Re: Drug Companies

[Guest guest]

No... we would not attack you. You are just a spoke in the big wheel. You have a job and that is ok.Many of us have complained. We have complained to our drs... and yet they do not believe us. They are being told by the pharma reps that there is no side effects like the ones we are telling them about so the drs. will send us out for testing because it must be something else... not the almighty statin that is causing the problems.The drug companies are surely aware of the problems with all the law suits that they have to battle and the others that are backed up on court dockets all over the country.I am sure that many of us have even complained to the FDA through their handy dandy email link on their web site. But, where has that gotten any of us?Too bad we cannot get the media involved with something. They have their occasional 15 minute segments on 60 Minutes or 20-20 but that is about it. It needs to be mainstream media blitz to get them involved with this... won't happen.so... I guess, yes, we sit here and complain and that is all we can do because we are the patients and they are the corporate giants. Who do you think people are going to listen too?Ed - Moderator

Bravo, and very well said, Ed! Thank you for speaking so eloquently for all of us!

Smiles and Hugs,

Les.

[Guest guest]

No... we would not attack you. You are just a spoke in the big

wheel. You have a job and that is ok.

Many of us have complained. We have complained to our drs... and yet

they do not believe us. They are being told by the pharma reps that

there is no side effects like the ones we are telling them about so

the drs. will send us out for testing because it must be something

else... not the almighty statin that is causing the problems.

The drug companies are surely aware of the problems with all the law

suits that they have to battle and the others that are backed up on

court dockets all over the country.

I am sure that many of us have even complained to the FDA through

their handy dandy email link on their web site. But, where has that

gotten any of us?

Too bad we cannot get the media involved with something. They have

their occasional 15 minute segments on 60 Minutes or 20-20 but that

is about it. It needs to be mainstream media blitz to get them

involved with this... won't happen.

so... I guess, yes, we sit here and complain and that is all we can

do because we are the patients and they are the corporate giants.

Who do you think people are going to listen too?

Ed - Moderator

> I work for one of the major pharmaceutical companies and I'm not

happy

> about the price of drugs. I have a father who's almost 80 and the

cost

> of medicine for him is outrageous.

>

> My younger sister has lupus and recently lost her medicaid coverage

> because her husband earned $5 more over the limit.

>

> ONE of her drugs is over $150 and she has no coverage. I can get

this

> drug for $10 with my insurance IF I had to take it.

>

> But I'm not a part of the pricing or formulation of the drug. I

> mentioned recently that I worked for XXXXXX and you would had

thought

> that I was telling the people I was in the porn industry.

>

> I am not a person who takes a lot of medicine. I don't take

anything

> stronger than an aspirin. ALL medicines have side affects and

since I'm

> perimenopausal, I do not wish to be bothered with hormones in the

> future.

>

> If there are problems with ANY drug, it needs to be reported. Have

you

> made Pfizer, GSK, AstraZeneca, Merck, etc. aware of the problems

with

> the drugs? Or are you just ranting about it here and just telling

> people NOT to take it because it was a problem with you.

>

> You see, Lipitor MIGHT not be a problem for Mr. A. Zocor might

work for

> Mr. B. Crestor might work for Mr. C. But a reputable drug company

will

> deal with SAEs but how can they know it IF they don't report it?

>

> I'm not speaking in defense of the drug company or even my

company. IF

> there is a drug that my company manufactures and it HARMS people, it

> should be removed from the market.

>

> Please contact these companies IF you are having problems. A

pharma who

> wishes to uphold their reputation will investigate the matter. I do

> believe in many cases that a pharma is concerned with the well-

being of

> people and not the PROFIT. I remember the ficticious drug on " The

> Fugitive " that Devon-McGregor was trying to HIDE and it was harming

> people. I would hope that my company or any of the majors would not

> intentionally do something like this for a buck.

>

> And I am not a big money maker at work. I'm at the lower end of the

> salary range. But the job supports me and my son, who's in college

and

> I plan to be there for a long time if things go well.

>

> I hope there is no anger at what I said and please don't attack me

> because I work at one of the top 10. It's a JOB.

[Guest guest]

