Dr. Mercola August 16 2007 20,834 views
Reuters July 25, 2007
The primary reason why this is so tragic is that the drug being manipulated and promoted as a solution for type 2 diabetes is absolutely unnecessary in virtually ALL cases that it is prescribed for. This disease is virtually 100 percent reversible with the appropriate diet and exercise program, as I explained in my video from earlier this year.Yet the drug companies continue to promote highly profitable drugs for a disease that, in absolutely no way, requires a drug solution. Avandia is starting to resemble the Vioxx (Merck’s painkiller that doubles your risk of a heart attack) catastrophe, as a month after the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that Avandia causes a 43 percent higher risk of heart attack, reports of side effects to federal regulators tripled.This drug has been on the market for eight years, and studies by the drug’s own maker indicated heart risks before they were exposed by the New England Journal of Medicine study.At least one FDA scientist also suspected risks well before the study came out, and, not surprisingly, the Agency had him or her removed from their post. The FDA is becoming notorious for protecting the hand that feeds it, at just about any cost -- even the cost of lives lost from taking deadly drugs.Take the case of Vioxx. After being recalled from the market and causing 55,000 deaths, it was re-approved by, none other than, the FDA. How? Ten of the 32 panel members who voted in favor of Vioxx had blatant ties to the industry.There is a reason why 80 percent of the FDA’s resources go toward approving new drugs. It’s a classic example of the fox guarding the henhouse.The FDA will weed out those who are willing to challenge their loyal “customers,” the drug companies. It happened to this FDA medical officer over Avandia; it happened to one of my heroes, Dr. David Graham, over Vioxx, and it’s surely happened to many, many more.If you would like to voice your opinion about this latest FDA scandal, we were able to uncover contact information for Julie Zawisza, the FDA spokeswoman mentioned in the above article. You can reach her at:
I took Mercola's advice and wrote a letter to the FDA (the email address he provided). I thought I'd post it here, and encourage everyone to do the same:
Dear Ms. Zawisza,
I am extremely concerned about the FDA's behavior regarding the recent inquiries into the safety of the diabetes drug Avandia. As you know, this drug, like the Merck's disastrous painkiller Vioxx, can increase the risk of heart attack. And when a senior FDA scientiests working on testing the safety of Avandia voiced concerns about its safety, he was removed. These mafia tactics are chilling.
For many years I had faith and trust in the FDA and its position as defenders of the American public consumer. I lost that faith years ago when again and again I watched the FDA continuously allow dangerous, toxic, and often deadly products bleed into the American market for the simple reason that the powerful drug companies are lining the FDA's pocket.
Enough is enough. Please help restore the American peoples faith in your establishment. I am by no means alone in my belief of the corruption of the FDA. I am an educated, professional, conservative mother and wife, not some hippy flake who latches on to any conspiracy theory that comes my way. I am well read, and can see the blatent unethical and callous activity on the part of pharmecuetical companies for the sake of greed. It breaks my heart that companies can do this to their own people, or any people, but such is the way of the world it seems these days.
I hope that the FDA will choose the right thing to do over the profitable thing to do. There are so few that choose that path. But I guarantee that in doing so, you will not only restore faith in those who are relying on you to keep them safe, but you will also bring back qualities that are sorely lacking in our country. Honesty and integrity. To the FDA. And to yourselves.
Thank you for your time.
Anna-p. Wishing you were a good witch probably won't do it... We're all in this together. 'Those' people (FDA) are connected to us; and when illness hits one person in the family, it affects the entire family.
We buy big-pharma drugs, buy their shares/stock/bonds (hoping for good returns) and want to see god-like ethics in business (sic). If you look at the mandate of the CEO of any corporation you will see the problem; we're in a capitalistic 'free' economy. We shop for the lowest priced item and expect the highest quality (uuuh, right).
Change comes from within. Real r/evolution in society is being intensely fought at the lowest and highest levels. Each man and woman must look at themselves in the mirror. Do we want the truth about our bodies and our health, or have others tell us what is right and wrong? We make those decisions moment to moment.