Here’s an old post (December 30, 2009) which contains some important information:
It’s at this time of year that we all look forward to a new decade and look back on the years that have brought us to where we are today. I thought it would be useful to look back at 20 years of Glaxo spin – to review the information supplied by Glaxo over the past 20 years to patients like you and me.
The PIL – the Patient Information Leaflet is what I’m talking about.
As you download the PDFs and read them, please remember each of the leaflets is referring to EXACTLY the same drug – hard to believe.
I’m very happy to be able to supply what is a truly historic document – the very first Seroxat PIL – click on the link to download it – Original Seroxat PIL 1990.
This is a relic of a bygone age – a much simpler time for all of us. Download it and you’ll be able to read a short two page document that bears little in common with the current PIL. One thing of note is that in 1990 the PIL still stated clearly “Always keep medicine out of the reach of children. ‘Seroxat’ is not recommended for use by children.” Oh… and no mention of withdrawal.
I’ve another PIL for you to download here – Seroxat PIL 1996 – I thought I’d include this one as it is the very text I read at the time I started to take Seroxat. This has some choice phrases in it as well –
“This medicine works by bringing the levels of serotonin [in the brain] back to normal.”
“These tablets are not addictive.”
“If you stop taking your tablets too soon, your symptoms may return. Remember you cannot become addicted to to ‘Seroxat’.”
Back then I believed this – I trusted Glaxo and felt safe in the knowledge that the drug had been tested by the regulators… if only I knew then what I know now – ALL THOSE STATEMENTS ABOVE ARE LIES.
Just for comparison, here is a more recent Seroxat PIL – Seroxat PIL 2006. Please download the different versions – compare and contrast the wording – see which phrases have been carefully rewritten or removed. It’s hard to believe that the 1990 version and the 2006 version are actually referring to EXACTLY the same drug.
And finally, this the PIL from 2008 – PIL.2008
I wonder what the Seroxat PIL will look like in 2015 – what will Glaxo be admitting by then, I wonder?
And by 2020…?
seroxat secrets... 
May 30, 2011 at 3:06 am
That was VERY interesting. “You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried
about changes in your behaviour.”
That sounds like they knew people were getting hurt, alright.
“Children and adolescents under 18-
Seroxat should not be used for children and adolescents under 18 years because it has not been proven to be an effective medicine for this age group. Also, patients under 18 have an increased risk of side effects such as suicidal thoughts and harming themselves when they take Seroxat. If your doctor has prescribed Seroxat for you (or your child) and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. In studies of Seroxat in under 18s, common side effects that affected less than 1 in 10 children/adolescents were: an increase in suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, deliberately harming themselves, being hostile, aggressive or unfriendly, lack of appetite,
shaking, abnormal sweating, hyperactivity (having too much energy), agitation, changing emotions (including crying and changes in mood). These studies also showed that the same symptoms affected children and adolescents taking sugar pills (placebo) instead of Seroxat, although these were seen less often. Some patients in these studies of under 18s had withdrawal effects when they stopped taking Seroxat. These effects were mostly similar to those seen in adults after stopping Seroxat (see section 5, Stopping Seroxat, above). In addition, patients under 18 also commonly (affecting less than 1 in 10) experienced stomach ache, feeling nervous and changing emotions (including crying, changes in mood, trying to hurt themselves, thoughts of suicide and attempting suicide).”
-I wish I believed in Hell so I could imagine these people there.
If people reading this are suffering on anti-depressants, please know that it is very important to go off them slowly, and recognize that “daymares” of hurting yourself or others can become real. Your thoughts can become delusional, like in those young men who stopped their “medicine” suddenly and then shot people. These drugs can literally control your mind.
June 4, 2011 at 3:25 pm
I agree..
SSRI’s / Psychiatric Drugs are a form of mind control..
Not fun..
Very dangerous..
June 6, 2011 at 4:34 pm
I really don’t understand how everyone who was told they could come off Seroxat from 1990 onwards and could not can not get a legal case going just by comparing the leaflets 1990 and 2010. Piece of cake.
July 27, 2011 at 9:56 am
On the subject of Murdoch and GSK. I think that this comment from Ed Silverman of Pharmalot sums it up quite nicely…
“Of course, one may also argue that having a board member with experience in skullduggery has its benefits,”
http://www.pharmalot.com/2011/07/should-james-murdoch-remain-on-the-glaxo-board/
I guess only seasoned sociopaths need apply for the top jobs at GSK? …
http://truthman30.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil/
December 5, 2011 at 8:01 pm
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