Newsletter

Although physicians and other clinicians with prescribing authority have always been able to prescribe drugs for any condition which they think may be helped by that specific drug, pharmaceutical companies have been prohibited from promoting drugs for unapproved uses. Only uses which have been approved by the FDA are listed on the label and unapproved uses are commonly called "off label". Even though the ability to advertise their drugs for additional uses should be enough of an incentive for drug companies to seek additional approval, many companies don't.

Just last month, mainstream press reported that the FDA appears to have bowed to drug company pressure and excluded scientists known to be critical of Redux from a public meeting which led to the drug's approval. Kathleen Kerr, writing in Newsday, reported that Intemeuron Pharmaceuticals sent the FDA dossiers criticizing scientists whose testimony played an important role in an earlier meeting at which Redux was turned down.

Q: I'm thinking about getting Norplant or Depo-Provera. What questions should I ask my doctor?
A: The decision to begin taking a longacting contraceptive such as Norplant or Depo-Provera is one that should be considered carefully. It is important that you have access to accurate and unbiased information.

Q: Are all women at risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures after menopause? What can be done to help change these risk factors besides hormone replacement therapy? For example, can natural preuentative measures decrease the risks?

Women enrolled in HMOs were more likely to have breast conserving surgery for breast cancer than women whose care was paid for by traditional fee-for-service insurance. The study was conducted in Seattle and the Bay Area and included over 13,000 women with breast cancer, all of whom were 65 years or older.

by Cindy Pearson
In a dramatic press conference on April 6, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced that it was stopping the tamoxifen prevention trial more than a year early. NCI  revealed that women on tamoxifen were 45% less likely to develop breast cancer over a four year period than were similar women given a look-alike pill (placebo). These results were presented to the public with great fanfare and described by Dr. Richard Klausner, the head of the NCI, as "remarkable."

The Breast Cancer Prevention Program
Samuel Epstein, MD and David Steinman. $24.95. 416 pages. Great title and great premise a comprehensive guide to both personal prevention and political activism. Unfortunately, the guide suffers from editing errors and selective reporting. Take advantage of chapters on topics as diverse as ERT, workplace hazards, diet, tamoxifen, and breast implants but doublecheck the references.

Physician Assistants and Women's Health

by Lisa Cox

Do douching products make women more susceptible to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and cervical cancer? The Network thinks so and now a recent review of 30 years of scientific study on the risks of douching adds even further credence to our concerns.

Just as we went to press, the Network learned that the FDA has ruled favorably on our terbutaline pump petition. The FDA agreed with our assessment of the science and has said explicitly that the terbutaline pump is potentially dangerous and has not been shown to work. The FDA is sending letters to practitioners, home health care companies and insurers alerting them to the status of the terbutaline pump. The FDA is also investigating the promotional activities of companies which provide terbutaline pumps.