Hi,
I read the transcript of your Radio National interview on the subject of the drug Zyprexa. I have recently stopped taking the drug Seraquel for the same reasons. My blood sugar level went from normal at 4.5 to 9 for the first time in my life. I just craved sugar and would be eating Coco Pops at mid night. I also put on 20 kilos in 6 months. When I stopped taking the Serquel, my blood sugar returned to normal, and I am losing the weight I put on very easily, at the rate of a kilo a week. Regards Jo Jackson

I just listened to the broadcast. For those of you who think you can only listen by podcast there is also an option to listen with Real Player and Windows Media. I couldn't get the Windows Media to work, but Real Player did fine.

Congratulations Philip...you especially ended strongly...

I have to say my outrage over these issues is so great that I just wanted more. I know it wasn't within the scope of the program to go on and on about off-labeling marketing and the long-term maintenance use of Zyprexa and other anti-psychotics for bipolar disorder. But, gee, did I wish it was. I just really want to bust these guys asses.

In any case, keep up the good work...the more visibility you get through programs such as these the further our cause goes.

And oh...someone in another comment recommended listening to you because you are a good speaker...and so you are!

That was awesome. You sounded great, as always. Philip you are always eloquant a speaker as you are a writer.

I too, had some trouble with the Windows Media Player.

Congrats, and keep up the good work!

Eloquent speaker was my first thought; along with being a superb writer:

and when the host of the program said:

..."when your mental illness silences you, who then becomes your advocate?"

I think Philip Dawdy is the answer to that question.

Thanks Philip!

It appears we are all in agreement that Mr. Dawdy did an excellent job on the program. I also have to congratulate the Lilly spokesperson for being able to make his statements without falling over laughing. I wonder if the "mental illness causes diabetes; Zyprexa does not cause diabetes" train can keep rolling. The scientific evidence is not in Lilly's favor on this one.

Any podcast that discusses pharmacology for mental illness so eloquently but also includes insertion of the word "butt" is worth listening to in my book. Great job, Phillip.

Philip,

thank you for speaking for many who either are not able to speak for themselves, or are not sufficiently informed to speak for themselves.

CL Psy, thanks so much for your comments. As I've mentioned before in Philip's columns, Lilly's marketing technology was defined and refined using their rDNA insulin promotion! Zyprexa is only their latest and greatest "success." With diabetes, they have successfully used the mantra--"it's the nature of the disease OR it's the (stupid) patient" to absolve them of responsibility for marketing and promoting genetically-engineered insulin. (If you want to hear a similar, totally inane statement, check out Diabetes International Forum: http://members.tripod.com/diabetics_world/ and search for the video containing Lilly's "diabetes expert" John Holcombe. If nothing else, it's good for a laugh.)

While I don't want to say "misery loves company," let me say this: welcome to the world of Big Pharma-based reality. If there is truly strength in numbers, maybe the Zyprexa debacle will open eyes and cause a look-back by others who should be interested in the treatment (or mis-treatment) of diabetics.

Philip, you were great. You really came out swinging in a couple of places while the Lilly guy just couldn't seem to hedge himself fast enough in just about every reply he attempted. As for Sandy Jeffs, my heart weeps. My take is the Zyprexa sensitized her to psychosis so when she came off she was worse than ever, Abilify or no. Classic rebound, NOT relapse. You can't mess with the brain like that and not expect it to get worse. Imagine getting a crippling diagnosis like "schizophrenia" after a psychotic episode or two. It doesn't have to be this way. Read the book Schizophrenia: A Scientific Delusion? by Mary Boyle. No one really knows exactly what schizophrenia is. Psychosis is real, don't get me wrong, but schizophrenia -- a disease? I'm not so sure.