torsdag 5 juli 2012

Methadone kills lots of people, Dextropropoxyphene kills even more


Dear Sirs,
It was very interesting to see some new data about the consequences of using the drug Methadone as a painkiller (Methadone is a synthetic opioid that is close to Propoxyophene – in Europe and the rest of the world called Dextropropoxyphene. DXP)
The astonishing data was that Methadone was two percent of the prescriptions  for opioid painkillers in US 2009, but the drug caused around 5 000 fatalities this year - a third of all fatalities due to overdose.  It also is said in the article the this year Methadone was prescribed  in 4 millions times for pain. During the years 2003 – 2010 Propoxyphene was prescribed 165 366 000 times, an average of 20 663 000 prescription a year.


According to INCB (The International Narcotic Controol Board) in Vienna the consumption of Methadone in year 2009 was 15 324 kg, and the consumption of Dextropropoxyphene the same years was 76 033kg.


We can also note that the average consumption of Methadone during the years 1995-2010 (16 years) was 9 456 kg/year and the consumption of Dextropropoxyphene  during the same 16 years was 90 010 kg/year.  


I am sure you are aware of the fact the Propoxyphene – in US mostly is known as Darvon and Darvocet) - was banned in US November 2010.
We – my wife and me – Drs Birgitta and Ulf Jonasson in Sweden – have studied the painkilling substance Propoxyphene since 1994 and we have written seven scientific articles about the substance. We also wrote and defended two doctorial dissertations (2000 and 2001). Our data was from the years 1992-1999 – eight years
A report written by us “Restrictions on the prescribing of dextropropoxyphene (DXP) – effects on sales and cases of fatal poisoning”. (2000 - 2002. Three years. A total of 11 years of fatal poisoning due to DXP.
The report was written on behalf of National Board of Forensic Medicine (Rättsmedicinalverket)  and  Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket )in co-operation with National Social Insurance Board) Riksförsäkringsverket )and (Swedish Poisons Information Centre). Giftinformationscentralen
As a matter of fact our reserach started the whole process to ban Propoxyphene.
As you also know is that there will be hundred of trials involving thousands of people during some years. The federal trials will mostly be in Kentucky.  http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=Xanodyne+Pharmaceuticals%2C+Inc
Two of the many  pharmaceutical companies that are sued are Xanodyne inc and Eli Lilly.
I am in contact with a couple of lawyers group and look forward to inform them about the long history - and wide knowledge - of the painkiller dextropropoxyphene, that was around from 1957 to 2010.

If you are interested I will inform you about the number of fatalities during these years (1957 – 2010). As a matter of fact no other drug – to our knowledge - has caused so many fatalities as Dextropropoxyphene has done.
Honestly, you will not find any persons that have written so much about Dextropropoxyphene during the last 18 years as we have.
Look forward hearing from you
Kind regards
Ulf and Birgitta Jonasson
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Ulf Jonasson
Doctor in Public Health (DrPH) and Journalist
Lövdalsvägen 5, SE-640 20 Björkvik, Sweden
Phone:+46(0)155 714 55 Cellphone:+46(0)730 23 26 00
http://ulfjonasson.nforced..com/
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