Parkinson Drug Alert: Stalevo is Deadly

Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, death: the risks associated with an unhealthy lifestyle? Yeah, sure — but they’re also risks that were recently linked to Novartis AG’s drug Stalevo — a combination of two treatments used to fight Parkinson’s.  Previous trials of the combo drug hadn’t shown the increased risk — but those trials went on for six or fewer months. And once again, I’m absolutely dumbfounded at how such brief trials are allowed to determine the safety of a drug.How can you be sure about ANYTHING in six months, let alone whether or not it’s okay to start mass-distributing a laboratory concoction?  Of course, as soon as longer trials were underway, problems started cropping up.

The FDA plans to examine the connection, but they’re not too enthusiastic about it. They said the findings of a few studies are not clear — and that Parkinson’s patients have heart problems anyway. And of course they had to be sure to throw in their assurance that Stalevo is an effective treatment for Parkinson’s. Wow — they’re really setting the stage for an impartial judgment, aren’t they?

Still, they’ve agreed to look into the connection between Stalevo and increased risk of serious heart problems. In the meantime, they’re urging patients not to stop taking the drug without consulting a doctor.

If you know someone taking Stalevo, why not arm him for that consultation? Simply search “Parkinson’s” in the archive at www.wrightnewsletter.com and you’ll find plenty of free advice on how to combat the disease. Nutrition & Healing subscribers have access to even more.

Yours in good health,

Christine O’Brien