The increase in pediatric bipolar diagnosis, [Dr. Joseph Biederman’s] lawyer said, “cannot be attributed solely to Dr. Biederman’s work.”
This article is a long list of drug-company abuses, such as
Lilly produced a video called “The Myth of Diabetes” to sell Zyprexa, which became its all-time best-selling drug, even though evidence showed that Zyprexa could cause diabetes.
And
Pfizer paid more than 250 child psychiatrists to promote its antipsychotic, Geodon, at a time when it was approved only for adults, according to a government filing with the Pfizer settlement last year. High-prescribing doctors pocketed extra money in the form of research payments, speaking fees, gifts, meals and junkets.
Pharma Gossip. Thanks to Ken Feinstein.
The pharmaceutical industry is the second-most corrupt industry in America. And within pharmaceuticals, psychiatric drugs are by far the most problematic category.
I’m glad that the article mentions Robert Whitaker, who has been like a lone voice in the wilderness. His recent book is a brilliant, well-researched, well-documented exposé of corruption and pseudoscience in psychopharmacology. The book is called, Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America. See also his earlier book, Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine, and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill.
Whitaker’s website is https://www.madinamerica.com/ .
I have a friend with schizophrenia who took prolixin (injection) for many years with no problems. He’d get a shot once a month or so…we’d know when he was due. Then all of a sudden prolixin became unavailable and he had to switch to Zyprexa. He’s had problems ever since, including three hospitalizations. And it’s so much more expensive. That’s another thing these companies do: they phase out the older drugs so you can’t get them even if they’re working fine.