Comments on: Vioxx and Merck: Sunday update http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html medical blog Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:35:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-55335 Anonymous Mon, 19 Sep 2005 14:05:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-55335 I was proscribed vioxx, I didn’t take it long. It did make me sick at my stomach, so my doctor replaced it with another. A person should know there own body and should keep a log on pain and medical history. My Mom used vioxx and swears by it, she said it was the one drug that helped her authorities. What works for one person may not work for another. As for some people that think, they need to sue a big company ever time something goes wrong. You are the reasons that some of us cannot get good medical help or the drug that will help us and our body chemistry the best. It’s not merk’s fault that you and your doctor did not research the medication you are proscribed. I have been through 10 doctors so far, three that I would return too. I must say the best one was My VA doctor. The second was a back doctor, Dr James Cole, and the third was Dr Ban wart a sports doctor. I would like to let you know the worst, but I will not mention them, because if you do not have something good to say about someone the keep quiet about them. The only one’s benefiting from these law suites is the lawyers, not the patients. Drug’s are like doctors, what works for you may not work for me. Each person should know there own body, what you eat, drink and how you live. I would love it if we moved to a medical system like the one the military has. You go on sick call, see a medic/nurse then if needed move on to a doctor if your problem is more serious. Just Like in the 80’s and 90’s when I got my hay fever, I took the medication and went home for the day I was to drowsy to work. Then some time in the mid 90’s a new medication came on line and I could work with my hay fever, while now because of some drug addicts and the abuse when I ask for sedifed or an allergy medication that work best for me wal-marts looks at me like I am a drug addict. Well thanks to our FDA and government. I’ll bet you all where not complaining when the doctor handed you a trail drug from his office and said see if this works. Well that was a drug company seeing if the drug they spent millions of dollars, to try and help and this is the thanks you sue happy people give them. When I said the drug was a little high and I was having a hard time paying for it, my doctor gave me more samples. Jesus was a healer; did he need to worry about being sued? I wish I were a judge on a trial that was suing a drug company; I would laugh at you and send you and your big lawyer home with nothing. <br/> Mike<br/>You have a problem or complaint about my statement: write “_mmanley@excite.com” I was proscribed vioxx, I didn’t take it long. It did make me sick at my stomach, so my doctor replaced it with another. A person should know there own body and should keep a log on pain and medical history. My Mom used vioxx and swears by it, she said it was the one drug that helped her authorities. What works for one person may not work for another. As for some people that think, they need to sue a big company ever time something goes wrong. You are the reasons that some of us cannot get good medical help or the drug that will help us and our body chemistry the best. It’s not merk’s fault that you and your doctor did not research the medication you are proscribed. I have been through 10 doctors so far, three that I would return too. I must say the best one was My VA doctor. The second was a back doctor, Dr James Cole, and the third was Dr Ban wart a sports doctor. I would like to let you know the worst, but I will not mention them, because if you do not have something good to say about someone the keep quiet about them. The only one’s benefiting from these law suites is the lawyers, not the patients. Drug’s are like doctors, what works for you may not work for me. Each person should know there own body, what you eat, drink and how you live. I would love it if we moved to a medical system like the one the military has. You go on sick call, see a medic/nurse then if needed move on to a doctor if your problem is more serious. Just Like in the 80’s and 90’s when I got my hay fever, I took the medication and went home for the day I was to drowsy to work. Then some time in the mid 90’s a new medication came on line and I could work with my hay fever, while now because of some drug addicts and the abuse when I ask for sedifed or an allergy medication that work best for me wal-marts looks at me like I am a drug addict. Well thanks to our FDA and government. I’ll bet you all where not complaining when the doctor handed you a trail drug from his office and said see if this works. Well that was a drug company seeing if the drug they spent millions of dollars, to try and help and this is the thanks you sue happy people give them. When I said the drug was a little high and I was having a hard time paying for it, my doctor gave me more samples. Jesus was a healer; did he need to worry about being sued? I wish I were a judge on a trial that was suing a drug company; I would laugh at you and send you and your big lawyer home with nothing.
Mike
You have a problem or complaint about my statement: write “_mmanley@excite.com”

]]> By: Curious JD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54719 Curious JD Tue, 23 Aug 2005 18:09:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54719 Dr. DiSaia,<br/><br/>Do you feel like Merck, based on the studies you've reviewed, adequately disclosed to the FDA, and you, the dangers (whatever they were) of Vioxx as compared to similar drugs and as compared to the potential upside? Dr. DiSaia,

Do you feel like Merck, based on the studies you’ve reviewed, adequately disclosed to the FDA, and you, the dangers (whatever they were) of Vioxx as compared to similar drugs and as compared to the potential upside?

]]> By: Curious JD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54718 Curious JD Tue, 23 Aug 2005 18:06:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54718 "The trust is in the FDA for approving the drug."<br/><br/>As I understand it, the FDA just turns to Merck for the reports they use in deciding to approve it. Is that incorrect? “The trust is in the FDA for approving the drug.”

As I understand it, the FDA just turns to Merck for the reports they use in deciding to approve it. Is that incorrect?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54715 Anonymous Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:18:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54715 I'm tired of people saying "I feel for the widow, but...." Do any of you even know this woman? I feel for innocent people unlucky enough to be working for Merck who may lose their job over this decision so they can't pay to support their families. I’m tired of people saying “I feel for the widow, but….” Do any of you even know this woman? I feel for innocent people unlucky enough to be working for Merck who may lose their job over this decision so they can’t pay to support their families.

