I sent the following to Senator John McCain using the government contacts link .
(Please feel free to cut/paste this if you'd like to use it as a guideline for your own letter to your elected representatives.)
To Senator John McCain 4/25/2007
Re: FDA Pergolide Withdrawal
If the continued availability of pergolide is not ensured, many horses with Cushing's disease (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction or PPID) will be at risk to suffer the debilitating side effects of this disease. Cushing's is a "senior" disease - many with younger fit horses might not consider this important right now but any seasoned campaigner can be affected. Pergolide (obtained by veterinary prescription through compounding pharmacies or branded Permax which is no longer manufactured) is currently the only viable (effective and economical) treatment for this condition in horses. There currently are no alternatives.
For background:
Link to FDA notice
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01596.html
Link to article which summarizes the situation
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9405&kw=pergolide
Link to petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savepergolide?e
This petition currently has over 3400 signatures, including many veterinarians. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, has spearheaded and is devoting countless hours to this effort in behalf of many thousands of Cushing's horses and their owners - contacting federal [FDA and CVM] and state officials, veterinary schools and organizations, writing articles, and working with pharmacists and research veterinarians in the U.S. and abroad.
This is a complex issue mired down in FDA rules and regulations beyond the scope of the average citizen or veterinarian.
Your attention and intervention into this current situation would be greatly appreciated by thousands of horse owners.
Respectfully,
Patti Kuvik
Vail AZ
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