FDA: Anti smoking drug Chantix linked to more than 500 suicides

[Uma]

These are politicians with an agenda, not the FDA. The FDA does what is directed to do by Congress and the Administration. Ultimately, it comes down to do-gooders and nanny-staters.

That doesn't deflect the fact they are the ones who put the burr up their saddle blankets.

 

[stevegmu]

That doesn't deflect the fact they are the ones who put the burr up their saddle blankets.

There will always be those in appointed or career positions who want to make a name for themselves and add to their resume.
Other than age, advertising restrictions, warning labels concerning certain flavors and licensing, I think it will all come down to local politics.

 

[AgentAnia]

There will always be those in appointed or career positions who want to make a name for themselves and add to their resume.

So you don't think there are any anti-tobacco zealots (even closet zealots) in the FDA? Who will take what the Administration and TCA have given them an inch of and take it a mile further? (As far as I'm concerned, Mitch Zeller* qualifies, to start with.) I'm not so sure I'm ready to write off his anti-ecig pronouncements and efforts as "he wants to make a name for himself," but that's my opinion, and you're entitled to yours...

In 1993 Zeller joined the staff of then-FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler, M.D. What began as a two-week assignment by Kessler to examine the practices of the tobacco industry led to his serving as associate commissioner and director of FDA’s first Office of Tobacco Programs. Instrumental in crafting’s the agency’s 1996 tobacco regulations, Zeller also represented FDA before Congress, federal and state agencies. Zeller also served as an official U.S. delegate to the World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

In 2000, Zeller left FDA to continue his work for tobacco control as executive vice president of the American Legacy Foundation. His responsibilities there included marketing, communications, strategic partnerships, and, in 2002, creating the foundation's first Office of Policy and Government Relations. That year, Zeller joined Pinney Associates where, as senior vice president, he provided strategic planning and communications advice on domestic and global public health policy issues involving the treatment of tobacco dependence and the regulation of tobacco products and pharmaceuticals.

 

[stevegmu]

So you don't think there are any anti-tobacco zealots (even closet zealots) in the FDA? Who will take what the Administration and TCA have given them an inch of and take it a mile further? (As far as I'm concerned, Mitch Zeller* qualifies, to start with.) I'm not so sure I'm ready to write off his anti-ecig pronouncements and efforts as "he wants to make a name for himself," but that's my opinion, and you're entitled to yours...

Of course there are, as there are in any government agency. They don't have the power to act alone, however. If they did, cigarettes would have been banned outright years ago. E-nic is just their feel good way of thinking they are protecting children, or whatever twisted socialist ideology they subscribe to. This is why having age and advertising restrictions is a good thing- takes the wind out of their sails.

In the end, V2, Njoy, BLU and the other big players will fight whatever will affect their bottom lines in the courts.

 

[Orb Skewer]

Of course there are, as there are in any government agency. They don't have the power to act alone, however. If they did, cigarettes would have been banned outright years ago. E-nic is just their feel good way of thinking they are protecting children, or whatever twisted socialist ideology they subscribe to. This is why having age and advertising restrictions is a good thing- takes the wind out of their sails.

In the end, V2, Njoy, BLU and the other big players will fight whatever will affect their bottom lines in the courts.

What is it exactly they are protecting 'the children' from Steve?

 

[stevegmu]

What is it exactly they are protecting 'the children' from Steve?

'Protecting the children' comes up over and over in most of the local campaigns targeting e-nic. They seem to think if the children see someone using an e-cig, they will use one, then move on to smoking, then...

 

[Nermal]

Yes, there were 544 suicides, but there were also 1,869 attempted suicides. 2,700 people sued Pfizer so even more were harmed than the 2,413 suicide/attempted suicide cited in this report. I'd bet the true number harmed is even higher. We know how numbers can be played with to get the result you want - for example, they could have downgraded the classification of a side effect (i.e. from major to minor). I believe the risk is very real for something with a low success rate.

You got it! Somewhat like the number of fatalaties in a military action. How many others crippled or somewhat disabled for life. How many destroyed relationships among chantix users? Hostile thoughts and behaviors. I wonder how that worked out in terms users going to prison, and whatever happened to the victims of "hostile behavors". This isn't a miracle cure for cancer or anything of the sort. It's for legally using tobacco in the manner for which it's intended.

 

[Luisa]

Of course there are, as there are in any government agency. They don't have the power to act alone, however. If they did, cigarettes would have been banned outright years ago. E-nic is just their feel good way of thinking they are protecting children, or whatever twisted socialist ideology they subscribe to. This is why having age and advertising restrictions is a good thing- takes the wind out of their sails.

In the end, V2, Njoy, BLU and the other big players will fight whatever will affect their bottom lines in the courts.

They will have to gather a great deal of money to fight this in the courts.Since the D.C. court is about to be packed with 4 judges appointed by Obama ,they will will reflect this administrations viewpoints. It will obviously then have to go to the Supreme Court. Very,very expensive--and maybe financially prohibitive.

