The Darker Side of Pharmaceuticals

{EAV_BLOG_VER:f5bb118716b7b1c2} This post was inspired by Truthman’s open letter to Andrew Witty (CEO of  GlaxoSmithKline)…

Truthman wrote, “An Open Letter To The CEO of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Company“.

Truthman asks, “Can ethics exist when profits are the dominant principle“?

Seroxat is one of the world’s biggest selling and [we are told] most successful anti-depressants.

But this Panorama investigation discovers the drug may have a darker side – the programme reports that people can get hooked on it, suffering serious withdrawal symptoms when they try to come off it.

For some it can lead to self harm and even suicide. But little warning of these possible side effects accompanies the drug.

These are accusations that the drug’s maker GlaxoSmithKline denies.

The programme follows one Seroxat user and charts her nine month struggle to wean herself off it.

Panorama also spoke to Dr David Healy, an expert on the drug who has had access to confidential Seroxat studies in the GlaxoSmithKline archives.

Thanks to the Panorama Team:

Production team:
Reporter: Shelley Jofre
Producer: Ed Harriman
Director Gerry Troyna
Assistant Producer: Sarah O’Connell
Assistant Producer: Calum Walker
Editor: Mike Robinson