RyushiBlade on 19/3/2006 at 03:48
(
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2092527_1,00.html) Focus: Poison Chalice.
Thought this was a bit interesting. It's a bit alarming, too, but I suppose this sort of thing happens when testing drugs. The better highlights of the article for those too lazy to read:
Quote:
...down the corridor, six volunteers in the first trial were, as one witness said, “exploding”. Minutes after being given the drug they had suffered catastrophic reactions, screaming and begging for help. It was like “a living hell”, said a witness.
Quote:
“A few minutes after the first patient had been given the drug he started to shake,” said Khan. “He took his top off, he looked like he was burning up. Several minutes later the third person was vomiting, he was hyperventilating. He looked like he was in the worst pain.
“Then number four, the chap on my right, a big strapping and physically fit fellow, started to react. He was sweating, eventually took his top off and then just collapsed. Everyone was vomiting, there were these big black bin liners filled up with vomit.
“The chap on my left was in pain, he was screaming his back was hurting — it was like someone was punching him in the back because he kept arching forwards.”
Quote:
The six victims were undergoing a massive biological reaction. Body temperatures were soaring and blood vessels dilating. Plasma was leaking into surrounding tissue. Blood pressure was dropping like a stone.
I hate taking medicine, even when it's something that's been on the market for years. I'd never be a guinea pig myself, and I'm amazed that something like this could happen. But, as I said, I suppose when you're first testing drugs, things like this happen.
SD on 19/3/2006 at 04:09
To be honest, this sort of thing is bound to happen so long as drugs companies keep earning such obscene profits. Scientific progress and furthering the welfare of humanity are a distant second and third to making a huge fat pile of cash for shareholders.
I mean, technically they're only allowed to offer money to human guinea pigs to cover "expenses", but in reality, their payments act as inducements to persuade the impoverished in society to partake in dangerous and barely-regulated tests.
The crazy thing is that since this debacle, applications to take part in clinical trials have actually increased. I guess all publicity really is good publicity.
Convict on 19/3/2006 at 04:26
Quote Posted by Strontium Dog
The crazy thing is that since this debacle, applications to take part in clinical trials have actually increased. I guess all publicity really is good publicity.
:eek:
Para?noid on 19/3/2006 at 05:30
It's good money. Students do it alot.
I'm confused about this article because I was under the impression they introduce low doses based on their understanding, and then increase the dosage. At least, that was the approach they took when one of my mates volunteered. Made a cool £3000 for lying around and watching TV for three weeks.
Sypha Nadon on 19/3/2006 at 06:21
See, it's stories like this that make me hesitant to try out medication. Damn it!:eww:
Vasquez on 19/3/2006 at 06:29
This proves that animal testing doesn't really tell that much of how humans will react to the drug/cosmetic/whatever. Horrible thing that shouldn't have happened, but there's always the first time to test on humans, and when you're messing with chemicals + human homeostasis, there is also bound to be some nasty surprises. Very rare it gets this bad, though.
RyushiBlade on 19/3/2006 at 07:32
Quote Posted by Para?noid
It's good money. Students do it alot.
I'm confused about this article because I was under the impression they introduce low doses based on their understanding, and then increase the dosage. At least, that was the approach they took when one of my mates volunteered. Made a cool £3000 for lying around and watching TV for three weeks.
The article says they started with 1/500th of the dose they used on animals. Later on it says they hypothesize that the medication created a 'domino' effect. That probably means the same result would of happened with even smaller doses. Then again, I'm no doctor.
Sypha Nadon, me and you have the right idea. Stuff medication, I don't want to explode ;)
Swiss Mercenary on 19/3/2006 at 08:01
Holy fuck, one drug has no effect on animals, but screws humans up. ANIMAL TESTING IS USELESS!
SubJeff on 19/3/2006 at 08:34
What he said.
Quote Posted by Vasquez
This proves that animal testing doesn't really tell that much of how humans will react to the drug/cosmetic/whatever... Very rare it gets this bad, though.
No, it proves that animal testing isn't perfect. But what's to be surprised about? We know this. It's like any safety system - we try our best but if it's not prefect we just have to live with it or not do it at all.
Vasquez on 19/3/2006 at 10:05
Where did I say that animal testing is useless? Fucking fanatics ;)
Also
Quote Posted by Vasquez
This proves that animal testing doesn't really tell that much of how humans will react to the drug/cosmetic/whatever
=
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
it proves that animal testing isn't perfect.
