~Jerry Avorn, MD

[Guest guest]

http://biz./prnews/050920/nytu185.html?.v=16

Press Release Source: The Paxil Protest

Consumers Join Forces to Protest Against Antidepressant Paxil and Kickoff

Boycott of Drug Company GlaxoKline Sept. 26-28

Tuesday September 20, 2:47 pm ET

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer drug advocates from

the United States, Canada and elsewhere are converging on pharmaceutical

giant GlaxoKline's Philadelphia, PA corporate headquarters September

26th through 28th to demonstrate against the company's top selling

antidepressant drug called Paxil.

Several hundred people are expected to participate in the protest over the

course of the three-day event.

" Recent media attention has swirled around the apparent link between Paxil

and suicide, yet the common side effect of withdrawal from the drug has

largely been overlooked, " stated events coordinator Rob .

added that " a review of the medical literature shows that, on

average, over one-third of people taking Paxil for any extended period of

time experience withdrawal symptoms, and of those, 21% experience severe

withdrawal symptoms. In the clinical trials of Paxil, a significant

percentage of patients (up to 50% according to some studies) experienced

withdrawal. "

" I think the best the public could hope for coming out of this event is for

GlaxoKline to initiate a phased withdrawal of Paxil from the

marketplace in conjunction with worldwide regulatory agencies,

said. At the same we would hope to see production of Paxil tablets in 1/4,

1/2, 1 and 5 milligram doses so patients will have a better chance of

getting off the drug using a tapering regimen as recommended by

GlaxoKline in Paxil's prescribing information

(http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_paxil.pdf )

Finally, we would like to see the Food and Drug Administration (US)

implement a risk management program to ensure patients and physicians are

fully informed of risks and possible benefits of Paxil if the drug remains

on the market. "

Survivors and families of individuals who have taken SSRI/SNRI drugs

including Prozac, Effexor and Zoloft are expected to attend the protest in a

show of community support.

A plane towing a Paxil Protest banner will fly overhead during the event.

The http://www.paxilprotest.com web site for the protest, launched on August

8th, 2005, has received over a half million hits.

This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merging e-

mail and satellite distribution technologies to reach business analysts and

media outlets worldwide. For more information, visit

http://www.XpressPress.com

Contact: Rob

Event Coordinator

The Paxil Protest

+1-423-313-5203 (cell)

http://www.paxilprotest.com

Cassandra Dawn Casey

A.S.P.I.R.E.

http://www.aspire.us

" Achieving acceptable drug safety evaluation standards is perfectly

feasible, it's a matter of political will to put the public health first,

commercial considerations second. "

~Jerry Avorn, MD