Wednesday 8 February 2012

What doctors don't tell you...

Remember Accutane (Roaccutane), the treatment for acne? In 2001 it was selling in its billions. It seemed like a miracle cure. But not for everyone. The father of a young man who’d committed suicide after taking Accutane approached Dr Doug Bremner, Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology at Emory University in the US.  He asked if there could be a link between the drug and severe depression. Dr Bremner investigated and found that, yes, the drug did indeed have an effect on the brain and could cause depression, so severe that it could lead to suicide or psychosis, in some people.
‘For those who suffered from extreme scarring acne it was something of a miraculous treatment,’ says Dr Bremner. ‘However the evidence started to mount that for others it was a death sentence.  Over the next few years it was estimated that between 300 and 3,000 young people on Accutane had either committed suicide or killed others.’
I met Doug Bremner on the writing website Authonomy.  I read his book, The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg about the Accutane case and how he played a key role in having the drug withdrawn from the US market, not just for its potentially depressive effects but also because it seemed it could cause birth defects and stunt growth.  I remember him being harassed and harried for his brave stance – taking on the might of a vast pharmaceutical giant takes one helluva lot of guts.

It touched a chord with me as I have always been concerned about the way pharmaceutical companies rule the medical industry.  So I asked Doug if he would answer some questions and he kindly agreed.  If you’re remotely concerned about your health (and particularly if you have children) do read through and follow the links - you might like to buy his books too. It's a long post but it's important. You simply can’t stick your head in the sand over this stuff – and, sadly, your doctor won’t always give you all the information you need.

EJ: Your first book was Before you take that Pill: Why the drug industry may be bad for your health.  Which drugs cause you the most concern? Which should we be wary of taking?

DB: The drug I get the most negative feedback on from patients is isotretinoin (Roaccutane in the UK, Accutane in the US until it was taken off the market in 2009 and is now sold as generic isotretinoin). This drug can cause depression, suicide, psychosis, mania, irritable bowel syndrome, cognitive problems, sexual dysfunction, and a range of other problems. At its peak 80% of people on it were taking it for non-cystic acne, i.e. acne that would not lead to scarring. I recommend using retinol cream first (not much is taken into the bloodstream) and using Roaccutane as a last resort and then at doses half of the recommended dose.

EJ: That’s damn scary – and good advice. Any others?
DB: The antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone group like ciprofloxacin (Ciproxin in the UK and Cipro in the US) and levofloxacin (called Tavanic in the UK and Levaquin in the US) can have some pretty nasty side effects. They are used incorrectly in 81% of cases, usually in the form of an overkill form of first line treatment for urinary tract infections in women. These drugs can cause cartilage and tendon damage which can lead to a snapping of tendons. If you are a runner you should exercise extra caution. I also get a lot of feedback that they cause strange psychological and neurological symptoms and can interact with withdrawal from psychiatric medications like benzodiazepines.

The third drug I have gotten the most feedback about is the birth control pill or oral contraceptive (OCP) Yaz or Yasmin, also known as Janya in the UK (generic is drospirenone and ethinylestradiol) which is associated with psychiatric side effects like mood swings and depression. All of the OCPs can do this but this one seems to be particularly problematic. I recommend using an IUD or other form of birth control, because I do not think it is natural to flatten out a woman's monthly variation in sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.

EJ: The pharmaceutical business is a vast moneymaking machine. Reps target GPs in the hopes they will use their products.  How can we be sure our doctors are giving us the right medication? 
DB: I think consumers should educate themselves about their medications. That is why I wrote my 'Pill' book. I have heard from a number of people who said that having the book around literally saved someone's life when they realized a problem was related to a med the person was on. I also think patients have the right to ask physicians to give full disclosure about any money they receive from the pharmaceutical industry, whether it is payment to give talks or be in studies or free meals or gifts. Many "studies" are actually marketing campaigns to pull in doctors to a new brand of medication-- the industry calls them "seed studies".

EJ: I agree. Any suggestions as to what we should do, as ‘patients’ when we’re prescribed a drug?  I assume you’re not saying we should avoid all medication?
DB: No, of course not. I prescribe medication myself. I'm just saying to educate yourself, don't passively rely on your doctor. That way you can avoid unecessary medications and recognize bad interactions within yourself. Remember that 400 years ago Paracelsus basically said that the goal of medication treatment is to offset the negative side effects with positive outcomes.

