Patients' Misuse Of Prescription Drugs More Harmful Than FDA Approval Process, According To Op-Ed

Main Category: Compliance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 22 Dec 2006 - 12:00 PST

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Most "drugs and devices wind up causing side effects because of the human inability to follow directions," which contradicts claims "politicians and the Institute of Medicine peddle to the media of an FDA and drug industry rushing to approve and market medicines without regard to product safety," Robert Goldberg, vice president for strategic initiatives for the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, writes in a Washington Times opinion piece. According to a CDC report, "Sixteen of the 18 drugs most commonly linked to adverse drug events in the study have been in clinical use for more than 20 years." Goldberg writes that the "most common drug classes were insulin, painkillers containing opioids, anti-clotting drugs (including aspirin), drugs containing the antibiotic amoxicillin and cold remedies." However, "the media and politicians pick on pills that are well known rather than risky," Goldberg says. He notes the sleep drug Ambien, which garnered media and political attention after Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) claimed he crashed his car because it caused him to drive while sleeping. The drug became the subject of several articles detailing its dangers, though only 48 incidents of sleepwalking have been linked to the medication, according to Goldberg. He also notes recent political concern surrounding the antibiotic Ketek. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has called for the drug to be withdrawn over concerns that it causes liver problems and that its approval did not adequately follow FDA guidelines. According to Goldberg, "Antibiotics with amoxicillin are more likely to cause liver problems than Ketek" and "[a]cetaminophen is the most common cause of liver failure" in the U.S. Goldberg says the U.S. has "defined down drug safety. What used to be our responsibility is now blamed on a FDA-industry conspiracy." He writes that drugs can be "100% safe ... if we stop making medicines available altogether," adding, "I'm afraid we are already there" (Goldberg, Washington Times, 12/18).

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