How Seroquel, a Risky Antipsychotic, Became a “General Purpose” Mental Health Drug

[Guest guest]

http://post.ly/26xV5

How Seroquel, a Risky Antipsychotic, Became a “General Purpose†Mental

Health Drug

By Jim  | May 27, 2011

In 2008, the FDA declared that powerful antipsychotics such as AstraZeneca

(AZN)’s Seroquel were being over-prescribed and started a monitoring

initiative to curb their use. It hasn’t worked, judging by an analysis of the

FDA’s adverse event database by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

Seroquel is only approved for schizophrenia, mania and bipolar disorders. It’s

a powerful drug that has serious side effects if taken for a long time: It’s

associated with weight gain and diabetes, among other problems.

Yet the ISMP found that 47 percent of all adverse events linked to Seroquel

since 2004 occurred when the drug was being used for unapproved or

“off-label†purposes, such as depression. 21 percent of adverse events are

linked to off-label use of Seroquel in depression — a condition for which

there are plenty of other available drugs — and 26 percent of events occur

with other off-label uses:



The ISMP said:

the adverse event data show quetiapine [seroquel] has become a general purpose

psychiatric drug with most reported injuries occurring outside its core

indication for treatment of the most severe mental disorders, schizophrenia and

psychosis.

In the off label category more than half the cases were for sleep disorders and

insomnia. The next largest group was anxiety, and the remainder was divided

among many other medical uses including autism, panic attack, headache,

restlessness, nervousness, dementia and agitation.

The report is yet another in a series of publications from a variety of sources

that suggest some psychiatric doctors are abusing their patients with Seroquel.

In addition to the FDA’s 2008 declaration, consider:

Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice — which houses kids with criminal

records — buys twice as much Seroquel as ibuprofen.

The military’s spending on Seroquel increased sevenfold since 2001as

veterans’ doctors prescribed it for insomnia and post-traumatic stress

disorder.

Seroquel isn’t approved for children under age 13 but there are plenty of

researchers studying it in kids anyway.

Injuries from Seroquel’s side effects can be severe and permanent. In addition

to diabetes they include suicidal/self-injurious behavior, and neurological

movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, dystonia and parkinsonism.

AstraZeneca’s role in promoting Seroquel for off-label uses is well

documented. The company has paid $1.5 billion in legal costs and settlements for

its mismarketing of the drug ($520 million to the Department of Justice; another

$743 million in legal costs in unresolved cases through March 2011; and $198

million in civil settlements.)

So doctors have no excuse. The FDA — which has almost no jurisdiction over

physicians — and the courts have performed their roles. It’s time for the

medical profession to take responsibility for the damage it is causing and cut

down on its dispensing of Seroquel.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

[Guest guest]

http://post.ly/26xV5

How Seroquel, a Risky Antipsychotic, Became a “General Purpose†Mental

Health Drug

By Jim  | May 27, 2011

In 2008, the FDA declared that powerful antipsychotics such as AstraZeneca

(AZN)’s Seroquel were being over-prescribed and started a monitoring

initiative to curb their use. It hasn’t worked, judging by an analysis of the

FDA’s adverse event database by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

Seroquel is only approved for schizophrenia, mania and bipolar disorders. It’s

a powerful drug that has serious side effects if taken for a long time: It’s

associated with weight gain and diabetes, among other problems.

Yet the ISMP found that 47 percent of all adverse events linked to Seroquel

since 2004 occurred when the drug was being used for unapproved or

“off-label†purposes, such as depression. 21 percent of adverse events are

linked to off-label use of Seroquel in depression — a condition for which

there are plenty of other available drugs — and 26 percent of events occur

with other off-label uses:



The ISMP said:

the adverse event data show quetiapine [seroquel] has become a general purpose

psychiatric drug with most reported injuries occurring outside its core

indication for treatment of the most severe mental disorders, schizophrenia and

psychosis.

In the off label category more than half the cases were for sleep disorders and

insomnia. The next largest group was anxiety, and the remainder was divided

among many other medical uses including autism, panic attack, headache,

restlessness, nervousness, dementia and agitation.

The report is yet another in a series of publications from a variety of sources

that suggest some psychiatric doctors are abusing their patients with Seroquel.

In addition to the FDA’s 2008 declaration, consider:

Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice — which houses kids with criminal

records — buys twice as much Seroquel as ibuprofen.

The military’s spending on Seroquel increased sevenfold since 2001as

veterans’ doctors prescribed it for insomnia and post-traumatic stress

disorder.

Seroquel isn’t approved for children under age 13 but there are plenty of

researchers studying it in kids anyway.

Injuries from Seroquel’s side effects can be severe and permanent. In addition

to diabetes they include suicidal/self-injurious behavior, and neurological

movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, dystonia and parkinsonism.

AstraZeneca’s role in promoting Seroquel for off-label uses is well

documented. The company has paid $1.5 billion in legal costs and settlements for

its mismarketing of the drug ($520 million to the Department of Justice; another

$743 million in legal costs in unresolved cases through March 2011; and $198

million in civil settlements.)

