GSK Australia continue to dupe their public!

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By Robert Fiddaman Dip.Couns MOC & MSFTR (about the author) Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Robert Fiddaman Dip.Couns MOC & MSFTR - Writer

I actually thought it was well known now that the chemical imbalance theory was nothing more than a marketing ploy by Pharma to get their drug onto the shelves... not according to GlaxoSmithKline Australia who use the following on their Aropax product page:

Depression is longer lasting or more severe than the 'low moods' that everyone has from time to time. It is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in parts of the brain. This imbalance affects your whole body and can cause emotional and physical symptoms.

Aropax corrects the chemical imbalance and so helps relieve the symptoms of depression.

You have to really study the language used here, firstly ' It is thought to be caused...' - A clever cover-up by GlaxoSmithKline should things go pear shaped - you can imagine their defence in a courtroom can't you? 'We never claimed, we actually said it was thought'. However they shoot themselves in the foot by stating that their product, 'Aropax, corrects the chemical imbalance' - so from a chemical imbalance being merely a thought we now, later in their description, take it as given that there is a chemical imbalance!

Silly Glaxo

Question is... Why are they still claiming this on the Australian GlaxoSmithKline page?

The UK patient information leaflet (PIL) currently available for download here is even more ridiculous.

'People who are depressed or anxious have lower levels of serotonin than others.'

'It is not fully understood how Seroxat and other SSRIs work but they may help by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain.'

'May help' eh?

Not fully understood how it works? Roll up roll up ladies & gentlemen, I have with me the most amazing invention, there is no secret to how it works but you may or may not suffer with it, as a matter of fact I don't even know how it works but it will probably make you feel better by correcting something in your head that I don't even know exists! £5 anyone?

The creme de la creme on the UK patient information leaflet (PIL) is this wonderful advice from GSK... or is it the MHRA who sanction what is written on the PIL?

It reads:

If you get thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

So let me get this straight, if you are about to kill yourself you have probably been through the motions about who you will leave behind etc - the last thing that comes into the mind of someone who is suicidal is such a rational thought as 'Hey I should go see my doctor'

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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) - The FDA's equivalent in the UK - need a thorough impartial investigation. Their own Chief Executive refuses to budge on his stance that Seroxat (Paxil) is safe.

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