Another dangerous drug now pushed for simple pain is Lilly's Cymbalta.
Many remember Cymbalta as the drug 19-year-old healthy clinical volunteer Traci Johnson killed herself on during trials on the Lilly campus in 2004 -- soon after FDA investigations into suicide/antidepressant links.
Johnson had no depression history said Rev. Joel Barnaby, a spokesman for the Johnson family, who called Lilly's decision to proceed with Cymbalta's launch as scheduled "offensive" posturing. Five others suicides occurred during Cymbalta clinical trials, said the FDA and twice the rate of suicide attempts were seen in women prescribed the drug for stress urinary incontinence -- also patients with no depression to blame.
Others remember Cymbalta as the drug Carol Anne Gotbaum, daughter-in-law of New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, was taking during her macabre death in police custody at the Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport in 2007.
This week, FDA approved Cymbalta for chronic musculoskeletal pain, "including discomfort from osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain."
Cymbalta is the nation's fourth-most-advertised prescription drug and Lilly's second-best-selling product according to Indianapolis Star's John Russell, who has called it the Swiss Army knife of Lilly drugs. Last year it made a cool $3.1 billion.
Already approved for depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and diabetic nerve pain, the new osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain indications should double Lilly's take. Maybe Dorothy Hamill is available.
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