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The therapeutic nightmare: the battle over the world's most controversial sleeping pill

book
posted on 2023-06-08, 04:57 authored by John Abraham, Julie Sheppard
"The Therapeutic Nightmare" tells the story of the sleeping pill, Halcion, a story which is far from over. First marketed in the 1970s, Halcion was taken by millions of patients around the world as a tranquilizer. Soon, however, it began to be associated with serious psychotropic effects: patients experienced amnesia, hallucinations, aggression and, in extreme cases, homicide. Thirteen years after its first release it was banned by the British government. It remains on sale in the United States. This book examines the interests involved - the corporate interests of the manufacturers and distributors, the professional interests of the scientists and researchers, and the medical interests of the doctors prescribing it. Above all, it explains how these contending forces are regulated - the clinical tests and how they are validated. It looks at the ways the results are disseminated, within and among countries, and analyses whether consumer groups and public health advocates are able to balance the views of those with a professional stake in the success of new drugs.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Publisher

Earthscan

Pages

196.0

Place of publication

London

ISBN

9781853835520

Department affiliated with

  • Sociology and Criminology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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    University of Sussex (Publications)

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