Melody here, with more info from the "diabetes" world, and maybe an "on topic" comment.

You asked WHY CNN won't cover the important Zyprexa issue? Come on, get real. Several years ago, before I realized how one-sided Fox News is, I presented them--as well as CNN--with pertinent information regarding diabetes (hypoglycemia unawareness, dead-in-bed syndrome, etc). Their non-response permitted me to take my "cheap shot."

I wrote and told them: Yeah, you're willing to tackle Children & Family Services, when their lack of oversight results in harm/death to a dependent child. And yeah, you're willing to tackle the Catholic Church (regarding pedophile activities); but I guess Big Pharma just provides TOO much revenue for you to take the chance that you might offend your corporate master ... right? Obviously CFS or the Catholic Church do NOT fill your corporate coffers. [Needless to say, that letter also received no response.]

(I would further suggest that they were willing to tackle a "popular" drug because like other "popular" drugs (alcohol, cigarettes), exposure probably will not do any meaningful harm to the corporate bottom line.)

Re: your outrage that antipsychotics KILL; so does insulin. I believe it is one of the most dangerous drugs on the market; but without it, diabetics cannot live. However, the old, natural animal insulins--because they were recognized as "foreign" by the human body--provided a 'safety net' of sorts, in that most diabetics who used them had symptoms that ranged from sweating & weakness to trembling--symptoms that USUALLY presented BEFORE loss of consciousness. The patient could take remedial action (ingesting carbs). Countless numbers of diabetics using synthetic, genetically-engineered insulin do NOT experience these warning signals. Without meters, monitors and constant vigilance, they can (and do) die. (Wonder where the term "dead-in-bed syndrome" derives its name? 24/7 monitoring is indeed problematic.

When antipsychotic medication results in a death, the cause can be tracked. Not so with insulin; because it is a hormone, it is not recognized post-mortem as having been a cause of death.It vanishes--poof. [Patient history may SUGGEST that insulin caused the death, but unless the vitreous within the eye is tested, there is no proof.] Instead, stupid diabetics, non-compliant diabetics, or "it's just the disease" serve as excuses that afford deniability to doctors, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, and other health-related participants.

Thanks for the space to rant.

.."And targeting agitated, mildly depressed women and men and pressing PCPs to turn them into patients. Oh, yes, they are also being given to a million or more children."

Summer, 2003. My daughter had been on Zyprexa since Fall 1999.

I was under "stress" from moving to a new home. I went to the PCP. He added to my cocktail of meds (as an undiagnosed bipolar)Xanax,Trazedone,and Prozac: Zyprexa.

Xanax was prescribed for anxiety.Trazedone was for insomnia. Prozac was "take this and everything will roll off of your back."
When the PCP added Zyprexa to the mix, I said, "Why are you giving me an antipsychotic? why are you giving me (my daughter's)medication?

"It will calm you down and (everything will roll off of your back."

I dare say, that the PCP handed me a monkey on my back.

As a result of that cocktail of medications; I suffered extreme insomnia, hand tremors, and 2 months of inability to work, as a result. I also was unable to use my debit card. I could not think, or function.

The PCP gave me all of those psychiatric medications, without ANY label.(as in, N.O.S.)

Reckless prescribing from a PCP nearly killed me. It was the first time in my life, and I hope the only time, that I stood on top of the roof of my car in pouring rain, screaming "I want to kill myself!"

The Zyprexa was removed within weeks of taking it, due to "extreme edema in the ankles." (as in I had no ankles.)

The PCP didn't really care about my actions on these meds; he saw the swollen ankles, and that's how I broke free of the Zyprexa.

How many times have I typed the word reckless?

I don't think its too hard to work out the differences in the coverage.

Mainstream media is aimed at the hypothetical 'well balanced, successful consumer'. The sort of person who might drop a sleeper or two to wind down after a day at work and play, but not the sort likely to take Zyprexa or - if they do - not likely to talk about it around the office coffee machine the next day along with the weather and the latest Baghdad body count. But heck, telling Philip that is telling grandma how to suck eggs.

I wouldn't be so sure that the sleepers don't kill though - we've had one likely death here in Aus and that story prompted a raft of others from yuppies who blame their risky or embarassing behaviour on the pills. Just the sort of thing the commercial media thrive on.

Thank you for this blog. I take one of those drugs as an off label sleeping aid. My first doctor warned me that it was anti-psychotic because he knew I would get "heify" about that. But he asked me "do you want me to treat your symptoms, or, do you want me to treat your "disorder"? The drug would be more effective treating my symptoms rather than my "disorder". So of course I deferred to his professional expertise and am glad I did!
I don't drive, and this article makes me thankful for that. I also do not name the drug I am taking as there is enough stigma just to admit you are taking an anti-psychotic. On the other hand, I find it empowering to admit that I am. How ironic.
Olympiada

CNN? Hardly the bastion of journalist integrity. I can't believe people get their "NEWS" from there. It's People magazine on TV (both Time Warner holdings).

I'm sure CNN also does not want alienate their advertisers (aka corporate partners), whose marketing is aimed at the "boomer generation" who are both CNN's viewership and the group which spends the most on prescription drugs.

When you look at all the corporate interconnections, CNN is more Orwellian than Fox News.

"CNN? Hardly the bastion of journalist integrity. I can't believe people get their "NEWS" from there. It's People magazine on TV (both Time Warner holdings)."

Here's the deal on CNN. Americans watch it as if it is the last say on news.Period. Americans seem to have lost some footing. The typical American now is confused when pills they take don't make their lives perfect; and they can't live without cable and CNN.

We live in a day and age where the majority of the population of people have lost touch with their ability to think for themselves.