EJ: A lot of us go online to check out health conditions and medication. But there is simply so much information out there and it’s easy to become confused and lost. Any sites you recommend?
DB: Studies show that over half of medical websites contain misinformation (including one we did on websites about psychological trauma and mental health). I have a couple of hundred articles on my website and on ezine 

I also recommend community forums like medications.com because that is a great way to find out if other people are suffering from similar side effects. Sometimes the medical community takes a while to catch up to what patients are telling them.

EJ: You also target vitamins and supplements. What are your major concerns? Should we not take these products?
DB: I am not against all vitamins and supplements. Many supplements are beneficial for a variety of conditions and women and vegetarians, in particular, could benefit from a well-balanced multi. The main vitamin I am concerned about is mega-doses of Vitamin A, since it can lead to thinning of the bones and does not prevent cancer, in fact it may increase the risk in smokers. My main point is they can have side effects just like prescription medications can -- they should not be considered risk free.

EJ:  In the UK, there is a strong move towards regulating natural medicines – herbs, homeopathic preparations etc. What are your feelings about that?  Is it sensible or is it a case of the pharmaceutical companies not liking us taking medicine into our own hands, potentially taking away business from them?
DB: In general I am not in favor of increasing government regulation. If you grow catnip in your garden do you need government inspections? A possible exception might be a supplement like the weight loss aid Ephedrine which has been linked to sudden deaths.

EJ: A lot of my readers have young children. What concerns should they have? What particular advice would you give?
DB: A lot of children get ear infections and antibiotics are overused as in many cases the infection is not a result of bacteria, and even if it is, a "wait and see" approach will lead to resolution.  Antibiotics at best reduce by one day the time period of the infection. "Wait and see" has been shown in research studies to be the best approach since it avoids bacterial resistance which can increase the number of subsequent infections. Wait and see involves giving tylenol or aspirin for fever and using topical medicine for pain relief.

I also am concerned about the over-extension of vaccines, especially Gardasil and flu shots.
Another big problem, especially in the US, is overuse of antipsychotic medication in small chilren.
You can see a link to my posts about medications in children here.

EJ: Going back to your books, I was amazed at how personal your accounts are. The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg is certainly not a dry medical read – it’s as much about you, and your search for your family and identity, as about your battle with the pharmaceutical giant, Hoffman-La Roche. Why is that?
DB: I had an agent (who later died) who warned me that some people might not like the "two story thread" of the book, and in fact the people who didn't like it complained about the personal part of the story. In fact it made some people very uncomfortable. For me it was a story about honesty and emotional integrity, and for me coming clean about my past was very tied in with coming clean about the risks of a particular medication (ie Accutane). In both cases not doing so could be potentially lethal.
When I wrote it, it was also a time when a lot of stuff was coming out about what is essentially the corruption of leaders in academic psychiatry (which is where I do my "day job") by the pharmaceutical industry, and I felt like I wanted to make a clean sweep. In summary, if you are looking for a knight on a white horse story, this isn't for you, but it is a more accurate description of what it is like to be in my shoes, and there are a lot of other people out there like me.

EJ: You talk, towards the end of the book about alternative forms of healing. Do you now favour an integrated approach to healing? 
DB: I think people take the spiritual part out of healing and recovery at their own peril. We don't fully know how or why people get better. Our own treatment studies for PTSD these days are focusing on effects of meditation training and a program for promotion of mind and body. I personally have used acupuncture and found it helpful.

EJ: I remember from Authonomy that you had a lot of persecution from the pharmaceutical industry. Is that continuing?  Any thoughts on how we might get away from this situation whereby our health is being potentially comprised by big business (supported by government)?
DB: Not so much since Accutane was taken off the American market in 2009. They've moved on to other big money makers that I am not called as an expert on. I think the US court system is out of control in terms of drug litigation. They are allowed to spend way too much time and money trying to discredit experts against them. Also, sunlight is the best disinfectant, that is why I came out and wrote openly about what happened, while in the beginning I mostly kept it to myself.

EJ: What’s next for Doug Bremner? Any more books in the pipeline? Where are you in professional terms? Hopes for the future?
DB: Since the 'Goose' book I have been writing screenplays and one of them called 'Catania' (about five Italian sisters who return to their home to divide the family art and furniture) got to the quarterfinals of the PAGE competition for screenwriters in 2011. I am planning on producing that as a film with my daughter this summer. I am currently working on a novel called 'Hearts" about a cardiac surgeon who can fix other people's hearts but not his own (being posted on twitter @heartnovel, my twitter name is @dougbremner). I just sort of move to whatever interests me, but am not ready to give up my day job, which is as a psychiatrist and researcher in the area of posttraumatic stress disorder in women abused in childhood and in returning soldiers from Iraq.