On August 27, "20/20" did a segment on uterine fibroid embolization(UFE). This was after many women had needless hysterectomies and thegynecologists were not informing them of other options, due to the factthat this major surgery is big bucks to the gynecologist and thehospital, and also that gynecologist are not qualified to perform UFE.This segment came about because the women ROARED. They got the word outthat women had other options. I did not hear about UFE until 2002because I was told I needed a hysterectomy.But I said NO and did my own research and learned about it. On November26, 2002, I had the procedure and it was a success.Now, as this relates to problems with statins: you have to ROAR. Ifthese women were successful in getting the message out, there is nothingyou can't do.I do not know a lot about statins and from the things I've heard, Imyself am very hesitant about taking any, even though I am employed byone of the majors in the industry.My purpose for coming in here is not to get into needless arguments, butto get an understanding. That's why I joined support groups forfibroids, to get information from others and thankfully, we had twowell-known interventional radiologists who answer our questions.I am not one for taking a lot of medicine. I had a bad reaction to ahormone medicine - I looked like the Pillsbury Doughboy when I took it.My face was swollen with big cheeks (which are cute on a little baby,but not a grown woman) and my thighs and hips were enormous!I also was put on some medicine to reduce my blood pressure and it gaveme migraines. I decided to carefully monitor my eating and exercise,and toss this medicine down the toilet. When I was getting my bp checked at work, I told them what I did withthe medicine and they were upset because they felt I needed the doctor'spermission to stop. You don't tell this strong willed woman how tohandle her business (me). I stopped taking the mess and my bp has been down to 120/80 and rarelyhigher than that for over three months! I contributed the hbp to some personal stress in my life and when it waseliminated, along with better diet and exercise, I felt better.IF statins are making people sick, the word has to get out. Somebodyneeds to ROAR like my sisters with fibroids did.Statins work for some and not for others. In my personal opinion, Iwould rather NOT mess with too many medicines. I am one who don't liketo go beyond the occasional aspirin or Motrin IB. At the age of 47, I'm in better shape than my older and younger sister.I've educated myself on proper eating and exercise. And I don't allowdoctors to give me just any medication. I eventually told my doctor that I was NOT taking the medication. Shewasn't bothered by that admission and remarked on my good vitals.In some instances I do believe that pharmas may have people's bestinterest at heart. There is NO perfect medication. I pray that mypharma is more concerned with the wellbeing and improvement of healthwith its drugs instead of being concerned with lining their pockets with$$$$.Ed, there are ways you can ROAR. You need to get some knowledgeablepeople on your side and make them HEAR you. If my ladies did it (and bythe way, they even got the word out about UFE via the Wall StreetJournal). Women KNOW they have options other than hysterectomy.You have to have PROOF that there are problems with statins. I'm notsaying that you don't, but show the FACTS. Vi

Hi, Vi,

You are so very lucky that you didn't let them do the hysterectomy! In 1990, I was adamant about not letting the DR do this to me, and he knew it. Because of my fighting it, he told me I had ovarian cancer! I had lousy insurance then, and no DR choices. I was defeated, and went with the surgery, it left me very damaged for the rest of my life .(I had no cancer) I had to have further surgery. When the layman could finally get information about DR's publicly, I searched his record and found out he had 13 lawsuits and complaints against him! (my story is in Plourdes book -"Hysterectomy The Best or Worst Thing That Ever Happened To Me ?") I've always been cautious since then, and thought I was thoroughly searching what I needed to know, but somehow didn't find out about the statins until it was too late. I was on Crestor, and soon after, got neuropathy. I went off, the neuro went away. Later, the DR put me on Provachal, the neuropathy returned although I got off the Provachal right away, the neuropathy stayed. I am in pain 24/7 .

Les

[Guest guest]

On August 27, " 20/20 " did a segment on uterine fibroid embolization

(UFE). This was after many women had needless hysterectomies and the

gynecologists were not informing them of other options, due to the fact

that this major surgery is big bucks to the gynecologist and the

hospital, and also that gynecologist are not qualified to perform UFE.

This segment came about because the women ROARED. They got the word out

that women had other options. I did not hear about UFE until 2002

because I was told I needed a hysterectomy.

But I said NO and did my own research and learned about it. On November

26, 2002, I had the procedure and it was a success.

Now, as this relates to problems with statins: you have to ROAR. If

these women were successful in getting the message out, there is nothing

you can't do.

I do not know a lot about statins and from the things I've heard, I

myself am very hesitant about taking any, even though I am employed by

one of the majors in the industry.

My purpose for coming in here is not to get into needless arguments, but

to get an understanding. That's why I joined support groups for

fibroids, to get information from others and thankfully, we had two

well-known interventional radiologists who answer our questions.

I am not one for taking a lot of medicine. I had a bad reaction to a

hormone medicine - I looked like the Pillsbury Doughboy when I took it.

My face was swollen with big cheeks (which are cute on a little baby,

but not a grown woman) and my thighs and hips were enormous!

I also was put on some medicine to reduce my blood pressure and it gave

me migraines. I decided to carefully monitor my eating and exercise,

and toss this medicine down the toilet.

When I was getting my bp checked at work, I told them what I did with

the medicine and they were upset because they felt I needed the doctor's

permission to stop. You don't tell this strong willed woman how to

handle her business (me).

I stopped taking the mess and my bp has been down to 120/80 and rarely

higher than that for over three months!

I contributed the hbp to some personal stress in my life and when it was

eliminated, along with better diet and exercise, I felt better.

IF statins are making people sick, the word has to get out. Somebody

needs to ROAR like my sisters with fibroids did.

Statins work for some and not for others. In my personal opinion, I

would rather NOT mess with too many medicines. I am one who don't like

to go beyond the occasional aspirin or Motrin IB.

At the age of 47, I'm in better shape than my older and younger sister.

I've educated myself on proper eating and exercise. And I don't allow

doctors to give me just any medication.

I eventually told my doctor that I was NOT taking the medication. She

wasn't bothered by that admission and remarked on my good vitals.

In some instances I do believe that pharmas may have people's best

interest at heart. There is NO perfect medication. I pray that my

pharma is more concerned with the wellbeing and improvement of health

with its drugs instead of being concerned with lining their pockets with

$$$$.

Ed, there are ways you can ROAR. You need to get some knowledgeable

people on your side and make them HEAR you. If my ladies did it (and by

the way, they even got the word out about UFE via the Wall Street

Journal). Women KNOW they have options other than hysterectomy.

You have to have PROOF that there are problems with statins. I'm not

saying that you don't, but show the FACTS.

Vi