FOI ? to MHRA - is Venlafaxine an SSRI etc etc

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uksurvivors/message/45545


Mr S Gregor, Director, Communications Division
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane
London SW8 5NQ


Dear Simon Gregor

I attach pdf file
HALTING SSRIs DAVID HEALY MD FRCPsych
dated 20 06 2009
which I have obtained from Bob Fiddaman's open internet source thus -

http://fiddaman.blogspot.com/ -
who has specifically hosted it @
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/5/6/1899375/Healy_Withdrawal_june_09.pdf

Quoting your new best friend PPES consultee Mr Fiddaman -

"I'm pleased to announce that David has now met with them and laid a new, revised withdrawal protocol on the table."

I note that the Healy paper was presented to you very recently at a date/venue not stated by Mr Fiddaman.
However I would like to draw your attention to page 1 & the text thereon -



Please advise me under the FOI or other working arrangements PPE i.e. patient public engagement

(a) Is the paper as presented above (i.e. hosted by PPES consultee Mr Bob Fiddaman an accurate representation of the paper that Dr Healy presented to the MHRA - if not where not?

(b) can you please confirm that Dr Healy stated upon his document that - "Venlafaxine in doses up to 150mg is an SSRI. Over 150 mg it also inhibits noradrenaline reuptake."

(c) Concerning the mode of action of Venlafaxine (Efexor/Effexor) can the MHRA please confirm in their opinion does Venlafaxine act as an SSRI in doses up to 150 mgs (some sources say it's an SSRI up to 225 mgs) ?

(d) If in the opinion of the MHRA that Venlafaxine is not an SSRI at any dose whatsoever will the MHRA reject or otherwise ask Dr Healy to modify the document entitled
HALTING SSRIs DAVID HEALY MD FRCPsych
dated 20 06 2009?

(e) I note your consultee Mr Fiddaman has gone on public record stating that at all times Venlafaxine is an SNRI. Whilst I accept that the MHRA is not directly responsible for Mr Fiddaman's public statements, could you kindly advise me if Mr Fiddaman is correct & that he knows better than Dr Healy who he asked you to invite to meet on the subject of antidepressant withdrawal?


Regards

Jeremy Bryce
(address redacted)