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Neurontin fails bipolar med review
Review the research on epilepsy meds, and what do you find? Neurontin (gabapentin), is no better than placebo for bipolar disorder, according to the Prescribing for Better Outcomes center at the University of North Carolina.
A bunch of "very poor quality articles," however, seemed to support a positive effect--and those articles were cited and re-cited in the scientific literature, creating an "echo chamber effect." Hearing it over and over, doctors were led to believe that Neurontin worked for bipolar patients, and prescribed it to lots and lots of them.
Ironically, the epilepsy-med review came courtesy of the 2004 Neurontin marketing settlement, under which Pfizer paid $430 million to settle off-label allegations. Some 94 percent of the drug's sales in 2002 were off-label, the government said at the time.
- see the item in the WSJ Health Blog
- check out one of the center's new papers from their drug review
Related Articles:
Pfizer might be liable for generic Neurontin. Pfizer report
Court: Pfizer can defend Neurontin patent. Report
Comments (2) | Post a comment
Comments
By Doris Day Curry | Posted 10:03pm | October 13, 2008
Neurontin has helped me in many ways! I was exposed to a very bad chemical at previous job. Neurontin has helped my nervous system, fibromyalgia and a few other things that I have! I would not be able to walk or do normal things around the house without it!
By Anonymous | Posted 12:04pm | November 18, 2008
I have been prescribed Neurontin for my Bipolar Disorder and for me, it has worked. Everyone's physiology is different, especially when it comes to the brain. The only complaint that I have is that I have to take it 3 times a day. Other than that, it has controlled my dysphoric manic symptoms and prevented relapse.
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