Dr. David Franklin, a former Warner-Lambert medical liaison, says he had to blow the whistle on what he claims was an elaborate scheme to illegally promote Neurontin for at least 11 “off-label” uses, meaning for uses the Food and Drug Administration has not approved.
‘We were truly experimenting on patients, which put them at risk,’ said Dr. Franklin. ‘I was involved in this, trained and asked to deceive physicians and take advantage of their trust, and I’m embarrassed by that.’
‘When you put profits above patients,’ he added, ‘aberrations like this happen.’
Pfizer, which acquired Warner-Lambert in 2000, is said to be in settlement talks with government prosecutors.
If the allegations are true, than the government may have been swindled out of millions of dollars it spent on Medicaid reimbursements for Neurontin. According to a provision in the False Claims Act (1863), Dr. Franklin and his lawyers would get up to 30% of the government’s recovery, which could be millions of dollars.
Neurontin sales approached $2.3 billion last year, making it a “blockbuster” drug and one of Pfizer’s top selling drugs. “Pfizer said in court papers that more than 78 percent of Neurontin prescriptions in 2000 were written for unapproved uses,” reported the New York Times.
While doctors can legally prescribe drugs for off-label purposes, it’s illegal for a company to market a drug for unapproved uses.
Dr. Franklin says Warner-Lambert executives developed the marketing strategy to increase Neurontin sales for conditions ranging from bipolar disorder, attention deficient disorders to migraines-without evidence that the drug was safe or effective.
(via New York Times)
22 responses so far ↓
Charles H. Brown III // Nov 25, 2003 at 9:37 pm
I have been prescribed neurontin for some time and have had bad adverse reactions to this medication. Could you please advise me of any information on who to contact about the class action lawsuit on the manufactuer of this medication.
Sincerely,
Charles Brown
William C Duck,Jr. // Jan 12, 2004 at 4:17 pm
I posted a comment and forgot to ask .Could you please advise me of any information on who to contact about the class action lawsuit on the manufactuer of this medication.
Sincerely,
William C Duck,Jr.
Theresa Berthel // Apr 28, 2004 at 1:07 pm
I was given neurontin last febuary for supossed migrain in the hospital. They sent me home with a supply of it. When my symtoms worsened they increased the dose. The result was me ending up back in the hospital, with severe headache in the Left back of head, severe difficulty with speech, tremors on right side of face, arm and leg. I have an old stoke site on that same side of my head from childhood. I did not have any of these symtoms prior to the taking of neurontin. I was told by the Nuerologist that these symtoms had nothing to do with the Neurontin. They Dc’d the med and my speech improved by the next day, the tremors slowed also. It took the next 6 months to get my speech back to almost normal. The tremors took a while to slow down with the aid of baclofen and lorazepam. I still get them when very tired. Has anyone else had this kind of reaction? Has anyone had reactions that did not resolve quickly? The doctors told me this was all caused by stress, but I can’t buy it, I wasn’t stressed until this all happened to me. The supposed Migraine was a cloged Tear duct, this took 1 year of being in constant pain to get diagnosed. Please responde I am desperate for information. This last year since given Nuerontin has been hell.
jy // May 16, 2004 at 8:44 am
back in 2000, i was prescribed Neurontin as a mood stabilizer for apparent bipolar disorder. I am taking less than the doc prescribed originally, from 3x day to 2x day. I have had no symptoms of mania and I have truly wondered, for quite some time if the small dose I am taking is really doing anything, ie, is it a placebo effect going on? Every time I ask my doc (a psychiatrist) if this drug is appropriate for my “apparent diagnosis, he says yes and claims it has worked for other patients of his, and that I am still in denial if I am questioning the meds he presribed for me. Where do I turn, for advice and etc?
Mary Bowers // May 18, 2004 at 12:35 pm
Please tell me who to contact about the Class action lawsuit. Is it too late to file?
