EliLilly Execs Made $48 Million in 2008
ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION
PromotingOpenness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability
http://www.ahrp.org/ and http://ahrp.blogspot.com/
FYI
Wall Street bank executives are not the only robber barons who handthemselves millions of dollars in bonuses for poor performance and shrinkingrevenues.FierceFarma, a daily newsletter monitoring the pharmaceutical industry andFDA developments, reports that Eli Lilly's top executives gave themselves$48 million in bonuses in 2008--a year in which the company posted a $2.07billion loss.
Lilly's CEO, John Lechleiter, took $13 million--as did chairman emeritusSidney Taurel, who was the CEO during much of the Zyprexa scandal, plus hegets a $40 million retirement package!!.As Philip Dawdy, FuriousSeasons reminds us, Lechleiter was the Lilly exec who in 2003 reportedly pushed for the company to market Zyprexa off-label to kids. It's only fitting that he's paid so well.
<http://www.furiousseasons.com/archives/2008/03/the_zyprexa_chronicles_incoming_lilly_
ceo_allegedly_pushed_for_offlabel_marketing_of_zyprexa_for_kid.html>More to flollow about Lilly's blockbuster antipsychotic, Zyprexa, theobesity / diabetes inducing drug...Contact: Vera Hassner Sharavveracare@ahrp.org212-595-8974http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/lilly-execs-pull-down-48m/2009-02-11FiercePharmaLilly execs pull down $48MBy tracyFeb 11 2009It's that time of year again: CEO salary time, when we gather round the water cooler to ooh and ahh over our bosses' paychecks. Today, it's EliLilly workers who'll have that privilege, thanks to the Indianapolis Star.
The top six execs at Lilly garnered $48 million in pay last year, the Starreports.Who got a raise? CEO John Lechleiter (photo [1]), for one; he took in $13million last year, up 39 percent from 2007. Of that, $1.34 million was basesalary, which bumped up by 17 percent from last year. And he's been CEO onlysince April. Chairman emeritus Sidney Taurel (photo [2]) also got $13million, in addition to the $40 million retirement package that awaits him.Lilly's board gave Lechleiter credit for snatching ImClone Systems [3] outfrom under Bristol-Myers Squibb's nose in a $6.3 billion buyout. Directors also praised him for the company's operational results: sales grew 9 percentto $18.6 billion, and though the company posted a $2.07 billion loss, thatwas largely because of ImClone acquisition expenses.- see the BNet Pharma story[4]- get more [5] from the Indianapolis Star- read the AP story [6] on Taurel's retirementRelated Articles:CEO Pay: Who makes what in Big Biotech? [7]Top paychecks in Big Pharma [8]Eli Lilly and ImClone - Top 10 deals of 2008 [9]Eli Lilly - Biotech market share report [10]Lilly's Lechleiter: 'We're a biotech' [11]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/pages/eli-lilly-ceo-john-c-lechleiter[2]http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-reports/eli-lillys-sidney-taurel-ceo-pay?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FP0[3]http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/lilly-nabs-imclone-6-5b-deal/2008-10-06[4]http://industry.bnet.com/pharma/1000955/eli-lilly-execs-receive-48-million-in-pay-plus-chairman-laurel-adds-40-million-nest-egg/[5] http://www.indystar.com/article/20090206/BUSINESS03/902060327[6]http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hREwUMMoG--vMzxhUhDl9ZquDy8AD965MU780[7]http://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/ceo-pay-who-makes-what-big-biotech[8] http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-reports/top-17-paychecks-big-pharma[9]http://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/eli-lilly-and-imclone-top-10-deals-2008[10]http://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/eli-lilly-biotech-marketshare-report[11]http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/lilly-s-lechleiter-we-re-a-biotech-/2008-03-31
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RECENT "MENTAL HEALTH" LEGISLATION IS CONSIDERED BY THE CHIEFS OF USA PSYCHIATRY AS A "WONDERFUL VICTORY" !
ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION
Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability
http://www.ahrp.org/ and http://ahrp.blogspot.com/
FYI
Sometimes the best of intentions usher in disastrous consequences.The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) signed into law by President Obama, received accolades from The American Psychiatric Association: "We are especially pleased that this legislation includes strong language that will strengthen and improve access to mental-health services..."And the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) calls SCHIP "a wonderful victory."
The question is whether the U.S. mental health paradigm of care--strongly promoted by both the APA and the AACAP-- will improve or harm children's mental and physical health.Here is the problem: American psychiatry is entirely centered on the use of psychotropic drugs--and the evidence shows that children are increasingly prescribed highly toxic drugs without evidence to justify the considerable risks of harm.An unprecedented number of American children--unlike any others in the world--are exposed to psychotropic drugs to change their behavior.
The four classes of drugs are: psychostimulants, antidepressants, neuroleptics /antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants. ALL carry an FDA "black box" warningbecause they can be dangerous, even fatal, at routine doses. [1]These drugs have not been proven effective in children over the long run.What improvements are sometimes visible are seen only in highly artificial clinical trials of short duration whose validity and relevance to real-worldconditions have been repeatedly called into question.
PSYCHO STIMULANTS are controlled, amphetamine-like drugs that are currently approved only for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. These include the amphetamines Dexedrine and Adderall, and methylphenidate (Ritalin).The major side effects of psycho stimulants are loss of appetite, insomnia,changes in arousal (either overstimulation/anxiety orlistlessness/lethargy), mood changes, elevated blood pressure and increasedheart rate, and stunted growth.
An FDA safety review revealed that psycho stimulants induce paranoid psychotic reactions, including hallucinations, in children.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS (SSRIs) include: citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram(Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine(Paxil, Seroxat), and sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral).In clinical trials, antidepressant drugs doubled the risk for suicidalideation and behavior (i.e., suicide attempts) compared to placebo. The drugs' black box warning label states: "Patients who are started on the rapy should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusualchanges in behavior". The drugs have not demonstrated efficacy in children.On February 5, 2009, the FDA added new label warnings to the SSRIs and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) about a potentially fatal risk: neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
Previously, NMS was primarily linked to a single class of drugs, the neuroleptics/antipsychotics. NMS develops explosively over hours or days,and an estimated 10% to 20% of cases the result is death.
The SSRIs, the wonder drugs of the 1990s, are now almost completely discredited. And efforts to withdraw from SSRIs and SSRIs often lead to adiscontinuation or withdrawal syndrome -- a sign of these drugs' addictive nature.SSRIs include: venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
NEUROLEPTICS / ANTIPSYCHOTICS include aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine(Clozaril), olanzapine (Zyprexa), olanzapine/fluoxetine (Symbyax),risperidone ( Risperdal) and paliperidone (Invega), quetiapine (Seroquel),and ziprasidone (Geodon).The scope and magnitude of the serious debilitating adverse effects of antipsychotics--including lethargy and extrapyramidal reactions (acute andtardive dystonias, akathisia, parkinsonism, [rigidity and tremor],dyskinesia) and tachycardia, hypotension, impotence, seizures,hyperprolactinaemia, diabetes melitus, not to mention supersensitivitypsychosis and structural brain damage--should disqualify them for use inchildren. See: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotic
ANTICONVULSANTS: drug companies promoted the use of anticonvulsants, i.e.,anti-epileptics or anti-seizure drugs--which they renamed "mood stabilizers"for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder.The most widely used anticonvulsants are carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro),(gabapentin) Neurontin, lamotrigine (Lamictal), valproate and valproic acid(Depakene, Depakote), topiramate (Topamax), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), andtiagabine (Gabitril).None of these drugs have been approved by the FDA for psychiatricindications in children.In 2008, the FDA issued a warning that, in clinical trials, allanticonvulsants were shown to double the risk of suicidal ideation orbehavior compared to placebo (the risk was highest in non-psychiatric conditions).In addition, the following FDA "black box" warnings apply to specific anticonvulsants:1) Depakote: Liver toxicity, birth defects, pancreatitis2) Tegretol: Aplastic anemia and agranulycytosis (severe reduction in whiteblood cells)3) Lamictal: Serious rash requiring hospitalization; Stevens-JohnsonSyndrome for children under 16 yrs of age (fatal sores on mucuous membranesof mouth, nose, eyes and genitals).
