Furious Seasons

February 08, 2008

Former Effexor Celebrity Spokeswoman Having Problems With Meds

Thanks to Rosie at ssristories.com for pointing me to this account of actress Delta Burke ending up in a psych unit and for pointing out that Burke, the former star of Designing Women was once a spokeswoman for Wyeth's Effexor, an anti-depressant, and made public appearances on behalf of the company.

That makes reports that she was on as many as five different medications, including anti-depressants, sadly ironic. Even more ironic is that she says the meds weren't working. Burke is reportedly being treated for depression, OCD and hoarding behavior. I wish her well.

Of course, the whole celeb spokesmodel thing for anti-depressants has always been a bit weird. Four years ago, former Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw was on the road making appearances on behalf of GSK's Paxil. Said Bradshaw at the time:

"'I was diagnosed with clinical depression about five years ago," says Bradshaw, who won four Super Bowls. 'When you're clinically depressed the serotonin in your brain is out of balance and probably always will be out of balance. So I take medication to get that proper balance back. I'll probably have to be on it the rest of my life.'"

When I see Bradshaw yukking it up during NFL games I often wonder if he's still suffering from depression and how the Paxil worked out. Or didn't. Anyone know?

Note: As with other of today's posts, after 8.30 a.m. PST I won't be able to approve comments again until late this evening as I am on the road today. But comment anyway and thanks for your patience.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at February 8, 2008 12:01 AM

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Comments

Now, I have heard something about Bradshaw. Didn't he start doing yoga, or something? I think GSK dropped him like a lead balloon over something. Cannabis use? That's just a guess, btw.

Matt

Posted by: Matthew Holford at February 8, 2008 01:59 AM

Delta has diabetes and high blood pressure along with these other problems. Maybe that is why she is on so many drugs. They are not just for the depression.

Posted by: Grace at February 8, 2008 02:08 AM

It's sad how these celebrities show up as spokespeople for psych drugs when their careers slow down, of course the classic case of this is Patty Duke, who accepted being "bipolar" as a job and was well paid for the Patty Duke Story - maybe she thought it was less humiliating than the offer from the IBS folks;0. And then of course there's Sinead whose new cd never would have been promoted on Oprah without the trendy bipolar hook. I still look for Britney to fight the trend though and I'm rooting for her.

Posted by: Sally at February 8, 2008 11:13 AM

Grace, I wouldn't be surprised if Delta has diabetes and high blood pressure precisely because she is on so many drugs, particularly psych drugs, which she's been on for years. Those drugs put you at risk for those conditions.

Posted by: Sara at February 8, 2008 11:40 AM

Did the hypertension come before or after the Effexor? Effexor is notorious for elevating blood pressure.

Posted by: Lisa at February 8, 2008 04:48 PM

not surprising.I believe Electroboy went through the same thing from the media when he quit Effexor a couple of years ago?

At this rate of people leaving drug companies as spokespeople, the only one left will be Wilford Brimley for diabetes testings........

And Betty White for Pet meds.......

Posted by: susan at February 9, 2008 04:28 AM

Terry Bradshaw had a partner to start with on the Paxil celebrity endorsement tour but apparently Ricky Williams had a bad reaction and GSK dropped him like a hot potato. I think he had some pretty negative things to say about Paxil but hard to find it on the web now. Terry stopped taking Paxil too about two years after the tour. Here's what he had to say:

Bradshaw openly talks about being diagnosed with clinical depression and ADHD — a combo, he says, that “makes for a pretty screwed-up dude.

He’s been through “tons of therapy” and Paxil CR has worked for him, but he’s been off it for eight months — which has led to some recent headaches, chest pains, rapid pulse and shortness of breath. [I bet this is withdrawal related -- Sara]

He knows he’ll get back on it, but in the meantime: “I’ll just deal with it. I’ll just deal with it through prayer. I’ll just pray about it. Me and God. God’ll get me through this. ... [It’s] not going to kill me.”

Posted by: Sara at February 9, 2008 10:45 AM

Does anyone here know Delta Burke?

Posted by: Stephany at February 9, 2008 03:08 PM