Keith Durham // Jun 23, 2004 at 5:07 pm
I was prescribed neurontin for alcohol & drug dependency withdrawals in Shreveport, La. in august of 2001… This had bad adverse reactions and I need to know what to do.. There are no neurontin attorneys in texas at this time.. Am i too late for any help for this???
Heather Press // Jul 1, 2004 at 3:00 pm
I just happened across this due to curiosity as to why I need to take the medications I am perscribed. I am diagnosed with adult ADHD and anxiety disorder. Neurontin is one of my med’s. I have been real curious because my husband was perscibed this drug for something totally different which has to do with a severe neck injury. I to am curious about class action law suit. Both my husband and I have been taking this medication for approximately one year to a year and a half.
JOHN SCHOSSLER // Jul 20, 2004 at 1:21 pm
IS NEURONTIN COVERED BY MEDICAID IN FLORIDA?
Alverene Butler // Jul 31, 2004 at 9:52 am
I was prescribed Nuerontin by my doctor and I told him it was constantly making me sick. He stated that it may have been from the side effects but would eventually go away. It didn’t. The headaches became so intolable until I just gradually stopped taking it.
JAN POPPLEWELL // Aug 14, 2004 at 4:29 pm
IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN PLEASE ASSIST ME. I NEED TO FIND A QUALIFIED ATTORNEY TO HELP ME WITH A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST PFEIZER/ NUEROTIN I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS LIKE SWIMMING WITH SHARKS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE ONES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING ARE GOING TO SHOW UP. JAN
Karl Von S. Brown // Sep 3, 2004 at 6:18 pm
prescribed Nuerontin for treatment of myeloma because of pain in my legs. Is this the right use of the drug?
Susan James // Oct 7, 2004 at 5:47 pm
A psychiatrist gave me a prescription for Wellbutrin to treat a “situational depression.” At the same time he gave me a presciption for neurotin, which he said would “counterbalance the sometimes energizing effects of an antidepressant.” Well the Neurotin hit me like a ton of bricks, and I now realize there was absolutely no reason for Neurontin to have been given to me. I would like this physician to account for why he prescribed this medication to me, and find out how many other people he gave it to. Please let me know if there is any class action suit taking place in (Austin) Texas, or if there is a medical board I can file a complaint with. Thanks so much.
Karen Larson // Oct 10, 2004 at 6:17 am
I was perscribed Neurontin for back pain a few years ago. I had side effects of high blood pressure and severe dizziness. I thought this drug was going to kill me. I took myself off. I once was driving a car while taking and nearly drove off a bridge I was so dizzy. I would like to get in on the class action suite also. Thsi drug nearly took my life. Ever since this I have little shocks that run up and down my sides and I’m not sure if it is from this but never had before.
susan smith // Nov 29, 2004 at 12:05 pm
i was prescribed neurontin for scaitic nerve and back pain. And topamax . After 2 years i have become where i have had memory lost and cant remember things. Also to the point i left a pan on the stove and lost my house to due to a house fire thank goodness i had left to run to take something to town but lost everything and my pets.
I also was trying to get off it was as if i was drugged. I was on 600 mg 4 times and couldnt handle it so went down to 300 4 times a day and tompax at nite
I like to know now doing eeg’s and mri to find out if done permanent damaged
is any one having this problem.
I ran into a glass door on my entertain center and cant remember dates, getting better since stopped.
memory still foggy at times.
help any civil actions that u know of
Never had this problems before taking this medicines. so know not on any thing much but simese for legs at nite
write and let me know thank you or any attorneys in nebraska.
laura strelec // Dec 27, 2004 at 4:09 pm
was just given neurontin by a pain specialist less than a month ago for herniated discs. stopped taking them after reading this site. any suggestions as this drug was never fda approved for this diagnosis.