Some antidepressants and anticonvulsants also carry a high risk of birthdefects.
Evidence shows that following the promotion of antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs for children and youth, there was a 40-fold increase inthe diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder over a ten year period in theU.S. [2] Yet, no studies confirm the efficacy and safety of eitherantipsychotics or anticonvulsants for children and adolescents diagnosedwith bipolar disorder. [3]Despite the lack of evidence for efficacy, despite the substantial body ofevidence documenting drug-induced harm, more than 90% of children and youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder receive more than one psychoactive drug incombinations never tested for safety. Less than 40% of children receive any psychotherapy.
Evidence shows that Medicaid expenditure for drugs is a huge part of the pharmaceutical industry business: it's very attractive market - feeding at the taxpayer trough measurable in cost but also in drug utilization.Unsupportable increased use of antipsychotics is documented by the US by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid: Expenditures rose from $2.14 billion in2000, to $5.40 billion in 2005.Indeed, evidence shows that children covered by Medicaid insurance are farmore likely to be prescribed the most expensive, most toxic psychotropicdrugs, namely, ANTIPSYCHOTICS and the anticonvulsant, Depakote.
For example, New York State Medicaid records show that in 2006, Medicaid wasbilled $82 million for psychoactive drugs for children, with five antipsychotics and an anticonvulsant topping the list: Risperdal ($23million); Abilify ($17 million); Seroquel ($12.2 million); Depakote ($5.7million); Zyprexa ($5.1 million).The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was applauded by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child andAdolescent Psychiatry as "a wonderful victory" because it will serve to increase the roster of American children "diagnosed" with mental disordersfor which they will be prescribed psychoactive drugs that are likely to undermine their mental and physical health.
SCHIP should, therefore, be amended to protect children from unjustifiableexposure to highly toxic drugs whose adverse effects are severe andlong-lasting. The following minimal safety standards should be met before achild is exposed psychoactive drugs:(1) Proven psychosocial interventions have been exhausted.(2) The benefits of the drug outweigh the risks.(3) Those authorizing the prescriptions are fully informed about the risksand benefits, and the alternatives.(4) The children will be thoroughly monitored for adverse effects.Reference:1. See: Critical Think Rx affidavit included in the lawsuit, Law Projectfor Psychiatric Rights v. State of Alaska (3AN 08-10115 CI)http://psychrights.org/States/Alaska/PsychRightsvAlaska/PsychRightsvAlaskaKidDruggingComplaint.pdf2. Moreno C, Laje G, Blanco C, Jiang H, Schmidt AB, Olfson M. Nationaltrends in the outpatient diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder inyouth. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 Sep;64(93.
The myth about the "safety and effectiveness" of antipsychotics has been shown to be patently false: First, the government-funded CATIE schizophreniastudy (New England Journal of Medicine, 2005); second, the STEP-BD bipolarstudy (American Journal of Psychiatry, 2006); third, a study in the Feb. 2,2006, NEJM, reported: " Six of 34 chronic schizophrenia patients taking theantipsychotic drug clozapine improved when Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal wasadded to their treatment regimen." However, "nine improved when a placebowas added."
