Eli Lilly’s Zyprexa: 20 million more reasons to Just Say “Know” to prescription drugs.
New York, NY (PRWeb) February 23, 2007 -- Today the Just Say “Know” to Prescription Drugs Campaign, aimed at getting one million people to stop and reevaluate the medications they are taking, contacted its supporters worldwide requesting their activism in the case case pending between Eli Lilly and Jim Gottstein, one of the early supporters of the Just Say “Know” to Prescription Drugs initiative.
The action filed by Eli Lilly against Gottstein, MDL 1596 in US District Court, New York, secured an injunction against Gottstein for securing court sealed documents detailing the side effects of Zyprexa and passing them on to the New York Times. According to The New York Times story, 'Disparity Emerges in Lilly Data on Schizophrenia Drug,' published on December 21, 2006, Eli Lilly documents show that the company intentionally downplayed the drug's side effects. These side effects include weight gain and high blood sugar, which the Times reported are important risk factors for diabetes.
The campaign is focusing on the fact that -- while it is unknown what Zyprexa actually does to those on the prescription -- more than 20 million people have taken this drug, potentially exposing themselves to dramatic weight increases, diabetes and other life-threatening medical conditions, according to the Times article.
The Just Say “Know” Campaign is asking its members to link to a series of radio interviews the campaign is producing about Zyprexa to underscore the need to know more about this and other prescription drugs.
“If there is a case that dramatically highlights the need to stop blindly taking prescriptions drugs, this is it,” said Dr. Greg Tefft, co-founder of the Just Say “Know” to Prescription Drugs Campaign. “We’re talking 20 million people potentially at risk and more being added daily,” said Tefft.
Instead of focusing on the actions of Eli Lilly, the FDA or the judge that suppressed the documents, the campaign is keeping with its strategy of shifting the focus to what consumers can do to protect themselves. “We are going directly to consumers and encouraging them to know what they are taking. We are convinced that the way to solve this problem is to work the demand side of the market,” said Tefft.
The Zyprexa radio series hosted by Dr. Dominick Riccio and Dr. Laurence Simon will focus on the critical but missing information that consumers need to know about this drug. “There are some critical questions that 20 million people failed to ask about Zyprexa. We’re going to ask and hopefully answer as many of them as possible,” said Dr. Dominick Riccio, Chairman of the Just Say “Know” to Prescription Drugs Campaign and co-host of the series.
Campaign supporters will be able to start making the series available on their web sites and blogs starting next week. Campaign members have also started a legal defense fund for Jim Gottstein. Fifteen thousand dollars has already been raised.
The Just Say “Know” to Prescription Drugs Campaign has attracted support from a broad cross section of people, including influential professionals, medical doctors, pharmacists, psychiatrists, psychologists, lawyers, actors, filmmakers, producers and concerned citizens from 121 countries around the world. The official web site for the campaign was launched in January to support year round activism working up to Just Say “Know” to Prescription Drugs Month in October.
Organizations and individuals who want to participate in the campaign may go to http://justsayknow.kpncradio.com
Primary funding for the campaign is provided by Dr. Greg Tefft, who is also providing hosting for the site at www.KPNCradio.com. For more information contact Errol Smith, Media Relations, Jackstreet Media at 818-334-4322.
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