susan smith // Jan 19, 2005 at 5:44 pm
i got my eegs back mri was okay but now the neuro person saying memory loss is due to partial seizures . i never had seizure before, this, but know neurontin cause the short term lost
i know he wanted this mri and eeg order after my house fire? know putting me on keppra i am worried now
is he tring to cover up this. since neurotin is on the fire block. i am still having trouble with anger and memory, any one help me out there or have same problems. am i now to be on seizure medication rest of my life because of this drug neurontin
phyllis e. cook // Apr 10, 2005 at 6:44 pm
My father was the light of my life. He was a very proud and respected father, after taking neurontin for 3 years he became confused, lost interest in his apperances, had horrible mood swing. He committed suicide on April 18,2003. He was my whole life. Thanks to the Park-Davis not telling the truth my father blew his brains out with his service revolver. He was 80 years old. No amount of money can bring my father back or erase the horror of what I relive every day and night. I think the makers of these drugs should be made attend the funerals of the loved ones and see what they have done. I just hope no one else has to go through the pain I have and know it could have been prevented. Please don’t take neurontin or vioxx. My father did for three years and look where he is today.
May god bless all of you
Phyllis Cook
Bea Grayson // Apr 28, 2005 at 9:48 am
I have had insomnia most of my life. My
new HMO doctor gave me an Rx for Neurontin
to help me sleep. He did mention that it had been developed for seizures but it was beeing used to help people sleep. My pharmacist said he had never heard of
that use and that there were a lot of
side effects. What gives? Can this be used for insomnia?
SUE // May 20, 2005 at 10:35 pm
HI EVERYONE I AM BACK- WELL KEPPRA IS DOING SOMETHING TO MY BODY NOW I AM NOT SUE ON TWICE A DAY HAD A HEART STRESS TEST DOWN AND EVER SINCE NO I GET RIGHT HAND TREMORS. NO ONE GIVINGME ANSWERS.FINALLY TODAY DOCTOR ACALLLED AND TOLD ME I COULD STOP TAKING IT. MIGHT BE DRUG RELATED HAD SURGURY ON MNEE. AND KNOW EVERTIM E I HOLD PAPER OR ANY DRINK OR ANYTHING SEEMS SET OFF THE HAND TREMORS. ANDY I DEAL WHAT GOING ON FOR SURE. STILL ON TO MANY THNGS PUT ME ON PROVIGIL AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE THAT ONE SOTPPED IT FOR SURGURY. NO BACK ON KEPPR HAVIG VISION ALSO (COULD IT THE CARBIDOPA I NOT SURE ANY MORE
Paul R Robertson // May 29, 2005 at 2:28 pm
My wife who has MS was prescribed Neurotin April 2004 ,300MG with a progressive dosage and took Neurotin until approx July 2004. She was admitted to Plaza Medical ,Ft Worth Texas approx June 10-15 2004. She spent about three weeks in Plaza Medical with a UT infection and a pressure sore on her right heel. Her right leg bent at the knee she lost use of her hands and lost her ability to speak in a cohesive manner. It has been a strugle of a year since taking Neurotin which was prescribed by a P.A. at UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL in Dallas but my wife who has had MS for about 25 years now cannot do normal functions she was able to do before NEUROTIN , She can’t write,feed herself,comb her hair,brush her teeth, and can barely use her left arm and hand and has terrible tremors.She did not have temors prior to NEUROTIN. She is so much worse since taking 3 months of NEUROTIN.
STEPHEN OSBORNE // Aug 31, 2005 at 3:25 pm
MY MOTHER IS DECEASED ANDIS DUE TO THE SIDE EFFECTS OF NEURONTIN. NEED INFO ONLAW SUIT
karen boyer // Sep 4, 2005 at 9:35 pm
my daughter karen my name is cindy and her dr. perscribed nuerotin I’m not sure for what but she started imagining littke people and lost her vision in one eye severe tremors and other symptoms I can’t remember all but please e-mail me with legal info and she can give you more info. Thank you
You must log in to post a comment.