Comments: Doctors Not Monitoring Vast Majority Of Patients They Are Slamming With Dangerous Atypical Antipsychotics
Re RS: Sue.
Posted by Lilly NC at January 29, 2009 09:46 PM
I'm glad you've been able to see what we all did re: the RS article. They missed the boat with the "internal document" reference, missed the place to refer to this website for exactly what they are and the profound importance of what the documents mean to consumers.
The first thing I was shocked to see, frankly was the title "Bitter Pill". I sat back and thought, Oh no, wait until Philip sees this.
I'm sorry your valuable knowledge was abused for this article, after reading here for 3 years and following intensely the "Zyprexa Chronicles" it was a smack in the face to see "Bitter Pill" used and the info snagged in such a way.
It's time to move on from Zyprexa, hold your ground firm with taking AstraZeneca to the carpet...they are next up to bat and I am sure someone has internal documents waiting to be added to the public viewing, their off-label use, pharma rep promotions etc. are over the top, and now that XR is entering the market for depression and anxiety this will be another example of marketing antipsychotics as benign drugs, when in fact they are deadly chemicals.
Screw Rolling Stone. (I get it in the mail from a college student subscription that expires soon, one thing that's been great about it is the DTC ads for Abilify I was able to use in articles I write on my blog; way to go RS, pharma, sex, rock and roll. What the world is running on.
Posted by Stephany at January 29, 2009 11:05 PM
I'm just relieved they put it in the Politics section. This is from pp 8:
But the new markets only served to amplify the drug's side effects. If schizophrenics gained more weight than they were supposed to, Stovall points out, no one really complained — schizophrenics, after all, have bigger problems to worry about. "But if you've got your soccer mom who comes in, and the doctor gives her Zyprexa, and suddenly she goes from 110 pounds to 200 pounds — well, it could be a problem."
We don't get to partake, that's not what schizophrenics are for.
I have no words.
Posted by flawedplan at January 30, 2009 03:36 AM
What this report proves is that psychiatrists are not the healing doctors they claim to be. What part of the body is the psychiatrist treating? How can the individual and collective psychiatrist be so delusional about the physical health consequences in their patients to the chemicals they prescribe?
The psychiatrist is the single judge for applying chemicals to the mind and body of their patient. The psychiatrist weights the cost benifit ratio, not the uninformed patient.
The psychiatrists power is too great. There is no doctor advocate for the physical health of the patient to counter balance the need for psychiatric pharmaceuticals.
The 25 year shorter life span of the seriously mentally ill is unjust.
Why would the early death of the seriously mentally ill change? No reason here. No one knows or cares about it.
How would the early death of the seriously mentally ill change? Doctors and patients noticeing the problem, the public knowing the problem.
What would change the early death of the seriously mentally ill? after noticing the problem , changes made to attempt a change.
Who would change the early death of the seriously mentally ill? As the patient by definition is supposed to be obeadient-compliant, it's up to the psychiatrist to change the situation.
And the psychiatrist has no shortage of new patients as more and more percentage of the population are being judged mentally ill.
I guess the answer would be a group of psychiatrists that would reverse the trend of increasing mental illness. But they wouldn't have billions of dollars (in pharma Co $) behind them to support their efforts.
Posted by mark p.s.2 at January 30, 2009 05:26 AM
My biggest gripe against psychiatrists is the fact that despite their hollow credentials as MDs, they are the least likely group of "helpers" in Mental Health Land to deal with anything physical. This includes a discussion of side effects and withdrawl. And let's not forget menopause, hypothyroidism and Vitamin D deficiency in my case. Treating the latter two conditions has cured my depression. But I'll never get back the 25 years of lost earnings, self respect and dignity. I'll never be rid of their silly, stigmatizing, damaging labels, either. Heck of a job, Drs. Brownie. What a bunch of losers.
Posted by Sherry at January 30, 2009 09:15 AM
The way that it was explained to my by my Psy-doc was that was what I had a primary care doc and endocrinologist for - to manage the physical side effects.
Posted by Stiff Man at January 30, 2009 12:06 PM
In the Medicaid system (biggest pusher of atypicals) psychiatrists don't even have a SCALE. Referrals to primary care are RARE. And in 2001 referrals for blood glucose were ZERO.
As long as we're thinking t-shirts, how about something special for this profession? Could be a busy print loaded with one each of all the freebies handed out by Pharma? Or another print just loaded with psyc. pills all over it? Or just the big letters FAKE DOCTOR? I'm sure there are other ideas more creative than mine. These just come to mind.
Posted by Sorrowful at January 30, 2009 01:37 PM
"Dan Haupt of Washington University (St. Louis):
Possibly many psychiatrists do not feel comfortable performing metabolic monitoring, because they were not trained to consider the effects of mental illness and treatment on the whole patient..."
