In their own words... The Lies Purdue Pharma Used to Launch OxyContin

Top Purdue Pharma execs openly lied about Oxycontin being non-lethal when they knew it was deadly.

Image courtesy: Ebay

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - I recently acquired a copy of the OxyContin Product Data Brochure dated 1996 which Purdue Pharma distributed at the launch of their deadly drug (also referred to by them as Oxycodone as well as OxyContin).  I have bolded key remarks made by Purdue Pharma in their Product Data Brochure and below each remark, I have added information that has surfaced since 1996.  If anyone wonders why we have a prescription drug epidemic killing and addicting hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and Canada, keep reading.  War crimes in the war on drugs in the U.S?  You decide.

For patients with moderate to severe pain requiring opioid therapy for more than a few days.

More than a few days?  Even though there were no conclusive scientific studies conducted for long range use of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma pushed long-term prescription of their lethal drug through its funded pain foundations, as well as physician spokespersons who traveled the country and wrote books marketing for the "undertreatment of pain" as the Holocaust of deaths and addictions was growing.

The most serious risk associated with opioids including OxyContin, is respiratory depression.

Purdue Pharma is almost making a true statement here, but it is out of their realm of having a conscience to be honest with prescribing physicians and patients.  The most serious risk associated with OxyContin is death and addiction -- horrendous addiction.  As an example, a 400% increase in deaths and addictions due to opioids since the launch of OxyContin has been documented in all 50 states.

Common opioid side effects are constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, pruritus, headache, dry mouth, sweating, and weakness.

How about the words "death" and "addiction"?  Not a mention -- but constipation is first on Purdue Pharma's list as a "side effect" when they launched OxyContin.  Is there a wonder they are under U.S. Senate investigation for the epidemic of OxyContin destroying families throughout the U.S. every day?  And one more thing -- where was the FDA while this fradulent marketing was being conducted by Purdue Pharma?

OxyContin tablets can help cut costs in the institutional setting by reducing the nursing time demanded by more frequently administered controlled substances.

This remark by Purdue Pharma I find particularly offensive as a nurse.  How in the world did the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) allow them to publish such a blantant lie in the OxyContin Product Data Brochure?  Oh maybe I lost my thought process, a $13 billion pharmaceutical company being accountable to the FDA?  Hasn't happened to this point, but hopefully in the near future there will be accountability.

...oxycodone is a potent analgesic, which, by itself, is useful as part of the overall treatment regimen for prolonged treatment of moderate to severe pain syndromes.

Where are the long range scientific studies that indicate OxyContin is "safe" for prolonged treatment of moderate to severe pain?  I'll make it easy for Purdue Pharma to respond.  There are no long range scientific studies -- they know it and I know it.

OxyContin tablets were effective regardless of patients' gender, age, and race, when used according to approved treatment guidelines.

Regardless of age?  Even published in 1996, this is a criminal statement to make by any pharmaceutical company about an opioid.  I reiterate -- where was the FDA when this Product Data Brochure was distributed to physicians throughout the U.S.?  Recently Purdue Pharma announced clinical trials on children to be administered OxyContin.  Think it can't happen?  It will because the FDA has given Purdue Pharma a "Do Not Go To Jail" card by extending their patent on OxyContin for six months if they conduct clinical studies on their synthetic Heroin pill called OxyContin to children ages 6 to 16.

The number of reported adverse events decreased over time, while pain control was maintained.

Adverse events decreased over time?  This statement alone is a crime against humanity.  Again, where was the FDA?

Compliance with OxyContin therapy has been excellent.

Really?  Is this what resulted in Purdue Pharma becoming a $13 billion pharmaceutical company -- you know by having no conscience and no regard for human life?

No evidence of respiratory depression was observed in the clinical studies.

Were the clinical studies conducted when Purdue Pharma had its medical director at Purdue Pharma prescribing opioids to employees?

The overall incidence of typical adverse experiences, except constipation, decreased with continued therapy, even in the face of increasing total daily oxycodone doses.

The only response to this statement made by Purdue Pharma would be -- why are you still making billions of dollars and in business as drug war criminals?

The most frequent side effects (>5%) include constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, pruritus, headache, dry mouth, sweating and asthenia. (Asthenia is a lack of strength).

OxyContin tablets can be used safely and effectively as maintenance therapy during chronic analgesic management.

Care to respond to this FDA?  I am sure there are hundreds of thousands of families in the U.S. and Canada who wonder how you sat back and allowed this pharmaceutical company to unleash this lethal drug while you told me -- "We don't have enough people to police Purdue Pharma."

Delayed absorption, as provided by OxyContin tablets, is believed to reduce the attraction of a drug for abuse.

Really? That too is interesting, but yet another lie by Purdue Pharma.  The U.S. and Canada are drowning in the death, addiction and abuse of OxyContin.  But maybe Purdue Pharma should ask the following paid spokespersons and pain foundations why they are under U.S. Senate investigation for putting your $13 billion drug cartel ahead of the value of a human life:
 
American Geriatric Society
American Pain Foundation (closed their foundation the day after the Senate announced their investigation)
American Pain Society
American Academy of Pain Medicine
Federation of State Medical Boards
University of Wiconsin Pain & Policy Study Group
Russell Portemoy, MD
Scott M. Fishman, MD
Perry G. Fine, MD
Lynn Webster, MD (also under Drug Enforcement Agency DEA investigation for deaths at his pain clinic)

The book "Responsible Opioid Prescribing - A Physician' Guide" by Scott M. Fishman, MD in collaboration with the Federation of State Medical Boards was distributed to all 50 states as a guide for prescribing opioids for the "undertreatment of pain" in the U.S..

There are other foundations and physicians under Senate investigation that will be written about in future articles.

In the meantime, soap may be in order to wash the blood off the hands of those responsible for the loss of human lives by lies.  You know who you are -- and hopefully others will soon be aware also.

LP - Does it get much better than "your name sounds familiar?" I love you and the encouragement and support we give each other every minute of every day.

Marianne Skolek twitter.com/MarianneSkolek
Investigative Reporter for Salem-News.com on drug epidemic
www.salem-news.com/by_author.php?reporter=Marianne%20Skolek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmPG1VjD61U&list=UUWoHUEr4ZAbQOfIqtOArjgg&index=6&feature=plcp
judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da12c8394&wit_id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da12c8394-2-1
www.vawd.uscourts.gov/PurdueFrederickCo/default.asp
www.oxydeaths.com908-285-1232

Salem-News.com Investigative Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin and Purdue Pharma throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's - Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim - who pleaded guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 8-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.