Your Solution for Medical Care in the U.S.A.

[Mathman]

My neurologist prescibed a product called Neurontin, which I took for more than a year (with no discernable affect). This drug was originally developed, by pharmaceudics giant Pfizer Co., as an anti-seizure medication for epilepsy patients. But it didn't work. So after spending all that money to develop and market the product, they had to recoup their investment by aggressively promoting it to neurologists for a long list of unrelated problems, such as migrain headaches.

Well, it didn't work on those problems either. And furthermore, there is a specific FDA regulation that prohibits drug companies from marketing a drug for other uses than the one it has been approved for. Last year Pfizer got caught and had to pay a $430 million dollar fine.

But what did they care? Last year profits off Neurontin were 2.7 billion, or 6% of Pfizer's total revenue, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Mathman

 

[Grgranny]

My Dr. did the same thing, prescribed Neurontin because my hands are so shaky I am unable to write and it didn't work for that either. Boy, it is a real problem to not be able to write. I have had to have stamps made with my signature so if my purse ever gets stolen I'm in real trouble.

 

[bronxgirl]

My neurologist prescibed a product called Neurontin, which I took for more than a year (with no discernable affect). This drug was originally developed, by pharmaceudics giant Pfizer Co., as an anti-seizure medication for epilepsy patients. But it didn't work. So after spending all that money to develop and market the product, they had to recoup their investment by aggressively promoting it to neurologists for a long list of unrelated problems, such as migrain headaches.

Well, it didn't work on those problems either. And furthermore, there is a specific FDA regulation that prohibits drug companies from marketing a drug for other uses than the one it has been approved for. Last year Pfizer got caught and had to pay a $430 million dollar fine.

But what did they care? Last year profits off Neurontin were 2.7 billion, or 6% of Pfizer's total revenue, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Mathman

The illegal marketing was done by Warner-Lambert, before it became a part of Pfizer. I was prescribed Neurontin for neuropathic pain while it was "off-label" by my pain specialist. It was a Godsend for me. I'm sorry it couldn't work as well for you.

 

[Mathman]

Thanks for the input, Bronxgirl. Most recent news is that Pfizer has won a lawsuit allowing them to manufacture a "generic" version of this drug, while protecting its patents against rival manufacturers.

http://www.mlive.com/business/aanews/index.ssf?/base/business-2/109785191880540.xml

Mathman

 

[bronxgirl]

Don't ya love lawyers

 

[pennyfromheaven]

Well the drug companies give kickbacks to Drs I believe for prescribing their medications. That's why certain meds get prescribed more often than others. I was prescribed Neurontin for muscle spasms in my neck by the way! Didn't really work but it did help me sleep better! Also when I was referring to focusing more on preventative medicine I was not referring to taking pills. I mean promoting healthier lifestyles in general and educating the public, so that people didn't get these diseases in the first place. But of course there wouldn't be any profit for the drug manufacturers in that would there?

 

[Ptichka]

"Quick fix" mentality applies to both doctors and patients. I have a friend whose father had terrible back pain. He could hardly walk with a cane, and the doctors said he needed surgery. Well, this friend of mine does this form of marshall arts, and her sensei is very good at finding individualized solutions for various medical problems. When my friend's father went to him, he was able to create the exercises that now allow this man to live a perfectly normal life, no surgery! (The sensei now uses this guy for his official advertisment.) However, he goes to those exercises four or five days a week, often before work. I wonder how many people would be willing to the same, rather than go for a "quick fix". If there were more people with this attitude, than insurance companies would be able to move to covering these time of services.