Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Public Citizen Asks FDA to Stop Celebrex Ad
Article in the New York Times -- Watchdog Asks FDA to Stop Celebrex Ad, by the Associated Press. Here's an excerpt:
A consumer advocacy group called on the government Monday to order Pfizer Inc. to stop running a television ad for painkiller Celebrex, calling the ad dangerous and misleading because it downplays the drug's risks.
Public Citizen alleged that the 2 1/2-minute ad asserts, in spite of scientific evidence, that the cardiovascular dangers of Celebrex are no greater than those of any of the other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers.
The ad also claims that Celebrex has gastrointestinal benefits over two popular nonprescription painkillers and plays down the risk of bleeding, ulcers and other serious stomach and intestinal problems associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, Public Citizen said in its letter to the Food and Drug Administration.
''The ad violates FDA law and regulations because it contains several false or misleading statements that will lead many viewers to underestimate the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks of Celebrex and use it in preference to equally effective, safer alternatives,'' Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's health research group, wrote in the letter. The letter cited the drugs ibuprofen and naproxen.
BGS
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/mass_tort_litigation/2007/04/public_citizen_.html
I am 45 year old man that tolk celebrex for almost 4 years. I had notting but heart trouble whtle taking this drug. I had 2 Heart atacks at the age of 38 in the first two years of taking this drug. I was still taking the drug after my heart atack and about ywo years later I needed open heart surgery. I had a triple bypass. Had I have know it was linked to heart atacks I would have stopped taking it after my heart atacks. There was no black box warnimng for me had there been I may have been able to avoid open heart.Pfizer never Gave me that choice the warnings were not out there yet. It has been almost 4 years since I have heart trouble I have none since I quit taking it, Don't even take blood pressure meds anymore. People should know This drug can hurt or kill them. If I could ask one question of pfizer or the FDA It would be where was my choice. After My heart atacks had the black box warning had been there I could of said WOW celebrex may have caused my heart atacks and would have stoped taking it. Never got that choice. Feel free To email me with any Questions You may have. [email protected] And please if all possable avoid this drug try other things first.
Posted by: Bob Packer | Apr 19, 2007 11:29:53 AM