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Sunday, December 07, 2008

Charles Nemeroff - Paxil/Seroxat good for children, adolescents and many diseases

I just came across with the book preview of "Essentials of Clinical Psychopharmacology" By Alan F. Schatzberg, Charles B. Nemeroff. Published by American Psychiatric Pub, 2006.
Every drug on the market has a chapter describing all the benefits every drug promotes. Paroxetine's chapter, pages 59-88, is authored by Keith D. Herr M.D. and Charles Nemeroff M.D., PH.D.
It seems that Paxil/Seroxat/Aropax is the miraculous pill.

"A study of 26 patients with bipolar I and II disorders receiving a mood stabilizer (lithium or devalproex) at the time of the study evaluated the addition of a second mood stabilizer or paroxetine for the treatment of depression (Young et al, 2000). Both treatment conditions were found to be effective, although patients in the mood stabilizer plus paroxetine group experienced fewer side effects and were more likely to complete the study. Paroxetine was not associated with a switch into mania or hypomania in any of these studies."

"In a double-blind, randomized study of children and adolescents (age 8-17 years) with SAD, paroxetine (10-50 mg/day) was found to be superior to placebo, on the basis of the number of treatment responders who had a CGI-1 score of 1 (very much improved or 2 (much improved) at the end of 16 weeks (GlaxoSmithKline, data on file, 2002). In the intent-to-treat population (n= 319), treatment responders were seven times more likely to have received paroxetine than placebo. These preliminary findings point to paroxetine as an effective treatment for SAD in children and adolescents." p. 72

SAD= Social Anxiety Disorder.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

You should really check out the book Side Effects: A Prosecutor, a Whistleblower, and A Bestselling Antidepressant on Trial by Alison Bass. It was published in 2008, and covers much of the drug studies. She's a former reporter with the Boston Globe.

"You'll never swallow another pill, watch another earnest TV doctor discuss side effects or decipher another magazine ad the same way after reading Side Effects...This is a tale of David and Goliath, made all the more powerful because prescription drugs affect each one of us and we're no longer sure we can trust the government and Big Pharma to do right by us...."
-The Grand Rapids Press

Ana said...

Thank you Andy!
I have a long list of books I would love to read.
But I live in Brazil and I have lost my credit card - we spend lots of money to buy these drugs that make us sick that's an irony.
This book must be great!
I hope psychiatrists, at least those who are starting their work, are reading them.

Anonymous said...

It is a great book. One reason I'm so excited about it is that it's by an author with such great credentials. There have been other books written by M.D.s also, which I've only recently found out about for some reason.

Newsgroups and Web 2.0 have been great for crazy bloggers like us to share experiences, giving "unscientific" information and experiences not otherwise attainable by the news media, but for the truth to be spread and accepted it will be up to people like Senator Charles Grassley, journalists like Alison Bass, doctors like Peter Breggin and Marcia Angell.

(There are numerous others to mention, but I think we both have links to them. :) I always hesitate to thank everyone, because there's no way I could remember and name everyone and worry I'll insult someone.)

Pharma's on the run now though. Much of what Alison Bass covers in her book is how negative information was covered up, and how drugs, especially Paxil, was marketed to children, despite evidence in clinical trials that the risk of serious adverse affects (SAE) in children, including suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation, was statistically higher and more significant than placebo. This was known, and shown on multiple clinical trials. Drugs were marketed to children anyway.

One event that's helped bring some transparency to drug companies (such as the recent warning about epilepsy drugs and Wyeth's ghostwriting) is the legal case won by the New York State attorney general's office in 2004, which Alison Bass covers in-depth in her book.

One thing I realized when reading this book is that doctors didn't have all the facts either. In some cases, they were as trusting as patients when it came to information coming from pharma and the FDA.

At the listing for Side Effects on Amazon, it shows related books, which is helpful.

Another book which may be of interest is Prozac Backlash: Overcoming the Dangers of Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Other Antidepressants with Safe, Effective Alternatives

I'm sorry you can't get a copy of Side Effects. What kind of library access do you have in Brazil?
On Bass's web site, she's made an excerpt available of the Prologue and Chapter 1. Little consolation I know, but less reading when you finally obtain the book. :) Good luck to you, Ana.

Thanks for commenting on my web site, and for adding me to your blog list. I've added you to, you'll see yourself on the right-hand column in my external links section under Mental Health. But don't look too long at yourself otherwise you'll be called a narcissist and be prescribed medication!

Ana said...

I would love to read Joseph Glenmullen "The Antidepressant Solution".
Isn't it amazing that they see us as "unscientific"? I will never understand the science they preach. Patients have to fit to their theories.
Can you imagine Charles Darwin collecting specimens to fit prior theories "No. I will not collect this yellow butterfly. It's not scientific data." LOL
I admire Charles Grassley. Medicine has turned into a political issue.
Children being put on these drugs is a crime. Have you heard the theory: "The disease must be treated while the brain is developing"?
I could buy the books on Amazon but I have no credit card and... no money. lol
I'll visit Bass's site to read the Chapter 1.
I'm very happy that you've put my blog on your blog list but I'll not mention it to my psychiatrist because he'll surely prescribe me Depakote, Abilify...
I'm narcissist and histrionic but whenever I go to see him to get the prescriptions to buy the drugs he pushes.. I mean, he prescribes, I don't talk to much and try hard to look normal.
I'm very happy I've found your blog and met a new friend.
Love,
Ana

Ana said...

I would love to read Joseph Glenmullen "The Antidepressant Solution".
Isn't it amazing that they see us as "unscientific"? I will never understand the science they preach. Patients have to fit to their theories.
Can you imagine Charles Darwin collecting specimens to fit prior theories "No. I will not collect this yellow butterfly. It's not scientific data." LOL
I admire Charles Grassley. Medicine has turned into a political issue.
Children being put on these drugs is a crime. Have you heard the theory: "The disease must be treated while the brain is developing"?
I could buy the books on Amazon but I have no credit card and... no money. lol
I'll visit Bass's site to read the Chapter 1.
I'm very happy that you've put my blog on your blog list but I'll not mention it to my psychiatrist because he'll surely prescribe me Depakote, Abilify...
I'm narcissist and histrionic but whenever I go to see him to get the prescriptions to buy the drugs he pushes.. I mean, he prescribes, I don't talk to much and try hard to look normal.
I'm very happy I've found your blog and met a new friend.
Love,
Ana

Anonymous said...

I haven't heard of that theory about treating the brain while it's developing. Sounds a bit suspicious though.

I hope you reported your credit card lost or stolen. Can't you get a new one? But if you're low on funds from buying drugs you'd be better off spending your money on silly things like food instead of books I recommend.

I'm glad I could make you happy, but please don't tell anyone. If the PhArmies find out I can make people happy, they may try to bottle me and sell me. Being trapped in a bottle would aggravate my claustrophobia. And if someone were to swallow me it would surely cause indigestion, a very nasty side effect!

Ana said...

I'll post on this "theory" later.
My name is in the IRS.
Yep!
I had no money and had to buy these drugs.
I'll never say it to anyone.
I don't want you to feel claustrophobic. But maybe they would trace your DNA and try to create some clones to sell it.
:)
Be at peace.