Ask Congress to protect us from dangerous drugs

By Meshawn Ayala, Iowa PIRG Citizen Outreach Director

Our nation's drugs safety program is broken.  In recent years the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been too cozy with the powerful prescription drug industry and approved dangerous and deadly medicines such as Vioxx, Paxil and Ketek.  Vioxx is linked to heart disease, Paxil to suicide in children and Ketek to liver failure.

The good news is the Senate is considering drug safety legislation this week that will protect consumers from dangerous drugs like Vioxx and inform doctors of drug safety concerns.

Tell the bill's sponsors, Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo), that you support the bipartisan "Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act" (S. 1082), and that they should oppose any amendments that will weaken the bill.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your browser:
https://www.uspirg.org/action/health-care/petition?id4=ES

Then, ask your friends and family to help too by forwarding this e-mail to them.

Background

When Merck, the makers of Vioxx, first learned that their drug could cause serious health problems including heart attack and stroke, they could have told doctors and their patients. They didn't.

When GlaxoSmithKline, makers of the antidepressant Paxil, learned that it was linked to an increased risk of suicidal behavior in children, they could have sounded the alarm. They didn't.

These companies had the opportunity to do the right thing by giving doctors and patients the information they needed to make safe and informed medical decisions. They consciously chose not to tell the public the whole truth.

The problem is clear and there is bi-partisan agreement in Washington that something needs to be done. The pharmaceutical industry can't, and has proven that it won't, police itself. Lawmakers must reform the Food and Drug Administration so that it focuses on its original mission of ensuring that our medicines are safe.

The good news is that bi-partisan legislation, the "Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act" (S. 1082) will reduce the number of consumers who die or suffer from adverse side effects cause by unsafe prescription drugs.

Tell the bill's sponsors, Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo), that you support the bipartisan "Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act" (S. 1082), and that they should oppose any amendments that will weaken the bill.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your browser:
https://www.uspirg.org/action/health-care/petition?id4=ES

Then, ask your friends and family to help too by forwarding this e-mail to them.

Sincerely,
Meshawn Ayala
Iowa PIRG Citizen Outreach Director
MeshawnA@iowapirg.org
http://www.IowaPIRG.org