Tale of Two Drugs

[realFedUp]

Tale of Two Drugs
Stephen Pizzo
http://www.newsforreal.com/
January 24, 2006

Yesterday the FDA moved a prescription-only drug one step away from being sold over the counter, like aspirin. The drug, by Glaxosmithkline, is called Xenical, a weight loss medication.

Now the hyprocrisy begins. The FDA's action yesterday puts Xenical in the bullpen with another drug waiting the final node for over the counter status – Plan B – the so-called “morning after” birth control pill.

While Xenical settles in for what promises to be a short wait in FDA limbo, Plan B has set up virtual housekeeping there. Plan B got the same nod from the FDA's panel of experts on December 16, 2003. That panel, the FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee and Non-prescription Drugs Advisory Committee, voted a stunning 23 to 4 to recommend that the FDA approve the sale of Plan available over the counter.

snip

Fundamentalist claim that Plan B is not a contractive, but an “abortion pill.” When they get really worked up they use more colorful descriptions, like "insecticide," since they think it kills the fetus. Of course science has never been their strongest subject in school, and science says Plan B is not an abortive, but just a super-dose of the same stuff in birth control pills. (Which, by the way, a lot of fundamentalst Christian would ban too, if they could.)

Fact: On average, if 100 women have unprotected intercourse once during the second or third week of their cycle and eight will become pregnant. Taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, Plan B reduces the average risk of pregnancy among users from about 8 percent to about 1 percent—an 89 percent reduction.

[Warpy]

1. Great, a drug that has as an expected and normal side effect

copious diarrhea which can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances versus a drug that prevents the need for abortion and has no side effects.

Yeah, no politics at play there.

[shoelace414]

2. I read about Xenical

it's not a very popular weight loss drug because of the side effect of diarrhea and incontinence (not peeing in your pants, but worse) other prescription weight loss drugs don't have the same side effects.

[bottomofthehill]

3. SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DRUG

You will stop eating so you dont shit yourself.

A bevy of potentially distasteful and embarrassing side effects struck about half the participants in trials of the drug. Those side effects, including fecal incontinence, gas and oily discharge that spotted the undergarments of trial participants, are likely to limit the appeal of the pill.

[shoelace414]

4. it sounded like it makes all food like Olestra chips

(i.e. your body can't digest it well)

[mcscajun]

11. Pretty much...it takes about 15-25% of the fat you consume...

...and like shit through a goose...

UGH.

This is about as far from 'a miracle pill' as you can get, I think. On average, those taking three pills a day of orlistat lost 5.3 to 6.2 pounds. How many hours they spent in the bathroom, and how many "accidents" occurred and how much ruined underwear and clothing was generated were not included in the press release.

Here's the FINE PRINT:

Alli, a drug that helps (sic)lose weight by preventing fat adsorption, would be indicated for use by overnight adults along with a reduced calorie, low fat diet, Glaxo says in a press release. The low fat diet is defined as a diet with less than 30 percent of calories from fat.

(snip)

Use of Alli does not seem as simple as one pill plus one glass of water equals weight loss. Glaxo says a 250-page instruction will be offered along with Alli to help people lose weight. Overall, using the diet pill seems quite a task considering it can only cause a moderate weight loss. For this reason, Public Citizen calls for the FDA committee to reject the application. It labels the application as a “desperate attempt to revive this barely effective drug by an OTC switch,” according to the Associated Press.
http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/FDA_panel_okays_Alli_-_the_OTC_orlistat_Xenical_.shtml

[realFedUp]

12. wonder how similar it is to a laxative? nt

[mcscajun]

14. Not really...same result...different mechanism.

More predictable results with a laxative.

They are worried about abuse by the eating-disordered population, particularly young women and girls.

[phoebe]

5. Glaxo has quite a history..

http://www.gnn.tv/headlines/2145/Drug_companies_stay_silent_about_fakes_to_protect_profits

[realFedUp]

6. I just wish fundies understood how sexual reproduction works...

maybe we need more sex ed classes in schools.

[Uncle Joe]

7. I caught the tail end of some drug peddling commercial

during last nights news and they said the side effects were high blood pressure and heart attacks. To me, a heart attack is more than a side effect. I do not recall which drug it was, but it seemed like a drug for a relatively minor condition, especially compared to a heart attack.

[realFedUp]

9. lol...yeah.

if it wasn't so tragic, it would be funny, in that sick way.

[realFedUp]

8. pharmacy ads....don't you all just laugh and roll your eyes...

when the side effects verbalized are so drastic
that you practically need more pills to counteract the side-effects.

Ohhhhhh, maybe that's the point!

[Uncle Joe]

13. Yep, it's an endless chain.

I remember my grandmother had a virtual pharmacy in her cabinet, many of the drugs were simply to offset other drugs.

[snowbear]

10. Hmmm... should we all buy stock?

Huh? :) How about a stock tip guyz?