2 comments
7th Feb 11
prezenseI would like to share something I feel needs to be heard by anyone who is consuming prescription pills, as well as those considering it, without prior knowledge of its effect. This situation is something that not only affects me personally, but thousands of others as well. I’m positive if you are to carefully read and understand the meaning of this situation, it could greatly benefit, not only to your show, but many others by putting this information out so they will come forward.
On September 5, 2003; I was married to a wonderful man named John London III. Like many others with mental issues, he struggled with Bipolar disorder and lived everyday in complete confusion as he coped with his extreme emotions. He was prescribed many drugs to help him cope with this disorder and in particular one of these drugs is made by Pfizer called Neurontin. The problem with this drug is one of its side-effects is suicide. On July 5, 2005, I found my husband hanging from a tree right outside of our cabin after exposure to this pill for years, slowly degrading his mental health until the inevitable occurred.
History of Neurontin and Pfizer:
I discovered through research that Neurontin is responsible for the suicidal tendencies he projected while under its influence. I contacted a law firm that is handling a majority of these suicide cases nationally. In addition, I also researched on my own time and discovered that this drug was never approved for many of the prescribed disorders that it is being marketed for. The FDA only approved Neurontin for seizures and nerve pain related to shingles. Despite the FDA’s approval on only two conditions, Pfizer took it upon itself to market the drug to doctors and people in the medical field for many other conditions it was never meant for. A majority of Doctors are unaware of its real conditions and carelessly prescribed it to many people whom also committed suicide. (http://www.onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_850.shtml).
Pfizer (Warner-Lambert) embellished this drug to doctors by using many tactics to get this drug prescribed to patients for conditions it was never tested or approved for. (http://www.onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_855.shtml)
My husband, John, took Neurontin and had suicidal tendencies before finally committing the very act so many others took under this drugs effect. Teva, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, came out with the generic brand of Neurontin, Gabapentin, just before John’s death. Not only is Neurontin a very expensive drug, it is very hard to come off this drug without serious life threatening side-effects. John’s doctors prescribed him Gabapentin as a monetary relief after years of Neurontin use emptied what little savings we had. He made numerous requests to his doctors to discontinue his use of this drug, but even missing one dose cause him severe pain and suffering. It is a Catch 22 and John paid the price for this prescription drug. With that said, along with Pfizer, one of the other defendants I am suing is Teva.
Six years of waiting and wondering I received a letter from my lawyers, Finkelstein and Partners. This Letter states I should dismiss Pfizer from my case because at the time he committed suicide he was taking the generic drug, Gabapentin. I felt floored reading the letter, not understanding why they would give up so easily. I can’t understand why, I should dismiss Pfizer from any liability in this case just because at the time he died he took the generic form of the drug. John took Neurontin only until they came out with the generic cheaper brand. During the time he took Neurontin he was severely depressed and had suicidal tendencies. There were many times before his final attempt of suicide I had to prevent him from hurting himself. If it wasn’t for Pfizer/Warner-Lambert marketing this drug for uses it was never tested, nor even approved for, my husband would never have been prescribed Neurontin and still be breathing to this day. Doctors would have never prescribed it to anyone for these conditions, under any circumstance, if they knew they were indirectly responsible for causing suicides among the medicated.
Brand name drugs primarily are marketed for use and then years later after the drug is established, and profits declining, then the generic versions are available to the public who can’t afford it anymore. How is Pfizer/Warner-Lambert not responsible? I quickly called my attorneys after I received this letter explaining this to him. He said they looked over my case with Pfizer, and Pfizer decided they would not settle because at the time of his death he took Gabapentin. Why should I dismiss the case against Pfizer and continue with suing Teva? Why is it they only consider a quick settlement for monies awarded and not the justice deserved from those who are victims of this? Why can they be allowed to displace the blame on the generic brand they originally marketed for in the first place? I believe Pfizer should be held accountable and brought to justice for this insanity they brought upon unsuspecting families. I believe the other families that are suing, who are also in the same predicament, feel the same way as I do. I believe there are many people out there who received the same letter as I did and if you air this on the show, more will come forward. We are at the mercy of these drugs companies who manufacture and market their drugs. If the drug companies lie about what their drugs can and cannot do, then how as we the public are to know? We are forced to believe our doctors and the doctors only know what the drug companies tell them. I am just one who represents the many people that are victims in this tragedy.
Please help me to get this heard among the masses; so that we may hold accountable those who are truly responsible and let justice be done!
Thank you with all my heart,
Keri London
