Editorial Note: The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman featured heavily in early news bulletins this week. It seems highly likely that Hoffman's death originated from a prescription drug problem. As it happens Johanna Ryan from RxISK's Community Board had been liaising with the parents of Steve Rummler and others concerned about the licensing of yet another opiate pain-killer - … [Read more...] about At First a Lifeline, Then a Noose
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Antidepressants and Autism: Time to Worry?
Editorial Note: This post by Adam Urato from Boston picks up one of the most important issues of our time. It touches on one of the most sensitive issues of all - should anyone tell a mother-to-be what to do about medications like the Antidepressants. See The Dark is for Mushrooms. Does antidepressant use during pregnancy lead to autism in the exposed children? This is a very … [Read more...] about Antidepressants and Autism: Time to Worry?
Sticks in the Throat: Boxology
Editorial Note: This is a follow up post from John Scheel to his Sticks in the Throat piece earlier in the week. The theme here fits very well with two posts in the last week on davidhealy.org - Guilty and Psychiatry Gone Astray by Peter Gøtzsche. Often in life it is the very simple things we overlook and when tradition and protocols and procedures get locked in people are … [Read more...] about Sticks in the Throat: Boxology
Sticks in the Throat
Editorial Note: This post by John Scheel from Ontario brings out how medication and devices can lead to what we've lately been calling Drug Traffic Accidents. The concept seems a better fit to what happened here than either side effects or adverse reactions. John has a wider ranging book "Someone Gives a S**t” (see www.johnscheel.com) which gives a feel for the passions that … [Read more...] about Sticks in the Throat
The Strange History of Lariam
Editorial Note: This is the second part of a Lariam Odyssey by Dr Sam Ramsay Smith. The first part ran last week - Lariam Hell. Like most good stories this one involves expediency, hegemony, immorality, greed and even scientific bias, blindness and dishonesty all in the quest for power and money at the national and international levels. At the personal level there is a range … [Read more...] about The Strange History of Lariam
Lariam Hell
Editorial Note: This post and the following one on the strange story of the Birth of Lariam come from Dr Sam Ramsay-Smith who has some questions he wants answered. In October, ‘The Independent’ printed the news that the US Armed Forces had banned the use of the anti-malarial drug mefloquine, otherwise known as Lariam. To many this may mean little or nothing, but to quite a few … [Read more...] about Lariam Hell
Nearly Invisible: Drug Traffic Accidents
Editorial Note: Many years ago, Moyra Peralta lost her eldest son in a Road Traffic Accident. As she put it, she flipped out. She spent several years afterwards working with homeless people on the streets of London. Out of this she created an extraordinary "book", Nearly Invisible - see Worldly Goods - covering lives lived on the street. Nearly Invisible is about the … [Read more...] about Nearly Invisible: Drug Traffic Accidents
E-Patients: No Free Lunch?
Editorial Note: Ken Spriggs is one of our regular contributors. This is cross-posted from his blog where he takes on all issues Crohns. The original post comes complete with all references mentioned here. [It's no longer available at http://diyehr.com/e-patient-boundaries-and-the-publishing-profiteers/] In recent months, the BMJ have trumpeted the patient power revolution … [Read more...] about E-Patients: No Free Lunch?
Accutane: 30 Years of Trading our Sex Lives for Clear Skin
Editorial: Bill G. Sex and skin There are an ever-increasing and disturbing number of young people claiming their sex lives have been permanently ruined from taking the acne drug, isotretinoin, commonly referred to by its former brand-name, Accutane. Often these affected young men and women, many in their teens and early 20s, cannot overcome their embarrassment to report … [Read more...] about Accutane: 30 Years of Trading our Sex Lives for Clear Skin
Keeping an Eye on the Ball: Visual Problems on SSRIs
Editorial Note: The author of this report wants to remain anonymous for important reasons not contained in this report. He comes from the Newcastle area, where if you are a fan of sports and think of someone who was good at keeping his eye on the ball and scoring extraordinary goals, you are likely to think of Alan Shearer. So AS it is. For sheer persistence that eventually … [Read more...] about Keeping an Eye on the Ball: Visual Problems on SSRIs