 

[jpargana]

These are politicians with an agenda, not the FDA. The FDA does what is directed to do by Congress and the Administration. Ultimately, it comes down to do-gooders and nanny-staters.

Sorry, but I truly believe that FDA itself also has it's own agenda...

Just look at the 'dreadful nitrosamines' report about the e-cig: in that study, it was stated that the e-cig would be compared to the Nicotrol inhaler, because it was what most resembled the e-cig in the 'approved market' (Scientifically, the e-cig should have been compared to a cigarette - there are not many people quitting Nicotrol to start using e-cigarettes...)

But anyway, if you look careffuly at that study, you'll discover something funny: the results for the inhaler (the very 'control group' of the experiment) were never published! Why? Because, of course, they were quite similar to those found in the e-cig...!

It would be embarassing to state "Product A should be banned because we found nitrosamines in it. Not by coincidence (the nicotine used in both products is the same), we found the same levels in product B, which we ourselves approved as safe for long-term use some time ago..."

No, that would not do at all. Much better to hide some facts, pretend that those levels were very, very dangerous, and make a fear mongering press conference to spread half-truths and lies...

These are typical ANTZ tactics. That is a typical, junk-science/ideological report sprouted by ANTZ's. And yet, FDA itself made and published that report. Not some random ANTZ organization or expert.

So, I cannot believe that "FDA just does what it's told, and do-gooders and nanny-staters are to blame..."
No. From what I can see, I believe FDA is up to it's neck in this BS too. You see, 'health' organizations usually have conflicts of interest, because of BP founding. But let´s not ever forget that governments have serious conflicts of interests too... the e-cig is a threat to both 'aproved NRT's' and tobacco cigarettes...! And of course (as it happened in Italy) politicians are very alert about the loss of 'sin tax' revenues. Let's not forget that despite what the ANTZ's would made us believe, there are large profits generated by 'sin taxes' revenue. Non-smokers taxes are not paying the treatment of tobacco-related diseases in smokers. It is, in fact, quite the opposite...!


(On a ligher note, I remember someome - Dr Siegel, I believe - actually thanking FDA for proving that at least as far as notrosamines were concerned, the e-cig was in fact around 1850 times safer than a cigarette!
And the sweet, sweet part is: FDA could not even dispute that study - they made it, not some random manufacturer's association trying to promote the e-cigarette!)

 

[rothenbj]

jpargana, You're pretty much right on. It must be remembered that Big Pharma and the FDA are basically interchangeable parts. People move between the public sector and the industry pretty regularly, especially at the top. Even if it's unintentional (which I happen not to believe), there is a bias toward the industry. Remember it was the ?non-profits?, more than likely at the behest of the pharna industry, that pushed the FDA into fighting the e cig industry in the first place.

 

[2coils]

Of course there are, as there are in any government agency. They don't have the power to act alone, however. If they did, cigarettes would have been banned outright years ago. E-nic is just their feel good way of thinking they are protecting children, or whatever twisted socialist ideology they subscribe to. This is why having age and advertising restrictions is a good thing- takes the wind out of their sails.

In the end, V2, Njoy, BLU and the other big players will fight whatever will affect their bottom lines in the courts.

We really need to stop having kids. These little buggers are screwing up everything! The problem is age restrictions will not be enough. I would be shocked if the few e-cigs left on the market weren't Face to Face transactions ONLY!! Even though there are others ways to accomplish the save the children campaign!

 

[Luisa]

They will have to gather a great deal of money to fight this in the courts.Since the D.C. court is about to be packed with 4 judges appointed by Obama ,they will will reflect this administrations viewpoints. It will obviously then have to go to the Supreme Court. Very,very expensive--and maybe financially prohibitive.

I forgot to add---the Government seems to have endless amounts of money to fight lawsuits.

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

I forgot to add---the Government seems to have endless amounts of money to fight lawsuits.

Endless amounts of our money.

 

[Racehorse]

What is the percentage of Chantix users have problems compared to those who don't have problems?

There are a number of anti depressants that make people suicidal too, but the benefit to people who desperately need SSRIs, in order to function, work, be parents, etc. far outweighs the % of people it hurts.

Mixed feelings about this, since there are drugs I could take that WOULD kill me.....but maybe you are a person who receives a benefit from them.

Tylenol is responsible for seding 78000 Americans to the emergency room every year

So, if anyone dies from a pharmaceutical, should we start removing it from the market?

Also, since vaping is harm reduction, not harm-less, and we find out it hurts 'some' people, should it be made illegal?

Just thinking out loud about some of the ethical considerations for ANY substance that we place into our bodies, not really knowing for "sure" what it does..........

 

[jpargana]

Endless amounts of our money.

Yep... our taxpayer money ...! Which will be used to fight us !!

 

[rothenbj]

Racehorse, I can't think of anything that is harmless. There is always some level of risk in everything.