Contact:
Vera Hassner Sharav
veracare@ahrp.org 212-595-8974
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/587911
Leading Psychiatric Organizations Laud Obama's Signing of SCHIP Bill New Law Includes Strong Mental-Health Coverage
Marlene Busko
February 5, 2009 (UPDATED February 6, 2009)
President Barack Obama's February 4 signing of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)bill, making it law, has been lauded by 3 of the country's leading psychiatric organizations.The new law extends health insurance to 4 million uninsured children in addition to the existing 7 million children already covered and notablyprovides strong mental-health coverage."We are especially pleased that this legislation includes strong language that will strengthen and improve access to mental-health services, includingsubstance-abuse-treatment services for children," Nada Stotland, MD,president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), said in astatement.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also praised President Obama andCongress for reauthorizing the program."Today's reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program is avictory for the children of this country. With the stroke of PresidentObama's pen, states now have the funds to provide insurance coverage to morethan 11 million children nationwide. During uncertain economic times, theWhite House and Congress have come together to wisely prioritize children'shealth," David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, AAP president, said in a statement.Wonderful VictoryThe American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) had asimilar positive response. "Passage of this bill addresses an urgent need to cover children who fell 'between the cracks' and were not receiving anyhealth insurance coverage," Kristin Kroeger Ptakowski, AACAP's senior deputyexecutive director, told Medscape Psychiatry.Early identification and treatment of mental illness in children oradolescents is vital, she added."The devastating reality is that youth with untreated mental disorders havea greatly diminished future to live independently. The adverse effect [ofmental illness] on youth and their families cannot be overstated."This is a wonderful victory for the millions of children who did not haveinsurance and who will now be able to seek mental-health treatment, ifneeded," Kroeger Ptakowski said.The bill (HR 2) requires private SCHIP plans to cover mental illnesses atthe same rate and on the same terms as other disorders and eliminatesdiscriminatory coverage of mental illness under the existing law.In 1997, Congress enacted SCHIP to provide states with federal matchingfunds to cover uninsured children in families with incomes too high toqualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance coverage.Federal money for the program was set to expire March 31, barring action byCongress.The newly signed children's health bill entails an over-$30-billion increasein spending, which will be covered by boosting the federal excise tax oncigarettes.According to the Congressional Budget Office, the legislation will providecoverage for an additional 4 million children by 2013, while continuingcoverage for children already in the program.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/02/antidepressant.htmlTHE LOS ANGELES TIMESAntidepressant labels to carry new warning of life-threatening side effect1:12 PM, February 5, 2009The FDA has ordered a wide range of antidepressants to carry new warnings ofan unusual but potentially deadly side effect seen most often in the firstfew weeks of treatment or when a patient increases dosages. The labels oftwo classes of new-generation medications for depression -- selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptakeinhibitors (SNRIs) must now notify patients that malignant neurolepticsyndrome has been linked to the use of these drugs.Among the drug companies ordered to revise their labels to alert patients ofthe danger were those making Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil,Pexeva, Pristiq, Prozac, Venlafaxine and Zoloft. The orders were dated Feb.4, but disseminated this morning in a public notice of FDA actions.In malignant neuroleptic syndrome, patients experience muscle rigidity,extreme variations in body temperature and wild fluctuations of heart rateand blood pressure -- all signs of malfunction in the body's autonomicnervous system, which regulates involuntary body functions. Malignantneuroleptic syndrome has been associated with older antipsychotic medicationsuch as haloperidol, lithium salts and risperidone. But the widespread useof SSRI and SNRI antidepressants has made this syndrome a more common andvisible affliction.With one in 10 Americans taking prescription antidepressants, medicines suchas Zoloft, Prozac and Effexor are currently the most commonly prescribedclass of drugs in the United States, just ahead of high-blood pressuremedicine, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And SSRIs and SNRIshave become by far the most common types of antidepressant dispensed bypharmacies, driving a tripling of prescriptions since 1988.Malignant neuroleptic syndrome is a rare but extremely dangerous conditionthat results in death in, by some estimates, 10% to 20% of cases. Untilrecently, it was so uncommon it was unlikely to be recognized in manyemergency departments. But the widespread use of SSRIs and SNRIantidepressants had made this bizarre syndrome a more common affliction seenin emergency departments.A Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman said this afternoon that she hadnot been notified of the labeling change and was unaware of what led to it.Watch this space.-- Melissa Healy
(Emphasis by Justice Lover)
ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION
Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability
http://www.ahrp.org/ and http://ahrp.blogspot.com/
FYI
Sometimes the best of intentions usher in disastrous consequences.The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) signed into law by President Obama, received accolades from The American Psychiatric Association: "We are especially pleased that this legislation includes strong language that will strengthen and improve access to mental-health services..."And the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) calls SCHIP "a wonderful victory."
