FDA Biased Against Alternative Medicine and Herbs: Avandia Update

There is overwhelming evidence that the FDA uses a double standard when making decisions about herbal medicines. The FDA has the right to take prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbs and supplements off the market for safety reasons. They have had that right all along. So lets look at the evidence for my statement that the FDA is biased against herbs and supplements:

Examples Of Herb and Supplements Recalled by The FDA:

Ephedra: Probably the most well known herb taken off the market. The FDA received 16,500 complaints and it caused 155 deaths. I will note that many of those complaints and deaths were caused by consumers abusing the drug for weight loss. Since consumers used no sense in many cases taking the drug, then there was a need to take it off the shelves. Consumers did not use it correctly. I would imagine with all the drugs people are prescribed from their doctor, that the mix could cause some severe side effects as reported. So 16,500 complaints and 155 deaths.

Tryptophan: This well known amino acid supplement was recalled by the FDA. In 1989, Tryptophan was blamed for 30 deaths due to the development of Eosinophilia-Myalgia syndrome. They took it off the market for a year at least. The investigation led to the conclusion that the deaths were due to a contaminant found in one batch of the product sold by one manufacturer. It was not the amino acid but contaminated product that caused the deaths. That is why it is now available again....so chalk up 30 deaths due to contaminated product and it was immediately removed from the shelves.

Examples of Drugs and OTC Products:

Avandia: A recent report was published by the US Senate on Avandia. The Finance Committee recently capped a 2 year investigation into the drug and its dangerous side effects. The report states that Avandia caused 83,000 heart attacks between 1999 and 2007. That is 10,000 plus heart attacks every year it has been on the market. This is not even the reported deaths from the drug. Yet despite many outcries from different groups, it is still being prescribed.

Aspirin: About 7,600 deaths from Aspirin in just the year 2006. There have been 16,500 deaths annually in the US from Aspirin and other NDAID drugs causing complications related to GI bleeding. With that many deaths and GI Bleeding complaints should Aspirin be available to anyone over the counter? If the same rules were applied to Aspirin as Ephedra, then it would be recalled and taken off the shelves.

Tussionex Cough Syrup: Drug regulators site that OTC cough syrup is responsible for many adverse effects and deaths. The syrup contains hydrocodone, a strong narcotic. They give it a high risk for overdose and abuse.

Cold and Cough Medicines: About 1,500 babies and toddlers wound up in emergency rooms between 2005 and 2007 from bad reactions to cold medicines. Those are only the stats for 2 years. This fact comes from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007. Between 1969 and 2006 there have been 54 children's deaths from decongestants and 69 children's deaths from antihistamines in that same period. Most deaths occurred in children under 2 years of age. Earlier many of these deaths were reports as SID deaths until parents began demanding more autopsies and answers.

Why are the above products still on the shelves? Why are dangerous prescription drugs still being sold? They have had more adverse reactions and deaths than Ephedra and Tryptophan. There is a serious double standard applied to herbs and supplements and it is glaring to those of us in alternative medicine.

Let Me Recap The FDA's Treatment On Herbs, Supplements, and Drugs:

Prescription drugs continue to be prescribed despite thousands of deadly adverse reactions and deaths.

Over the counter cough syrups, NSAID drugs, and aspirin remain on the shelves with thousands of adverse reactions and deaths.

Herbs and supplements are removed at times with little explanation, even without reports of death or adverse reactions. If there are complaints, they are removed quickly, considered guilty until proven otherwise. An example of this is the removal of Tryptophan.

I could give you countless more examples of dangerous drugs being prescribed by the millions. I have written several articles of the subject. This points out how biased the FDA is toward alternative medicine and has been for years. This needs to end.

Write your representatives and demand equal treatment for drugs and herbs. Write the FDA to demand they remove dangerous drugs from being sold. Demand the FDA clean up its act and really protect consumers. Tell them to end their close relationship with the drug companies. Let them know you are tired of their biased tactics. You can do something as an individual and your voice does count, so use it.

References:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=103

http://www.webmd.com/diet/tc/ephedra-topic-overview

www.usgyms.net/ephedra.htm

http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30

http://www.wddty.com/death-by-aspirin.html

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/health/March-April-08/FDA-Issues-More-Cough-Syrup-Warnings.html

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/17/cough.syrup.deaths/