Posted by pharmrep on August 4, 2002, at 22:20:13
In reply to pharmrep trial question, posted by allisonm on August 3, 2002, at 16:10:16
> The FDA makes drug companies test their drugs for only 8 weeks. But most literature says a depressive ought to take an AD for about a year to make sure the depression is gone. Many of us here take these drugs for years and will do so for the rest of our lives (I'm one of those). It gives many of us pause when we think about that and the possible future ramifications of longterm use. I for one don't like being a guinea pig, but figure the only other choice is death. The chance of getting cancer or some other malady later on because of these chemicals seems like an unfair but necessary (not to mention expensive) alternative to ending my life now. Do drug companies ever go back and study longterm use? Will there ever be any reassurance that these drugs are "safe" save for the lack of reports and warnings if nothing bad turns up?
*** Responsible companies do long term studies as well...there are such studies for Celexa, and I know that Lexapro studies are being done as we speak. The good news about Lexapro is that it is not a foreign matter in the human body. It is half of the Celexa molecule, and has been used by over 30 million people for over 15 years in Europe and the US. As far as the "FDA 8-weeks", you're right, unless there is something obviously wrong, or no separation from placebo, it usually passes.
poster:pharmrep
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020731/msgs/115217.html