The question is whether the U.S. mental health paradigm of care--strongly promoted by both the APA and the AACAP-- will improve or harm children's mental and physical health.Here is the problem: American psychiatry is entirely centered on the use of psychotropic drugs--and the evidence shows that children are increasingly prescribed highly toxic drugs without evidence to justify the considerable risks of harm.An unprecedented number of American children--unlike any others in the world--are exposed to psychotropic drugs to change their behavior.
The four classes of drugs are: psychostimulants, antidepressants, neuroleptics /antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants. ALL carry an FDA "black box" warningbecause they can be dangerous, even fatal, at routine doses. [1]These drugs have not been proven effective in children over the long run.What improvements are sometimes visible are seen only in highly artificial clinical trials of short duration whose validity and relevance to real-worldconditions have been repeatedly called into question.
PSYCHO STIMULANTS are controlled, amphetamine-like drugs that are currently approved only for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. These include the amphetamines Dexedrine and Adderall, and methylphenidate (Ritalin).The major side effects of psycho stimulants are loss of appetite, insomnia,changes in arousal (either overstimulation/anxiety orlistlessness/lethargy), mood changes, elevated blood pressure and increasedheart rate, and stunted growth.
An FDA safety review revealed that psycho stimulants induce paranoid psychotic reactions, including hallucinations, in children.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS (SSRIs) include: citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram(Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine(Paxil, Seroxat), and sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral).In clinical trials, antidepressant drugs doubled the risk for suicidalideation and behavior (i.e., suicide attempts) compared to placebo. The drugs' black box warning label states: "Patients who are started on the rapy should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusualchanges in behavior". The drugs have not demonstrated efficacy in children.On February 5, 2009, the FDA added new label warnings to the SSRIs and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) about a potentially fatal risk: neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
Previously, NMS was primarily linked to a single class of drugs, the neuroleptics/antipsychotics. NMS develops explosively over hours or days,and an estimated 10% to 20% of cases the result is death.
The SSRIs, the wonder drugs of the 1990s, are now almost completely discredited. And efforts to withdraw from SSRIs and SSRIs often lead to adiscontinuation or withdrawal syndrome -- a sign of these drugs' addictive nature.SSRIs include: venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
NEUROLEPTICS / ANTIPSYCHOTICS include aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine(Clozaril), olanzapine (Zyprexa), olanzapine/fluoxetine (Symbyax),risperidone ( Risperdal) and paliperidone (Invega), quetiapine (Seroquel),and ziprasidone (Geodon).The scope and magnitude of the serious debilitating adverse effects of antipsychotics--including lethargy and extrapyramidal reactions (acute andtardive dystonias, akathisia, parkinsonism, [rigidity and tremor],dyskinesia) and tachycardia, hypotension, impotence, seizures,hyperprolactinaemia, diabetes melitus, not to mention supersensitivitypsychosis and structural brain damage--should disqualify them for use inchildren. See: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotic
ANTICONVULSANTS: drug companies promoted the use of anticonvulsants, i.e.,anti-epileptics or anti-seizure drugs--which they renamed "mood stabilizers"for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder.The most widely used anticonvulsants are carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro),(gabapentin) Neurontin, lamotrigine (Lamictal), valproate and valproic acid(Depakene, Depakote), topiramate (Topamax), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), andtiagabine (Gabitril).None of these drugs have been approved by the FDA for psychiatricindications in children.In 2008, the FDA issued a warning that, in clinical trials, allanticonvulsants were shown to double the risk of suicidal ideation orbehavior compared to placebo (the risk was highest in non-psychiatric conditions).In addition, the following FDA "black box" warnings apply to specific anticonvulsants:1) Depakote: Liver toxicity, birth defects, pancreatitis2) Tegretol: Aplastic anemia and agranulycytosis (severe reduction in whiteblood cells)3) Lamictal: Serious rash requiring hospitalization; Stevens-JohnsonSyndrome for children under 16 yrs of age (fatal sores on mucuous membranesof mouth, nose, eyes and genitals).
