Merck's Singulair drug -- side effects reported in media

[joshcurtz]

So recently you may have heard the reports in the media about Singulair, an asthma drug manufactured by MERCK, possibly being linked to side effects that make children suicidal. What I found interesting here is that Merck says no one in their clinical trials of over 11,000 people reported any of these side effects yet still the parents of these children somehow got the media to pick up this story and the FDA is now investigating. I just thought I’d post this seeing if we can try and use this to our advantage somehow since it’s another case of Merck claiming no side effects which appears to be false.

ABC News story

[3pm]

Wow… who’s the lead scientist at Merck, Kermit the Frog? Good job picking this report up.

[Mew]

After Merck’s VIOXX debacle, I’m not surprised in the slightest. Just another one to add to the list.

For those that aren’t aware, Merck also recently had GARDASIL FDA approved. This drug is a series of 3 injectable vaccinations for girls aged 9-18, designed to prevent HPV virus (which can cause cervical cancer later in life).

You may have heard of it because of some controversy surrounding it’s proposed use in the school systems in both USA and Canada, as Merck has been lobbying the government and school districts, trying to make it a mandatory part of innoculation programs.

Unfortunately Garadasil was not studied in a large population size and there have been reports of many adverse reactions associated with the drug – ie fainting, seizures, paralysis, Bells Palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and death… for starters.

Gardasil Vaccine Side Effects Reason for Concern
newsinferno.com/archives/2668

Despite all of these reports, Merck continues to market Gardasil as virtually side-effect free. Thus far, the FDA has refused to conduct a formal safety review of Gardasil.

Vaccine Safety Group Releases GARDASIL Reaction Report
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/63586.php

“How many girls are really having short-term health problems associated with getting this vaccine that could turn into long-term neurological or immune system disorders? And how many will go on to develop fertility problems, cancer or damage to their genes, all of which Merck admits in its product insert that it has not studied at all? We just don’t know enough to be mandating GARDASIL for anyone, much less vulnerable 11 to 12 year old girls entering puberty.”

Gardasil side-effects controversy
au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/articl … ontroversy

"Far more frightening for the year 12 student - who received the first of three injections for the vaccine at school courtesy of a government sponsored initiative - was the response she received from the health professionals around her.

The nurses that had come in from the government told me that I didn’t have a rash, that it wasn’t a reaction to the immunisation, that I was pretty much making things up," Allie said.

Scientist and health researcher Bronwyn Hancock believes the mass-distribution of Gardasil is simply unsafe.

“The Gardasil vaccine has never been shown to be safe or effective in preventing cervical cancer,” Bronwyn said. “There are so many limitations with the testing that they’ve done.”

As a member of the Vaccination Information Service, an anti-immunisation group, Bronwyn says the research behind Gardasil is too flimsy and that the 18 million women worldwide who’ve already had the vaccine could be setting themselves up for broader health and fertility issues.

“They themselves admit they haven’t tested it to show that it doesn’t cause infertility or cancer,” she said.

“They make a lot of money out of making vaccines and selling them and the government is very heavily influenced by big business, including the pharmaceutical industry.”

FDA deciding whether to give boys HPV vaccine
whec.com/article/stories/S39 … ml?cat=566

Sometime this year Merck the maker of the vaccine will submit data to the FDA looking for approval to give Gardasil to boys.

In Australia, Mexico and some European countries the vaccine is approved for boys.

Moral of the story – wether it’s VIOXX, Gardasil, Singulair, or Finasteride… seems Merck has a track record of covering up the truth.

While there will always be adverse reactions to any medication, unfortunately Merck and other drug companies choose to downplay these risks and the FDA does not seem overtly concerned, either… because as we all know, it all comes down to money.

The REAL “trial” for drugs only happens once they enter the general population… and it’s a real shame when bad things happen to people, since we’re essentially all being used as guinea pigs for drug company profit.

[3pm]

@Mew

Moral of the story – wether it’s VIOXX, Garadasil, Singulair, or Finasteride… there will always be adverse reactions to any medication.

Unfortunately Merck and other drug companies choose to downplay these risks and the FDA does not seem overtly concerned, either… because as we all know, the REAL “trial” for drugs happens when they enter the general population.

I agree. Thing is though, adverse effects such as a cough or something is one thing, but inducing psychosis, suicide or permanent impairments causing debilitation is very different and very serious. Especially when these issues are scantly, if at all, mentioned by the producer, and were never intended to affect these areas in the first place.

I know Merck settled in court with victims of VIOXX, but did it explain why, as in, what the consumer provided to prove VIOXX caused their problem? With all of the scientific studies done proving some very serious side effects not mentioned by Merck, it feels weird to not think their offices aren’t in shambles, riddled with concern over how to deal with the fact that they are to blame for a lack of information in selling Propecia.

(& yes, heard about Gardasil and I was appalled. Even heard talk of threatening parents with jail over not having their children treated.)