Calling Mom Too Stressful? Ad Suggests Taking Seroquel.

by Heidi Stevenson

23 March 2010

Seroquel, a schizophrenia drug with 10,339 lawsuits against it and under serious questioning from many sources, is being advertised with the implication that it's the thing to take if you're stressed out about calling your mother. Oh yes—the more stressful calling her is, the more you should take.

Just in case you don't really believe it, then click here to see the Seroquel ad.

AstraZeneca, Seroquel's maker, is fighting at least 10,339 individual lawsuits for claims of the drug's adverse effects, including diabetes, pancreatitis, tardive dyskinesia, and death. A more complete list, from Medscape, includes:

Most Frequent: Constipation, Dizziness, Drowsy, Dyspepsia, Insomnia, Nasal Congestion, Orthostatic Hypotension, Weight Gain, Xerostomia
Less Frequent: Abdominal Pain with Cramps, Akathisia, Anorexia, Chills, Dysarthria, Dysphagia, Dyspnea, Fever, General Weakness, Headache Disorder, Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperhidrosis, Hypertonia, Hypertriglyceridemia, Leukopenia, Myalgia, Palpitations, Parkinsonism, Peripheral Edema, Pharyngitis, Rhinitis, Skin Rash, Suicidal Ideation, Tachyarrhythmia, Tremors, Visual Changes
Rare: Acquired Dystonia, Agranulocytosis, Anaphylaxis, Cardiomyopathy, Cataracts, Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Mellitus Ketoacidosis, Galactorrhea not associated with Childbirth, Hyperglycemia, Hypotension, Hypothyroidism, Menstrual Disorder, Myocarditis, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Neutropenic Disorder, Pancreatitis, Prolonged QT Interval, Seizure Disorder, SIADH Syndrome, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Tardive Dyskinesia, Thrombocytopenic Disorder

Yet, AstraZeneca has opted to push Seroquel in a manner that implies that: It's no big deal. Go ahead, use it if you're feeling a bit upset. What could possibly happen?

Obviously, far too much. What else is there to say? AstraZeneca and the rest of Big Pharma have little or no concern for the welfare of people who take their drugs. What matters to them is selling as much as they can to as many people as possible at as high a price as they can extort.

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