Some antidepressants and anticonvulsants also carry a high risk of birthdefects.
Evidence shows that following the promotion of antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs for children and youth, there was a 40-fold increase inthe diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder over a ten year period in theU.S. [2] Yet, no studies confirm the efficacy and safety of eitherantipsychotics or anticonvulsants for children and adolescents diagnosedwith bipolar disorder. [3]Despite the lack of evidence for efficacy, despite the substantial body ofevidence documenting drug-induced harm, more than 90% of children and youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder receive more than one psychoactive drug incombinations never tested for safety. Less than 40% of children receive any psychotherapy.
Evidence shows that Medicaid expenditure for drugs is a huge part of the pharmaceutical industry business: it's very attractive market - feeding at the taxpayer trough measurable in cost but also in drug utilization.Unsupportable increased use of antipsychotics is documented by the US by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid: Expenditures rose from $2.14 billion in2000, to $5.40 billion in 2005.Indeed, evidence shows that children covered by Medicaid insurance are farmore likely to be prescribed the most expensive, most toxic psychotropicdrugs, namely, ANTIPSYCHOTICS and the anticonvulsant, Depakote.
For example, New York State Medicaid records show that in 2006, Medicaid wasbilled $82 million for psychoactive drugs for children, with five antipsychotics and an anticonvulsant topping the list: Risperdal ($23million); Abilify ($17 million); Seroquel ($12.2 million); Depakote ($5.7million); Zyprexa ($5.1 million).The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was applauded by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child andAdolescent Psychiatry as "a wonderful victory" because it will serve to increase the roster of American children "diagnosed" with mental disordersfor which they will be prescribed psychoactive drugs that are likely to undermine their mental and physical health.
SCHIP should, therefore, be amended to protect children from unjustifiableexposure to highly toxic drugs whose adverse effects are severe andlong-lasting. The following minimal safety standards should be met before achild is exposed psychoactive drugs:(1) Proven psychosocial interventions have been exhausted.(2) The benefits of the drug outweigh the risks.(3) Those authorizing the prescriptions are fully informed about the risksand benefits, and the alternatives.(4) The children will be thoroughly monitored for adverse effects.Reference:1. See: Critical Think Rx affidavit included in the lawsuit, Law Projectfor Psychiatric Rights v. State of Alaska (3AN 08-10115 CI)http://psychrights.org/States/Alaska/PsychRightsvAlaska/PsychRightsvAlaskaKidDruggingComplaint.pdf2. Moreno C, Laje G, Blanco C, Jiang H, Schmidt AB, Olfson M. Nationaltrends in the outpatient diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder inyouth. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 Sep;64(93.
The myth about the "safety and effectiveness" of antipsychotics has been shown to be patently false: First, the government-funded CATIE schizophreniastudy (New England Journal of Medicine, 2005); second, the STEP-BD bipolarstudy (American Journal of Psychiatry, 2006); third, a study in the Feb. 2,2006, NEJM, reported: " Six of 34 chronic schizophrenia patients taking theantipsychotic drug clozapine improved when Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal wasadded to their treatment regimen." However, "nine improved when a placebowas added."
