Posted by Alan on October 12, 2002, at 21:55:51
In reply to Glaxo Gets OK for Ads Claiming Paxil Not Addictive, posted by Rick on October 12, 2002, at 20:30:11
I find the entire thing ironic.
Since the main argument is to "disclose all known side effects" they choose to continue to market the drug under false pretense and confusing language.
Think about it. This seems to be the most important issue at the moment: addictive or not. This plays off the stigma we have in society.
"But the FDA labels drugs as habit-forming only when they "cause drug-seeking behavior, often with the user escalating the dose for psychological or physical gratification."
If that is their idea of "habit forming" I wonder what they feel about flat out addiction? While I do see addiction as a form of behavior, to say it is not "habit forming" is twisting words to fit a marketing agenda.
Does anybody else see the irony and stigma placed on this situation? They have been doing it to the benzo class of meds for years.
The trial isn't over yet. And "secrets" like Paxil withdrawal never keep forever.
As long as doctors are pushing an SSRI at every patient who even looks at them cross-eyed, there's not going to be any opportunity to observe drug-seeking behavior. In fact, what they see right now is ssri-AVOIDANT behavior.
But let the doctors start withholding SSRIs and doing all they can to get people off of them (a day that may well come), and then we will see drug-seeking behavior from people who might even prefer to be off but can't possibly quit over the two week period now recommended as a taper.
Hopefully the lawyers for the plaintiffs are clever enough to make that point.
poster:Alan
thread:123399
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021012/msgs/123408.html