EJ:  Good to hear all that and huge good luck. Before you go, could you give us your top ten tips for maintaining good health?
DB:  Sure.
1.      Don't smoke
2.      Drink in moderation (or not at all if you choose)
3.      Cook your own meals and grow your own fruits and vegetables, if possible
4.      Eat fish at least once per week.  It’s more about lessening reliance on red meat. Vegetarians should be fine – gaining protein from beans, pulses, nuts, seeds.
5.      Exercise more than three times a week (even if just brisk walking)
6.      Practice stress reduction (yoga, meditation, etc)
7.      Know everything you can about your prescription medications
8.      Have supportive and nurturing relationships
9.      Use psychotherapy if you have depression or anxiety or unresolved issues from the past
10.  Get your blood pressure checked

I'm tempted to add make your own beer and wine (which I do) since I saw your husband is a beer writer

JA: Ah, that takes me back to childhood, when my parents made their own beer and wine. My husband just likes to drink the stuff! J  Huge thanks, Doug…

Okay, so there you have it…for more detailed information on all this, do buy Doug’s books..and check out his website and blog.


32 comments:

Anita-Clare Field said...

How very interesting that you should post this this morning as I am literally on my way out the door to smoking councelling. The councellor recommends a drug which she says ' can make you a bit shakey' ' Give you a bit of sickness initially' and yet ' Fantastic pornographic dreams' my doctor has refused on the grounds that they cause ' violent mood swings' 'suicidal thoughts' ' serious depression and high anxiety' oh and they clash with my rather large dose of happy pills... Reading this has made me think of at least three other questions to ask my councellor this morning!!! Thanks A-C

Anita-Clare Field said...

How very interesting that you should post this this morning as I am literally on my way out the door to smoking councelling. The councellor recommends a drug which she says ' can make you a bit shakey' ' Give you a bit of sickness initially' and yet ' Fantastic pornographic dreams' my doctor has refused on the grounds that they cause ' violent mood swings' 'suicidal thoughts' ' serious depression and high anxiety' oh and they clash with my rather large dose of happy pills... Reading this has made me think of at least three other questions to ask my councellor this morning!!! Thanks A-C

viv said...

I've had reactions to many drugs in the past and have worried about it.
Last year, following surgery, I had such severe infections I was prescribed metronidizol, and had one of the worst episodes of almost psychotic depression I have ever suffered. Sure enough, when I read it later, I saw that this was on the list of rare side effects. I had one of the most miserable Christmases and New Years and was on the brink of suicide more than once.
I'm cautious as hell now taking anything I don't absolutely need to. The antibiotics were essential at the time (ended up being admitted for IV it got so bad) but I wish we'd known the side effects. I really had blades ready.
viv
wv is mings

Jane Matthews said...

Very interested in this as Roaccutane was something the doctors suggested for my daughter who'd been bullied over her acne and was struggling with self esteem. It was pure luck she didn't get it in the end. The hospital were convinced because she was a student she'd get pregnant while on the tablets and since she wasn't on the pill they wouldn't prescribe until she was. We were so humiliated by the way they treated her we transferred to a different hospital who had a completely different approach: don't do it! They were convincing and she didn't go that route in the end. But it is a reminder that the so-called professionals cannot agree, are not consistent, and are not always up to date themselves.

The thing is, my daughter was already feeling very low, hating herself for how she looked and covering up obssessively. That must be the case for most serious acne sufferers. So do they then need to be on medication that tips them that one step further over the edge into full-blown, incapacitating depression?

I thank our lucky stars that the rudeness of the first hospital tipped us over - into the hands of a hospital that knew what it was doing.

Doug Bremner said...

Anita-Clare that drug is called Chantix in the US and yes it can cause serious psychiatric side effects and your doctor is right to be concerned
Viv - those side effects with antibiotics are not rare - I hear about them all the time - although the med community has t caught up with it yet
And for the final commenter I am glad your daughter is doing well - better to suffer short term non scarring acne than long term problems

Anonymous said...