Contact:
Vera Hassner Sharav
veracare@ahrp.org 212-595-8974
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/587911
Leading Psychiatric Organizations Laud Obama's Signing of SCHIP Bill New Law Includes Strong Mental-Health Coverage
Marlene Busko
February 5, 2009 (UPDATED February 6, 2009)
President Barack Obama's February 4 signing of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)bill, making it law, has been lauded by 3 of the country's leading psychiatric organizations.The new law extends health insurance to 4 million uninsured children in addition to the existing 7 million children already covered and notablyprovides strong mental-health coverage."We are especially pleased that this legislation includes strong language that will strengthen and improve access to mental-health services, includingsubstance-abuse-treatment services for children," Nada Stotland, MD,president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), said in astatement.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also praised President Obama andCongress for reauthorizing the program."Today's reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program is avictory for the children of this country. With the stroke of PresidentObama's pen, states now have the funds to provide insurance coverage to morethan 11 million children nationwide. During uncertain economic times, theWhite House and Congress have come together to wisely prioritize children'shealth," David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, AAP president, said in a statement.Wonderful VictoryThe American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) had asimilar positive response. "Passage of this bill addresses an urgent need to cover children who fell 'between the cracks' and were not receiving anyhealth insurance coverage," Kristin Kroeger Ptakowski, AACAP's senior deputyexecutive director, told Medscape Psychiatry.Early identification and treatment of mental illness in children oradolescents is vital, she added."The devastating reality is that youth with untreated mental disorders havea greatly diminished future to live independently. The adverse effect [ofmental illness] on youth and their families cannot be overstated."This is a wonderful victory for the millions of children who did not haveinsurance and who will now be able to seek mental-health treatment, ifneeded," Kroeger Ptakowski said.The bill (HR 2) requires private SCHIP plans to cover mental illnesses atthe same rate and on the same terms as other disorders and eliminatesdiscriminatory coverage of mental illness under the existing law.In 1997, Congress enacted SCHIP to provide states with federal matchingfunds to cover uninsured children in families with incomes too high toqualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance coverage.Federal money for the program was set to expire March 31, barring action byCongress.The newly signed children's health bill entails an over-$30-billion increasein spending, which will be covered by boosting the federal excise tax oncigarettes.According to the Congressional Budget Office, the legislation will providecoverage for an additional 4 million children by 2013, while continuingcoverage for children already in the program.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/02/antidepressant.htmlTHE LOS ANGELES TIMESAntidepressant labels to carry new warning of life-threatening side effect1:12 PM, February 5, 2009The FDA has ordered a wide range of antidepressants to carry new warnings ofan unusual but potentially deadly side effect seen most often in the firstfew weeks of treatment or when a patient increases dosages. The labels oftwo classes of new-generation medications for depression -- selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptakeinhibitors (SNRIs) must now notify patients that malignant neurolepticsyndrome has been linked to the use of these drugs.Among the drug companies ordered to revise their labels to alert patients ofthe danger were those making Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil,Pexeva, Pristiq, Prozac, Venlafaxine and Zoloft. The orders were dated Feb.4, but disseminated this morning in a public notice of FDA actions.In malignant neuroleptic syndrome, patients experience muscle rigidity,extreme variations in body temperature and wild fluctuations of heart rateand blood pressure -- all signs of malfunction in the body's autonomicnervous system, which regulates involuntary body functions. Malignantneuroleptic syndrome has been associated with older antipsychotic medicationsuch as haloperidol, lithium salts and risperidone. But the widespread useof SSRI and SNRI antidepressants has made this syndrome a more common andvisible affliction.With one in 10 Americans taking prescription antidepressants, medicines suchas Zoloft, Prozac and Effexor are currently the most commonly prescribedclass of drugs in the United States, just ahead of high-blood pressuremedicine, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And SSRIs and SNRIshave become by far the most common types of antidepressant dispensed bypharmacies, driving a tripling of prescriptions since 1988.Malignant neuroleptic syndrome is a rare but extremely dangerous conditionthat results in death in, by some estimates, 10% to 20% of cases. Untilrecently, it was so uncommon it was unlikely to be recognized in manyemergency departments. But the widespread use of SSRIs and SNRIantidepressants had made this bizarre syndrome a more common affliction seenin emergency departments.A Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman said this afternoon that she hadnot been notified of the labeling change and was unaware of what led to it.Watch this space.-- Melissa Healy
(Emphasis by Justice Lover)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
http://dotconnectoruk.blogspot.com/2009/02/psychiatrys-shock-doctrine-are-we.html
Psychiatry's 'Shock Doctrine': Are We Really OK With Electroshocking Toddlers?
