Here is an interesting post from “JohnTall”. I am posting it here so that more people will see it.

“Nearly two years ago I posted a note detailing my experience with Taranabant.  In that post I fudged my actual weights for concern that Merck might be able to identify me and end my participation in the trial.  Since then Merck has pulled the plug on Taranabant and I am no longer concerned about them knowing that I am posting.

My actual experience was that I started at 244 pounds and I lost to 183 in 101/2 months (61 pounds lost).  I then slowly regained 9 pounds to 192 and that was my weight when I left the study in December of 2007. I was in the study for 27 months.”

The belief that “the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of death, and the lower your blood pressure, the lower the risk of death” is WRONG.

This according to a brilliant paper from UCLA statistician, Sid Port, PhD.

The belief that “the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of death, and the lower your blood pressure, the lower the risk of death” is WRONG.

This according to a brilliant paper from UCLA statistician, Sid Port, PhD.

The belief that “the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of death, and the lower your blood pressure, the lower the risk of death” is WRONG.

This according to a brilliant paper from UCLA statistician, Sid Port, PhD.

The belief that “the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of death, and the lower your blood pressure, the lower the risk of death” is WRONG.

This according to a brilliant paper from UCLA statistician, Sid Port, PhD.

[A statement made in a editorial about the blood pressure drug Cozaar (losartan)] is “disturbing.” …

“The authors seemingly want us to believe… [this] deceptive statement.”

-- Franz Messerli, MD, European Heart Journal, 2003.

The blood pressure medicine “… Cozaar [losartan]… [reduced strokes by 40%, but] did NOT reduce [heart attacks]....”

Between Cozaar and the beta blocker atenolol, Cozaar, some might argue, is only the lesser of two evils.

— Franz Messerli, MD, European Heart Journal, 2003.

“… beta blocker therapy has been shown to cause… weight gain… and to significantly increase the risk of developing diabetes.”

— Franz Messerli, MD, European Heart Journal, 2003.

“… [In] patients over the age of 60, beta blockers did NOT reduce [heart attacks], cardiovascular mortality or [the total risk of death].”
— Franz Messerli, MD, European Heart Journal, 2003.

... [T]he risk of strokes was between two and four times higher in middle-aged patients on [the beta blocker] atenolol compared to [a diuretic].

— Franz Messerli, MD, European Heart Journal, 2003.

People given beta blockers were 10 to 24 times more like to dropout of studies due to fatigue, and 5 times more like to dropout of studies due to sexual dysfunction.

Beta blockers only prevent one stroke per year out of every 1400 patients given these drugs.

They only prevent one heart attack per year out of every 1400 patients given these drugs.

And they only prevent one death per year out of every 2500 patients given these drugs.

This was noted in a Letter to the Editor in JAMA by Franz Messerli, MD who has written several papers about the ineffectiveness of beta blockers.

Blood pressure medicine called beta blockers increase the risk of suicide by 60 percent as noted in a Letter to the Editor published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A PDF version of this entire presentation can be downloaded by clicking here.

Many scientists from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been given money or stock or stock options from drug companies.

This was kept secret for years.

This according to a great article from the Los Angeles Times from 2004.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 1 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 2 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 3 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 4 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 5 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 6 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 7 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 8 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 9 of 10.

NIH Scientists who recommend drugs have often been paid by drug companies. Part 10 of 10.

Why I would not take statins to lower cholesterol - Part 1.

Why I would not take statins to lower cholesterol - Part 2.