Doctor Advised Neurontin Warning But Was Ignored
1 CommentBy Ed Silverman // June 20th, 2008 // 7:12 am
A UK neurologist who analyzed effects of the controversial epilepsy drug told a court that he advised Warner-Lambert, which is now part of Pfizer, to include a warning on the label for potential side effects of depression and aggression, but his advice wasn’t followed, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The University of London neurologist, Michael Trimble, was testifying at a hearing to decide whether civil cases brought against Pfizer alleging suicides linked to Neurontin can proceed, the Journal writes. The hearing was jointly held by judges for US District Court in Boston and a New York state court who are hearing similar cases. In various lawsuits consolidated in the federal court, more than 100 suicides were allegedly tied to Neurontin.
Trimble described what he said was a “plausible biological pathway” that could lead from the compound gabapentin, or Neurontin, to suicidal behavior, hostility, and aggression, the paper writes He said that in 1995 and 1996, he was hired to write two confidential reports, because the drugmaker “was concerned about psychosis in relation to their drug,” according to the Journal. Trimble testified he was unable to find a link to psychosis, but noted effects of depression and aggression.
Lawyers for Pfizer argued the evidence linking the drug to suicidal side effects wasn’t scientifically sound, and challenged his description of a pathway as a patchwork of studies that didn’t prove a biological connection, the Journal writes. Neurontin and generic forms of gabapentin are approved for treating epilepsy but have also been prescribed widely “off label” for other uses.
In five of nine patient cases he analyzed in 1996, Trimble testified he saw depression and aggression in patients who had no previous symptoms of the side effects, so he said he recommended to the company that the drug “should carry some kind of warning” for susceptible patients, the Journal writes.
The proceedings were the initial phase of a hearing requested by Pfizer to challenge the opinions of the plaintiffs’ experts. Under cross-examination and a subsequent examination by the plaintiffs’ attorney, the paper writes, Trimble testified the biological pathway between Pfizer’s Neurontin and suicidal events were plausible and supported by a series of peer-reviewed neurology research.
Dona Wheeler
In 1999, I took a new precription of Seroqueol,on my birthday, in what my psychatrist called a “jesture”. Shoot to 2005, and a new doctor, who raised my Neurition level, but the saving factor was I had researched and knew I might experience sucidial feelings. Taking 1300mg, I did in indeed, and now having my records, from the “jesture” of 1999, I noted that I was on 1300, to 1600mgs of Neurition,for generalized body pain.
I personally am going to the mat to expose the insanity of psychatric drugs and the withcraft like DSM, by representing the Citizens Commission of Human Rights, as to be the warning that these drugs have lasting and hidious side affects, backed by no scientific proof.