Psychiatry's "shock doctrine" is quite literally electroshock, and its latest victims are – I'm not kidding – young children. On Jan. 25, 2009, the Herald Sun in Melbourne, Australia, reported: "Children younger than 4 who are considered mentally disturbed are being treated with controversial electric shock treatment."
In Australia, the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is increasing, and the Herald Sun's report on "Child Shock Therapy" stated that last year, "statistics record 203 ECT treatments on children younger than 14 -- including 55 aged 4 and younger."
Many Americans think that ECT has gone the way of bloodletting, but it continues to be regarded by American psychiatry as a respected treatment, especially for patients who are "treatment resistant" to drugs. Although ECT for young children is nowhere near as common as for adults, most U.S. states do not prohibit ECT for kids. California prohibits ECT for children under the age of 12 but allows children between 12 and 15 to receive ECT if three psychiatrists are in favor of it.
You might think that before any child receives a series of 70 to 170 volts of brain zappings and is thrown into seizures, every other non-traumatic therapy would have been attempted. You might think that before using ECT, in addition to trying every type of psychotherapy, there would also be an exhaustive effort to find a therapist with whom a kid might genuinely connect. You might think all this, but you would be wrong.
It is not unusual for psychiatrists to simply prescribe one drug, then another drug, then several drug combinations (called "cocktails"), and if those fail, recommend ECT.
Read more...
THIS IS CHILD ABUSE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, NO IF'S OR BUTS IT'S CHILD ABUSE
(Emphasis by Justice Lover)
Psychiatry's 'Shock Doctrine': Are We Really OK With Electroshocking Toddlers?
Psychiatry's "shock doctrine" is quite literally electroshock, and its latest victims are – I'm not kidding – young children. On Jan. 25, 2009, the Herald Sun in Melbourne, Australia, reported: "Children younger than 4 who are considered mentally disturbed are being treated with controversial electric shock treatment."
In Australia, the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is increasing, and the Herald Sun's report on "Child Shock Therapy" stated that last year, "statistics record 203 ECT treatments on children younger than 14 -- including 55 aged 4 and younger."
Many Americans think that ECT has gone the way of bloodletting, but it continues to be regarded by American psychiatry as a respected treatment, especially for patients who are "treatment resistant" to drugs. Although ECT for young children is nowhere near as common as for adults, most U.S. states do not prohibit ECT for kids. California prohibits ECT for children under the age of 12 but allows children between 12 and 15 to receive ECT if three psychiatrists are in favor of it.
You might think that before any child receives a series of 70 to 170 volts of brain zappings and is thrown into seizures, every other non-traumatic therapy would have been attempted. You might think that before using ECT, in addition to trying every type of psychotherapy, there would also be an exhaustive effort to find a therapist with whom a kid might genuinely connect. You might think all this, but you would be wrong.
It is not unusual for psychiatrists to simply prescribe one drug, then another drug, then several drug combinations (called "cocktails"), and if those fail, recommend ECT.
Read more...
THIS IS CHILD ABUSE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, NO IF'S OR BUTS IT'S CHILD ABUSE
(Emphasis by Justice Lover)
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