PARLODEL CLEARINGHOUSE

For membership information, please contact Health Research Group at 1600 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, (202) 588-1000 or email to hrg1@citizen.org

To assist attorneys representing clients injured by Bromocriptine (trade name: Parlodel), a lactation suppressant manufactured by Sandoz, Public Citizen's Health Research Group has established an Information Clearinghouse which will provide to members a research base on the history of the drug and its complications.

Until August 1994, when Sandoz finally stated that it would cease marketing Parlodel for lactation suppression, approximately 600,000 new mothers per year took Parlodel for this indication. Side effects of this drug therapy include sharp decreases or increases in systolic blood pressure, headaches, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and rashes. Life threatening reactions have included stroke, heart attack, seizures and hypertensive crises.

The following documents and services are included in Clearinghouse membership:

• Names of experts and medical consultants
• The opportunity to network with other attorneys involved in litigation
• A complete literature review including medical journal articles, and media reports
• 1989 clinical practice survey of major medical centers
• FDA chronology concerning the regulation of lactation suppressants including:
  - advisory committee transcripts
  - communications with Sandoz
  - Adverse Drug Reaction reports
• Documents obtained in discovery as they become availablee
• All Public Citizen documents including:
  - declaration of Sidney Wolfe, M.D. (HRG Director) included in the petition to compel FDA to revoke marketing approval of bromocriptine for lactation suppression
  - FDA Advisory Committee testimonies
  - November 1988 petition to the FDA to delete the indication for suppression of lactation for bromocriptine
• Periodic meetings of Clearinghouse members in Washington D.C. to exchange information.
• Continuing updates as additional information becomes available