Prozac – Drugs in your Mailbox

By Michael Dorausch, D.C.

Dog food, breath mints, shampoo and gum. We have all received unexpected freebies in the mail, but prescription drugs?

A lawsuit has been filed in Florida after drug pushers (what would you call them?) began sending samples of Prozac in the mail to unsuspecting folks. It is still not clear how many people were sent the unsolicited drugs but the situation came to light when very concerned recipient filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against her doctors, her pharmacy and Prozac maker Eli Lilly & Co.

According to news reports, this is the first time a powerful prescription drug sample has been sent via direct mailings. Some medical experts warned that unsolicited drug mailings are dangerous and may be illegal. You think?! Who checks the mail in your household, is it ever your kids?

Apparently the sender was a Walgreens pharmacy that had “coupons” from the drug manufacturer for reimbursement. Some news sources are reporting that the case may likely be a violation of Floridas Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. It is suspected that medical doctors acted as shills for the pharmaceutical companies and that patient trust and confidence was violated.

An article from the Washington Post has more details, that will be the first link available below.

I find it interesting that while at the same time druggists are pushing Prozac by mail (for FREE) news is coming out that suggests antidepressants work only slightly better than placebos. According to news in USA Today, more than half of 47 studies conducted found that patients on antidepressants improved no more than those on placebos. “They should have told the American public about this. The drugs have been touted as much more effective than they are.” – University of Connecticut psychologist Irving Kirsch

Here are some source links for more info, get them and save them for offline viewing as news links often go bad after a week or two.

Washington Post: Lawsuit After Prozac Arrives in Mail
Nando Times: Florida subpoenas drug companies, doctors over mailed Prozac
Forbes: Free sample mailing leaves druggists steamed
CNN: Mailed Prozac samples cause stir