]]> By: TomMD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54677 TomMD Mon, 22 Aug 2005 19:08:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54677 CJD...well, that's why we read medical journals, go to medical education conferences,take board review courses,etc. Meetings of the American College of Physicians, as an example, are free of drug company bias and the speakers have to announce in advance if they receive any support from drug companies.There are many independent journals for physicians (Medical Letter being the best) that review new drugs on the market. In the case of Vioxx, many physicians (including me) knowing about the pharmacology of COX-2 drugs, were aware that there was probably a very slight risk of cardiovascular disease.Until this CV risk was proven in a well controlled study I felt safe prescribing this drug. The benefit of Vioxx in reducing upper GI bleeding-a potentially lethal problem for all nonsteroidal type drugs- far outweighs the very small increase in cardiovascular events. Even now the medical evidence supports this view, and like many physicians I feel Vioxx should not have been pulled from the market.<br/>All things concidered I get very little of my drug information from the reps and actually get tired of seeing them. I have enough indigent patients who need help with their medicines, that I use the drug reps to get samples for these patients. CJD…well, that’s why we read medical journals, go to medical education conferences,take board review courses,etc. Meetings of the American College of Physicians, as an example, are free of drug company bias and the speakers have to announce in advance if they receive any support from drug companies.There are many independent journals for physicians (Medical Letter being the best) that review new drugs on the market. In the case of Vioxx, many physicians (including me) knowing about the pharmacology of COX-2 drugs, were aware that there was probably a very slight risk of cardiovascular disease.Until this CV risk was proven in a well controlled study I felt safe prescribing this drug. The benefit of Vioxx in reducing upper GI bleeding-a potentially lethal problem for all nonsteroidal type drugs- far outweighs the very small increase in cardiovascular events. Even now the medical evidence supports this view, and like many physicians I feel Vioxx should not have been pulled from the market.
All things concidered I get very little of my drug information from the reps and actually get tired of seeing them. I have enough indigent patients who need help with their medicines, that I use the drug reps to get samples for these patients.

]]> By: DrDiSaia http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54676 DrDiSaia Mon, 22 Aug 2005 18:31:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54676 I blogged on this one as well. The award is simply ludicrous. <br/><br/>The reps are not physicians. They cannot be expected to know all of that which they represent. They are simply sales people.<br/><br/>Writing a prescription for a newer drug is a trial. The trust is in the FDA for approving the drug. Continued scripts for that drug follow if I like that which I see in the outcomes. I blogged on this one as well. The award is simply ludicrous.

The reps are not physicians. They cannot be expected to know all of that which they represent. They are simply sales people.

Writing a prescription for a newer drug is a trial. The trust is in the FDA for approving the drug. Continued scripts for that drug follow if I like that which I see in the outcomes.

]]> By: Curious JD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54675 Curious JD Mon, 22 Aug 2005 18:03:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54675 So Tom, if you guys can't trust the reps, how do you decide when and how to prescribe something? What do you turn to? So Tom, if you guys can’t trust the reps, how do you decide when and how to prescribe something? What do you turn to?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54670 Anonymous Mon, 22 Aug 2005 16:47:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54670 They just interviewed a plaintiff's attorney on CNBC who, after defending his own legal difficulties for ethics violations in obtaining clients, stated he may sue physicians who prescribed Vioxx in addition to suing Merck. Now we're getting targeted. They just interviewed a plaintiff’s attorney on CNBC who, after defending his own legal difficulties for ethics violations in obtaining clients, stated he may sue physicians who prescribed Vioxx in addition to suing Merck. Now we’re getting targeted.

]]> By: TomMD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54658 TomMD Mon, 22 Aug 2005 02:29:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54658 CJD asks about the Merck reps honesty in regards to Vioxx.The reps are basically salespeople with limited scientific knowledge except what the companies have told them.They usually have a canned presentation and don't stray too far from what the company (with FDA approval) has told them to say. Merck is no better or worse than the other pharm companies. The reps all tend to downplay or gloss over the side effects and costs of the drugs. This endothelial dysfunction problem of Vioxx is most likely a class action of COX-2 drugs (and perhaps all NSAIA), but Merck was unlucky to be the first one to discover (by accident) and report this uncommon and serious side effect.Merck does have liability issues with Vioxx, but I don't see Vioxx as different from many of the other drugs that any physician deals with every day. CJD asks about the Merck reps honesty in regards to Vioxx.The reps are basically salespeople with limited scientific knowledge except what the companies have told them.They usually have a canned presentation and don’t stray too far from what the company (with FDA approval) has told them to say. Merck is no better or worse than the other pharm companies. The reps all tend to downplay or gloss over the side effects and costs of the drugs. This endothelial dysfunction problem of Vioxx is most likely a class action of COX-2 drugs (and perhaps all NSAIA), but Merck was unlucky to be the first one to discover (by accident) and report this uncommon and serious side effect.Merck does have liability issues with Vioxx, but I don’t see Vioxx as different from many of the other drugs that any physician deals with every day.

]]> By: Rich, MD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html/comment-page-1#comment-54656 Rich, MD Sun, 21 Aug 2005 19:38:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/08/vioxx-and-merck-sunday-update.html#comment-54656 I don't thnk I ever get "complete" info from the reps. I don’t thnk I ever get “complete” info from the reps.

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