So doctors have no excuse. The FDA — which has almost no jurisdiction over

physicians — and the courts have performed their roles. It’s time for the

medical profession to take responsibility for the damage it is causing and cut

down on its dispensing of Seroquel.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

[Guest guest]

http://post.ly/26xV5

How Seroquel, a Risky Antipsychotic, Became a “General Purpose†Mental

Health Drug

By Jim  | May 27, 2011

In 2008, the FDA declared that powerful antipsychotics such as AstraZeneca

(AZN)’s Seroquel were being over-prescribed and started a monitoring

initiative to curb their use. It hasn’t worked, judging by an analysis of the

FDA’s adverse event database by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

Seroquel is only approved for schizophrenia, mania and bipolar disorders. It’s

a powerful drug that has serious side effects if taken for a long time: It’s

associated with weight gain and diabetes, among other problems.

Yet the ISMP found that 47 percent of all adverse events linked to Seroquel

since 2004 occurred when the drug was being used for unapproved or

“off-label†purposes, such as depression. 21 percent of adverse events are

linked to off-label use of Seroquel in depression — a condition for which

there are plenty of other available drugs — and 26 percent of events occur

with other off-label uses:



The ISMP said:

the adverse event data show quetiapine [seroquel] has become a general purpose

psychiatric drug with most reported injuries occurring outside its core

indication for treatment of the most severe mental disorders, schizophrenia and

psychosis.

In the off label category more than half the cases were for sleep disorders and

insomnia. The next largest group was anxiety, and the remainder was divided

among many other medical uses including autism, panic attack, headache,

restlessness, nervousness, dementia and agitation.

The report is yet another in a series of publications from a variety of sources

that suggest some psychiatric doctors are abusing their patients with Seroquel.

In addition to the FDA’s 2008 declaration, consider:

Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice — which houses kids with criminal

records — buys twice as much Seroquel as ibuprofen.

The military’s spending on Seroquel increased sevenfold since 2001as

veterans’ doctors prescribed it for insomnia and post-traumatic stress

disorder.

Seroquel isn’t approved for children under age 13 but there are plenty of

researchers studying it in kids anyway.

Injuries from Seroquel’s side effects can be severe and permanent. In addition

to diabetes they include suicidal/self-injurious behavior, and neurological

movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, dystonia and parkinsonism.

AstraZeneca’s role in promoting Seroquel for off-label uses is well

documented. The company has paid $1.5 billion in legal costs and settlements for

its mismarketing of the drug ($520 million to the Department of Justice; another

$743 million in legal costs in unresolved cases through March 2011; and $198

million in civil settlements.)

So doctors have no excuse. The FDA — which has almost no jurisdiction over

physicians — and the courts have performed their roles. It’s time for the

medical profession to take responsibility for the damage it is causing and cut

down on its dispensing of Seroquel.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

[Guest guest]

http://post.ly/26xV5

How Seroquel, a Risky Antipsychotic, Became a “General Purpose†Mental

Health Drug

By Jim  | May 27, 2011

In 2008, the FDA declared that powerful antipsychotics such as AstraZeneca

(AZN)’s Seroquel were being over-prescribed and started a monitoring

initiative to curb their use. It hasn’t worked, judging by an analysis of the

FDA’s adverse event database by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

Seroquel is only approved for schizophrenia, mania and bipolar disorders. It’s

a powerful drug that has serious side effects if taken for a long time: It’s

associated with weight gain and diabetes, among other problems.

Yet the ISMP found that 47 percent of all adverse events linked to Seroquel

since 2004 occurred when the drug was being used for unapproved or

“off-label†purposes, such as depression. 21 percent of adverse events are

linked to off-label use of Seroquel in depression — a condition for which

there are plenty of other available drugs — and 26 percent of events occur

with other off-label uses:



The ISMP said:

the adverse event data show quetiapine [seroquel] has become a general purpose

psychiatric drug with most reported injuries occurring outside its core

indication for treatment of the most severe mental disorders, schizophrenia and

psychosis.

In the off label category more than half the cases were for sleep disorders and

insomnia. The next largest group was anxiety, and the remainder was divided

among many other medical uses including autism, panic attack, headache,

restlessness, nervousness, dementia and agitation.

The report is yet another in a series of publications from a variety of sources

that suggest some psychiatric doctors are abusing their patients with Seroquel.

In addition to the FDA’s 2008 declaration, consider:

Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice — which houses kids with criminal

records — buys twice as much Seroquel as ibuprofen.

The military’s spending on Seroquel increased sevenfold since 2001as

veterans’ doctors prescribed it for insomnia and post-traumatic stress

disorder.

Seroquel isn’t approved for children under age 13 but there are plenty of

researchers studying it in kids anyway.

Injuries from Seroquel’s side effects can be severe and permanent. In addition

to diabetes they include suicidal/self-injurious behavior, and neurological

movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, dystonia and parkinsonism.

AstraZeneca’s role in promoting Seroquel for off-label uses is well

documented. The company has paid $1.5 billion in legal costs and settlements for

its mismarketing of the drug ($520 million to the Department of Justice; another

$743 million in legal costs in unresolved cases through March 2011; and $198

million in civil settlements.)

So doctors have no excuse. The FDA — which has almost no jurisdiction over

physicians — and the courts have performed their roles. It’s time for the

medical profession to take responsibility for the damage it is causing and cut

down on its dispensing of Seroquel.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T