Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 I was told by my cardiologist that Tikosyn had the potential...I stress potential..to trigger heart palpitations to the extent that the heart had to be monitored in a hospital for two and a half to three days, so that if the negative side effects did occur, emergency procedures could be, if necessary taken. I take that to mean Tikosyn is one potential mean, and life threatening drug. It was the Cleveland Clinic, by the way, who did the original research back in 2000 (I think) that first suggested a connection between Vioxx and heart attacks. That information had been long circulating in the medical community for those physicians who cared enough to worry about what they prescribed for their patients. Pfizer, the manufacturers of Tikosyn, I would hold, covers the dangers of such a drug by " overseeing " its use. I would argue that if they drug is so dangerous, so filled with potential to do harm, that perhaps a responsible drug company might want to do further tests before allowing it to be used. There is, in my estimation, a rush to use, just as obviously there was a rush to use in the case of Vioxx, which even today, in their newspaper advertisements and public statements, claim they will resist any law suits against the manufacturer. All of the drug companies advertising to the general public, I would argue, are acting in an irresponsible manner, unless spend the time and space (large, large type for example) announce the negative side and.or dangerous side effects. I read somewhere that Merck has already put aside several billion dollars as potential payouts for the dangerous drug they spent hundreds of millions of dollars promoting to the clueless public (which includes me...although I never took Vioxx.) I hope that answers your question, Sandy. I just think that the FDA is too busy trying to make a case that drugs manufactured in the United States and send to Canada, where they are purchased by and sent back to Americans, are somehow, someway dangerous. This, while Vioxx and dozens of more drugs are, after the public has ingested them, found to be life threatening. Somehow, somewhat, I think the issue of plain old greed, and buyer beware, comes to mind. If there's more, we can take it off list, should you care. Thanks again, Lew At 07:33 PM 10/12/2004 -0400, you wrote: >Lew, could you please elaborate on what you mean that " [Tikosyn] ... verges >into the Vioxx category " ? Thanks, Sandy > > Tikosyn...Somehow this > > > > drug verges into the Vioxx category. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 Yes, Lew, that more than answered my question, and thanks! It was important for me to understand the political/social/economic connections you were making between Vioxx and Tikosyn. It's very interesting what you say, and I will admit that it did occur to me while I was in the hospital loading Tikosyn that I felt a bit like a lab rat for Pfizer. I am one of the millions of women who took the hrt drug Premarin for over ten years, then learned that it had none of the long-touted benefits but was instead harmful. On the other hand, I wouldn't want a drug withheld for public consumption which had great potential to change lives for the better, for example, drugs that can reduce suffering from AIDS. Well, you bring up some important and disturbing issues, to be sure. Sandy > All of the drug companies advertising to the general public, I would argue, > are > acting in an irresponsible manner, unless spend the time and space (large, > large > type for example) announce the negative side and.or dangerous side effects. > I read > somewhere that Merck has already put aside several billion dollars as > potential payouts > for the dangerous drug they spent hundreds of millions of dollars promoting > to > the clueless public (which includes me...although I never took Vioxx.) > I just think that the FDA is too busy > trying to make a case that drugs manufactured in the United States and send > to Canada, where they are purchased by and sent back to Americans, are > somehow, someway dangerous. This, while Vioxx and dozens of more drugs are, > after the public has ingested them, found to be life threatening. Somehow, > somewhat, I think the issue of plain old greed, and buyer beware, comes > to mind. > > At 07:33 PM 10/12/2004 -0400, you wrote: > > >Lew, could you please elaborate on what you mean that " [Tikosyn] ... verges > >into the Vioxx category " ? Thanks, Sandy > > > > Tikosyn...Somehow this > >> > >>drug verges into the Vioxx category. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 Sandy, your Premarin example is exactly, exactly what I had in mind. Damn..I'm sorry you had to go through that. Lew <snip> it did occur to me while I was in the hospital loading Tikosyn that I >felt a bit like a lab rat for Pfizer. I am one of the millions of women who >took the hrt drug Premarin for over ten years, then learned that it had none >of the long-touted benefits but was instead harmful. On the other hand, I >wouldn't want a drug withheld for public consumption which had great >potential to >change lives for the better, for example, drugs that can reduce suffering >from >AIDS. Well, you bring up some important and disturbing issues, to be sure. >Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 I too have been on Prempro for YEARS and there has recently been a ray of sunshine reported in our newspaper. It seems that upon further study it's been found that if you started hormones at, or even before, menopause you actually do get some protective benefit. It is the folks who started hormone therapy some years after menopause who have suffered harm. I wonder what we'll hear next. I've stayed on hormones despite the recent publicity because my life is absolute misery without them--so much so that my cardio and gyn said it's better to stay on them because the absolute risk is quite small and the benefits for me outweigh the risk. Brenta. Re: Re: Question to Lew > > > Sandy, your Premarin example is exactly, exactly what I had in mind. > Damn..I'm sorry you had to go through that. > > Lew > > <snip> > > it did occur to me while I was in the hospital loading Tikosyn that I >>felt a bit like a lab rat for Pfizer. I am one of the millions of women >>who >>took the hrt drug Premarin for over ten years, then learned that it had >>none >>of the long-touted benefits but was instead harmful. On the other hand, I >>wouldn't want a drug withheld for public consumption which had great >>potential to >>change lives for the better, for example, drugs that can reduce suffering >>from >>AIDS. Well, you bring up some important and disturbing issues, to be >>sure. >>Sandy > > > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should > be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 Brenta: Unlike so many of us (in this country) you've obviously maintained a consumer's attitude toward what you medicines you ingest. We'd all be better off weighing the decisions about medicines after more than just one opinion. Lew <snip> I've stayed on hormones despite the recent publicity >because my life is absolute misery without them--so much so that my cardio >and gyn said it's better to stay on them because the absolute risk is quite >small and the benefits for me outweigh the risk. >Brenta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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