Posted by pharmamother on February 13, 2004, at 22:47:17
RE: "Suicide related to Duloxetine drug trials?" -- Eli Lilly is definitely shirking responsibility for this young girl's death. My daughter attends Indiana Bible College, and knew Traci Johnson.
Traci was not suicidal. Traci was not depressed. Traci was "cycled" (read: started and stopped cold turkey) on and off 5 TIMES the normal dose of duloxetine.
Yes, this is a personal matter to me, but because of my job, it is also a professional one. I am a clinical supervisor for the pharmacy department of a large MCO-HMO organization. Most of our benefits exclude new drugs from coverage for a period of one year after market date. And this tragedy is the reason why.
Eli Lilly's product information package will post a warning NOT to stop taking this drug suddenly. That is standard for all SSRI's (the type of drug duloxatine is). So why can't Lilly follow their own medical advice when doing drug trials? I sincerely hope this tragedy affects Lilly's marketing of this drug. It's all tooth and claw out there in the "new drug" market. Every drug company wants to get its "new and improved" version of the latest drug class on the market in record time. Duloxetine is not a "long awaited medical breakthrough" drug. It's just another antidepressant, just another urinary stress incontinence drug. There are several very good, well-tested, clinically proven similar drugs already on the market. Lilly just wanted their slice of the pie in this therapeutic class.
Eli Lilly should stick to their classic area of research, which is Diabetes. They have done remarkable and noble work in this disease field. For Eli Lilly, duloxetine is just a fast buck. And a dead end for a precious nineteen-year-old who was preparing her life for the ministry. They better own up and admit responsibility for this girl's death, as well as the other 4 or more suicides associated with this particular drug.
poster:pharmamother
thread:313061
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040210/msgs/313061.html