I love these back scratching posts....lol

Eat eggs, don't eat eggs, eat eggs, don't eat eggs,eat eggs, don't eat eggs, eat eggs, don't eat eggs,eat eggs, don't eat eggs, eat eggs, don't eat eggs,eat eggs, don't eat eggs, eat eggs, don't eat eggs, I'm still here; eat eggs, don't eat eggs, eat eggs, don't eat eggs.......lol
The world is full of experts and no one is listening to their own hearts anymore....Ha!

Anonymous said...

I say.....Do what makes you feel good and stop thinking about dying being a form of punishment.....lol xx

Anonymous said...

I think that word verification words are carried out by Stroke victim employees of Google....lol

Anonymous said...

After reading this post and looking at the expert advice here I'm going to seriously alter my drug use.

From now on I'm going to stop taking acid, coke, and marryifuwanna all at the same time and double up my dose of Viagra....It'll be hard and will probably stay hard for ages, but it'll be worth it on the whole.....lol

Exmoorjane said...

A-C - synchronicity, huh? Hope it helped formulate the right questions.

Viv - mings indeed. :( That is one scary story.

Jane - yup...severe acne can put a nail in an adolescent's tender self-esteem - so yes, they're very vulnerable. So glad she's okay.

Exmoorjane said...

Doug - thanks again for answering my questions and for responding to comments. :)

Jobo - make an omm-let and go for a nice long walk... :) Did I spell that right? Nah, but never mind. lol.

Anonymous said...

I've had my walk and I substituted the omm let for a pie...So what? Ha!xxx

Anonymous said...

The doctors in my surgery are great. As it is now a training centre, they change by the week almost so we have newbies all the time. They are great because they cure everything with paracetamol....lol

Anonymous said...

Well, apart from liver problems that is.....

Exmoorjane said...

Satispie-ing?

New docs can be fab. My son's Lyme disease only picked up (I swear) cos we saw a very young locum.

Exmoorjane said...

Liver flush and detox! Olive oil, lemon juice, garlic...yum. :) Just seriously bad breath!

Anonymous said...

Yeh, well some of the younger medics are quite familiar with fruit based problems I hear....

Anonymous said...

I use only lemon juice and olive oil to keep my kidneys stone free as well as eating apples and drinking cider when I feel like it. I also notice that when I feel a little twinge in the kidney area I always feel like eating pickles,(vinegar) which I do.

I think in general, we know exactly what we need to stay well, but many put their trust too much in so called experts, who always have to justify their so called expert positions.....

Exmoorjane said...

Cider vinegar good too... Yeah, I hear you - trouble is that very few of us listen to our bodies and what they want or need. But try telling that to the McDonalds' generations. You might wanna go a bit steady on those pies, btw... :)

Anonymous said...

It's amazing how The Internet has actually made people more ill. I mean, you can search for the answer to a minor ailment and go from having a slight headache to terminal cancer in a few clicks....lol

Anonymous said...

I always keep the balance, never fear.

My lard sandwiches are always followed by a diet coke.....

Anonymous said...

Anita-Clare...you might want to ask your doc why you repeat yourself as well.....lol

Exmoorjane said...

Aspartame sandwich? Yum.
And it's repetitive post syndrome, doh. Go stuff another pie in it! lol

Isobel Morrell said...

My disabled husband is kept alive by taking 29 pills (not all different, but some the same, but in different quantities) each day. We always question what any new medication is supposed to do, possible side-effects and if there could be a damaging effect on those that have been proved over the 20-odd years he's been disabled. Very interesting, and necessary, interview and article. Thanks!

Ashen said...

... sunlight is the best disinfectant ...

I like that. And it's apt in relation to Doug Bremner's rare book.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

... sunlight is the best disinfectant ...

..................
But what about vampires and those with photosensitivity?

Exmoorjane said...

Comment deleted? What was that you were saying about people repeating themselves, Jobo? lol... xx

Anonymous said...

That was called editing for spelling and grammar. I suppose I could've left the originals really.. ha! Damned if you do and damned if you don't eh? lol xx

Anonymous said...

Actually, maybe it would be a good idea to leave up originals to see the errors. Hey Jane...you could try that in your real life writing job. Granted, your articles might be a tad longer, but at least people would see that you are human.....lol xx

Exmoorjane said...

Looked fine on the email alert but hey...maybe I overlooked a full stop. :)

I don't edit blog posts that much...they're pretty much off the top of my head... In my real job I'd get sacked for errors (except, hey...I already did!)... :D

Anonymous said...

Hey, who would know anyway, eh?
Administrators can totally clear the decks whenever they want. lol xx