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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> FDA warning about Neurontin
        
(Message started by: BikerBob on Apr 22^nd, 2005, 4:56pm)

Title: FDA warning about Neurontin
Post by BikerBob on Apr 22^nd, 2005, 4:56pm

"The Food and Drug Administration has asked the makers of all epilepsy drugs to re-examine their clinical trial data in response to claims that one of the medicines, Pfizer's Neurontin, boosts the risk of suicide. Word of the FDA action came in response to a petition filed last May by personal injury attorney Andrew Finkelstein, who has been urging the agency to warn doctors that the commonly prescribed drug Neurontin can lead to severe depression and suicide."

Here is the article about it:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/21/MNGDTCCJ3N1.DTL

Bob

Title: Re: FDA warning about Neurontin
Post by nani on Apr 22^nd, 2005, 5:58pm

Thanks for the info, Bob. I've been taking Neurontin (up to 1800mgs a day at times) since 1999. The only time I have felt suicidal is during particularly bad CH times. I blame the CH for that. I guess if one was already somewhat suicidal, there are more than a few meds that could contribute to the depression that ultimately makes one act. :(

Title: Re: FDA warning about Neurontin
Post by BikerBob on May 1^st, 2005, 12:57pm

The following link is to another article about Neurontin and "off-label" drug use.

2,300 families who blame Neurontin for a suicide or suicide attempt are taking legal steps against its maker, Pfizer Inc.

Pfizer pleaded guilty last year to federal felonies related to marketing Neurontin and agreed to pay the government a $430 million fine.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/05/01/MNG4TCID0J1.DTL

Bob

Title: Re: FDA warning about Neurontin
Post by eyes_afire on May 1^st, 2005, 3:50pm

This is disturbing on many levels. I can forsee a time when insurance companies no longer want to cover prescriptions for 'off-label' uses because of the 'risk' (read: expense). That would be disastrous for clusterheads because then we'd only have imitrex. :(

--- Steve

Title: Re: FDA warning about Neurontin
Post by Pinkfloyd on May 1^st, 2005, 5:13pm

on 05/01/05 at 15:50:47, eyes_afire wrote:

That'll never happen Eyes. One, the lost revenues would be HUGE as so many drugs are used "off label" and the drug mfgrs would buy the insurance industry 9or the senate) if they had to to continue selling them as such.
Secondly, the old lawsuit they lost was because their salespeople were touting neurontin for everything from neuropathic pain to stool softeners...and the doctors bought into it, without ever seeing any phase one successful trials for the uses.

Bobw