FOI request to MHRA re - meetings with Seroxat User Group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uksurvivors/message/43466

Freedom of Information
MHRA




Dear Sir/Madam



I refer to article - "Seroxat probe sparks web hits" published 07 Feb 2007 by the Hunts Post available online here - http://www.huntspost.co.UK/content/hunts/news/story.aspx?brand=HPTOnline&category=News&tBrand=cambs24&tCategory=NewsHPT&itemid=WEED07%20Feb%202007%2011%3A20%3A56%3A610

Also available (google cache archive) - http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:qvnr9g_f2oEJ:www.huntspost.co.UK/content/hunts/news/story.aspx%3Fbrand%3DHPTOnline%26category%3DNews%26tBrand%3Dcambs24%26tCategory%3DNewsHPT%26itemid%3DWEED07%2520Feb%25202007%252011%253A20%253A56%253A610+seroxat+probe+sparks+web+hits&hl=en&strip=1


I draw your attention to paragraph therein- " The 57-year-old grandmother set up her group after her second husband John Having was told by doctors he was addicted to anti-depressants and would have to take them for life as the withdrawal symptoms are so severe. John, 56, a lorry driver, took Seroxat for 10 years and has been on another anti-depressant, Lustral for the past six years."


It is clear from the bold (highlighted red) text above that Mr John Simmons, husband of Mrs Janice Simmons coordinator of the Seroxat User Group has been Seroxat free for some considerable time. Not only that, Mr Simmons was a patient who consumed the prescription antidepressant drug Lustral (sertraline) for at least the last six years (at the time of print)

FOI questions -

(a) during face to face meetings SUG with Professor Kent Woods (CEO the MHRA) was he (Kent Woods) aware that Mr John Simmons was, at the time (of the meeting) & for a considerable period actually taking Pfizer's Lustral(sertraline/Zoloft) ?

(b) is/was any other member of the general body of the staff at the MHRA aware that Mr Simmons (who has appeared many times in the media) see for example - http://news.BBC.co.UK/1/hi/health/2041430.stm
Actually a patient on Lustral & not as the general body of the public was misled by the media to believe a patient addicted only to Seroxat

(c) since Mr Simmons was told by his doctors that he was "addicted to anti-depressants and would have to take them for life" - what discussions if any took place at the meeting about Lustral/sertraline ?

(d) what actions if any took place after the meeting to deal with the wider issue of antidepressant addiction (including SSRI/SNRI drugs other than Seroxat)

(e) what plans has the MHRA to meet with persons/activists with interests in the other major brands

(f) Mrs Simmons had a subsequent meeting with Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street - did the MHRA brief Downing Street before this meeting took place. Was No 10 made aware that Mr Simmons was taking Lustral, having succeeded in withdrawing from Seroxat?




Regards

Jeremy Bryce
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N Ireland

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