What a crock of shit. They're not comfortable performing metabolic monitoring? They don't know how to order labs? Weigh the patient? Get the patient's blood pressure? If they're giving out drugs that make people fat, then they need to make sure this is being monitored. If they're not going to do it, then at least refer the patient to a physician who can.
Posted by Lisa at January 30, 2009 04:51 PM
FAKE DOCTOR? I'd buy one right now!
Posted by Paul at January 30, 2009 06:01 PM
re"If they're giving out drugs"
Psychiatrists are not "giving" out medicine. For the vast majority of patients it is not a gift . Psychiatrists are better described as "ordering medication".
How many patients have the ability to refuse the order from the psychiatrist?
The doctor has to fix those unbalanced brain chemicals you know?
Alot different situation from the street illegal-drug dealer, where consumption is totally voluntary (in the start).
Posted by mark p.s.2 at January 31, 2009 03:37 AM
Have you contacted the writer and RS and directly asked WTF?
Posted by Andrew at January 31, 2009 04:06 AM
Dr. Newcomer is scheduled to speak at the NAMI convention in July in San Francisco: Here's his presentation:
Addressing Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome – a set of risk factors that includes obesity, hypertension, and unhealthy lipid levels – that can lead to heart disease and/or diabetes. Research has shown that some psychiatric illnesses tend to predispose patients to metabolic syndrome, and its is considered a major risk factor in depression and other mental illnesses. Some psychiatric medications can also heighten susceptibility to metabolic syndrome. This presentation will present the latest scientific research into the relationship between metabolic syndrome and psychiatric illness, its impact on the lives and lifespan of people with mental illness, and what we can do to prevent it.
Sounds a great deal more mealy-mouthed than his reported remarks in the internal Zyprexa documents. Wonder what he'll say?
Can we get Phil in there on a press pass?
Posted by Johanna at January 31, 2009 05:02 PM
Back to t shirts and demos for a sec. I have one vote for FAKE DOCTOR (should it say PSYCHIATRIST on the back?) The big white cotton ones, inscripted, look like they are 14.95 at Cafe Press.
Any other suggestions? Pharmas = Death? Get Pharma out of Congress? Big Pharm to Jail? PSYC DRUGS KILL? Looks like Cafe. Press will print up even a few of one kind, as long as you tell them what to say. I see these handy for any demo, especially my dream of another such event at Lafayette Park. And I'd be happy to buy a bunch and send them out if you send me a check.
Posted by Sorrowful at January 31, 2009 11:04 PM
I work in the MH system, I am a person in recovery, I work along side case managers Psch Doctors and the RN's
its the RN's who do the bloodwork, but they can only do it if it is ordered by the doctor.
and its not in the Case managers offical training to be alert for these issues.
I am going to print up the article warning about needed to do works on persons taking medication and give it to the staff~ and report back here on what if anything they will do.
O.k
Raymond
Posted by Raymond at February 1, 2009 02:39 PM
Re: "Research has shown that some psychiatric illnesses tend to predispose patients to metabolic syndrome"
Interesting. I guess that's how they justify the risks. When convenient, the "illness" was putting the patient at risk anyway.
I just read the Vyvance (ADHD Med) label which said; "Aggressive behavior or hostility is often observed in children and adolescents with ADHD,
and has been reported in clinical trials and the postmarketing experience of some medications indicated for the treatment of ADHD...
Sorrowful,
I saw T-shirts for sale on a website yesterday that said "Antidepressants Kill". I believe they were related to Public Citizen's Health Research Group and they had there name and phone number on the back. I can't find the link now though. Still looking...
Posted by Becky at February 1, 2009 07:13 PM
I've been really obsessing over t-shirts... Normally, I confine this to Harley-Davidson t-shirts, but I simply must have a FAKE DOCTOR shirt. Fantastic idea - kudos to Sorrowful!!
I wonder if Philip ever considered selling a few Furious Seasons items? T-shirts, coffee mugs, dildos, etc... I'd certainly buy at least one of each.
Paul, the FAKE DOCTOR!
Posted by Paul at February 2, 2009 01:24 PM
With most psychiatrists (other than Paul) being so desperate to be considered "real doctors," I would think they would jump at any chance to lay off the "biological brain disease" bullshit and do some archetypically doctorly things like weigh people, puff up those blood pressure cuffs, and order lab tests.
Posted by UnderTheThresher at February 2, 2009 05:21 PM
Raymond,
Thank you for your offer. Please do let us know what response you get. I appreciate your efforts.
Shery
Posted by Sherry at February 2, 2009 07:39 PM
One of the problems with monotoring is that it requires more often office visits or playing phone tag, both of which are infefficient. We've been using an on line service www.housedoc.us, to keep closer tabs with our patiets. Its free, HIPAA compliant, and easy to use. Its an example of how technology can be used to solve these types of problems.
Posted by George at February 7, 2009 01:48 PM