Was Dr. Drew Paid to Talk Up Antidepressant Drug?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/07/04 17:00:00

Related Topics: Dr Drew, Drugs, Anti Depressant, Wellbutrin, Depression, Health, Lifestyle

193 votes
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	Yes	163 votes	84%
	No	30 votes	16%

Besides Dr. Phil and Dr. Ruth, Dr. Drew Pinsky just might be the most famous TV doctor of all time. A board-certified internist, Dr. Drew has made a name for himself over the years -- first as host of the still-running syndicated radio advice show “Loveline” and then on VH1 as the addicted D-list star wrangler on “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.”

Now, every time Lindsay Lohan or Charlie Sheen gets into trouble, Pinsky pops up on an entertainment or news program to give his objective, if not fully informed, opinion. Needless to say, he’s on TV a lot. But reports have surfaced that Dr. Drew may have pushed the antidepressant Wellbutrin to listeners back in June of 1999.

Apparently, Dr. Drew praised the drug (as well as some others) on “Loveline,” saying, it "may enhance or at least not suppress sexual arousal." What fans didn’t know was that Pinksky had received payments totaling $275,000 from a communications firm that worked for the pill’s parent company GlaxoSmithKline a couple of months earlier.

This has all come to light in the midst of the U.S. Justice Department’s announcement of a $3 billion criminal and civil settlement with Glaxo over illegal drug marketing and wooing doctors with cash and exotic trips.

In a statement issued by his publicist, Dr. Drew said that the dough he received was an educational grant from Glaxo Wellcome (which later merged with GlaxoSmithKline). He claims he got the cash for a two-year initiative focused on intimacy and depression. What do you think: Was Dr. Drew paid to talk up the antidepressant drug?

+12

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Calm down! 2012/07/05 01:24:11

Yes

+7
Yes! Some doctor's out there are worse than drug dealers. They want you to take a pill for everything. They seem like salesman now with the latest drug. It's all about money folks!

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SOUL4REAL 2012/07/05 01:48:26

Yes

First let me say I like Dr Drew,he was paid to educate people on intimacy and depression. What do you use when your depressed? Your Doctor will prescribe you a antidepressant,there it is. Dr Drew is a flawed human being first and then he's a Doctor. The love of money has away of swaying a person to do wrong,I don't think he had any intentions to harm anyone. When a person hear or see $$$$$ signs, it has a way of messing with your thinking process. We all make mistakes! Dr Drew,you know the code of being a doctor,don't let the love of money hinder your "Integrity"!

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BlondeAphrodite 2012/07/05 01:46:32

No

I want to lick dr drew pinsky

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brittneylalaa 2012/07/05 01:34:58

Yes

+2
I'm sure and this is nothing new for doctors.

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Calm down! 2012/07/05 01:24:11

Yes

+7
Yes! Some doctor's out there are worse than drug dealers. They want you to take a pill for everything. They seem like salesman now with the latest drug. It's all about money folks!

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robbt1 to Calm down! 2012/07/06 17:57:53

Know why? 'Cause they get a cut. Every time they get you to start taking a pill, especially if it's name-brand and more expensive, they get a kickback from the drug company.

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Madi 2012/07/05 00:51:39

Yes

+1
The evidence is pretty indicative that he did at least.

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Amy.[: 2012/07/05 00:34:22

Yes

+1
probably

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(▪‿▪)DoctorWhoGuru(▪‿▪) 2012/07/05 00:29:58

Yes

+1
maybe

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Bluebird 2012/07/05 00:16:55

Yes

+1
Probably

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Inquisitve Kat 2012/07/04 23:49:27

Yes

+1
"In a statement issued by his publicist, Dr. Drew said that the dough he received was an educational grant from Glaxo Wellcome (which later merged with GlaxoSmithKline). He claims he got the cash for a two-year initiative focused on intimacy and depression." - Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious what he was being paid for.

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justnotsaying (: 2012/07/04 23:48:42

Yes

+1
He is a doctor.

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wilsonmja 2012/07/04 23:03:08

Yes

+1
I believe he was

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kyle 2012/07/04 22:49:56

Yes

+1
i would say probably so

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SebaTheSociallyAwkwardPenguin 2012/07/04 22:33:11

No

+1
i dont know

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♌βļąƈʞƦơșƐ3033♌ 2012/07/04 22:31:24

Yes

The only 'TV Doctor' I listen to is Dr. Phil McGraw.

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wilsonmja to ♌βļąƈʞƦ... 2012/07/04 23:02:41

+2
LOL!!!

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BlondeA... to ♌βļąƈʞƦ... 2012/07/05 01:47:11

yuck!

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Chewy 2012/07/04 21:45:50
mizzSHADYgirl 2012/07/04 21:18:16

Yes

+2
Most likely.

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Fredrick House 2012/07/04 21:11:20

Yes

+5
Does Phil Mikelson get paid to pitch Enbrel? Is Tom Cruise a nutso scientologist?

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Aquaduck to Fredric... 2012/07/05 05:24:11

+1
Sorry but what what is scientology? I looked it up but all I read was a bunch of BS that I didn't understand -_-

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bob h. to Aquaduck 2012/07/06 03:18:29

That's accurate.

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burningsnowman 2012/07/04 20:42:07

Yes

+1
durr. Why would you take reality TV seriously anyway.

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beach bum 2012/07/04 20:40:36

Yes

+2
yes

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Marianne ☮ 2012/07/04 20:39:05

Yes

+1
Might as well been

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Sperry23 2012/07/04 20:37:41

Yes

+1
Very likely. The drug companies still indirectly induce doctors to push their particular products. It may not be cash, and it may go through nurses, receptionist, office staff, and whatnot, but the doctor still profits.

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Mark In Irvine 2012/07/04 20:31:10

No

+1
it seems that he was compensated by the manufacturer at a time when he was in a position to make good publicity for its product ... not cool ... OTOH, Wellbutrin (bupropion) IS a very useful compound and it has helped a lot of people ... i remember Drew when he was a little guy on KROQ in LA doing Loveline, after having taken it over from "the Poorman" ... boy, the Poorman got screwed on that one ... anybody else remember that?

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~HopelessRomanticM17~ 2012/07/04 20:20:58

Yes

I suppose so...

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El Prez 2012/07/04 18:25:52

No

+1
Without proof and only "reports have surfaced" I am inclined to feel he and everyone else is innocent until proven guilty. Anything else is unAmerican. Trial by media is a stupid and dispicable trend of our day. Nancy Grace and other media jhogs have spoiled a clear freedom granted by the Constitution. This kind of question, based on the present information available is an insult to "free Journalism".

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