Introduction by David Healy In 1987 Herb Hendin started the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). AFSP is a non-profit 501(c)(3). It is an active fund-raiser. AFSP fell into the hands of Charlie Nemeroff and later John Mann and colleagues at Columbia. On December 1st 2000, Charlie Nemeroff told the Council of AFSP that Healy had been sacked from his job in … [Read more...] about How Pharma Captures Bereaved Mothers
Antidepressants
Could your meds make you suicidal?
[Note: The current version of the Suicide Zone works differently than described below.] Free online tool shows possible links between prescription drugs and suicide Toronto, Ontario (November 19, 2012) — RxISK.org, the first free independent website for researching and reporting prescription drug side effects, has added a Suicide Zone to demonstrate and collect data on the … [Read more...] about Could your meds make you suicidal?
Monica’s Story: The Aftermath of Polypsychopharmacology
I recently contacted the doctor who is responsible for my iatrogenesis — the doctor who grossly over-medicated me and made me ill. I’ve been corresponding with him for several years now, but this was the first telephone conversation I’ve had with him since telling him what his drug cocktail did to me. He rarely says much in response to my emails where I link to the articles … [Read more...] about Monica’s Story: The Aftermath of Polypsychopharmacology
Prescription-drug-induced violence medicine’s best kept secret?
[Note: The current version of the Violence Zone works differently than described below.] Free online tool shows possible links between prescription drugs and violence Toronto, Ontario (November 12, 2012) — RxISK.org, the first free independent website for researching and reporting prescription drug side effects, has added a Violence Zone to demonstrate and collect data on the … [Read more...] about Prescription-drug-induced violence medicine’s best kept secret?
Brian’s Story: Raising Awareness among the Police
This was first posted on Leonie Fennell's blog. Antidepressants, irrational behaviour and “out of the blue” suicides – raising awareness among UK police officers In 2009 my son, who had never been depressed in his life, went to see a doctor over insomnia caused by temporary work-related stress. He was prescribed Citalopram, and within days he had taken his life. As a … [Read more...] about Brian’s Story: Raising Awareness among the Police
Collateral Damage
Anonymous There is a war going on over truth in drug marketing. There have been many victims of drugs that made it to market with deadly and damaging side effects. Increasingly, drug companies have sought to expand their markets by targeting children and young people. Many young people have died and many more have been damaged by the use of drugs with negative side … [Read more...] about Collateral Damage
Listening to Parents
Anonymous When you lose a child or a partner from a rare illness, everyone is supportive, no-one denies you. They listen. But if a child dies from suicide or a complication of treatment with a drug especially a psychotropic drug no-one listens. Our culture has no place for this kind of death. They say maybe it’s for the best. He’d never have been able to face the life he’d … [Read more...] about Listening to Parents
Driven To Drink: Antidepressants and Cravings for Alcohol
Author: Anne-Marie (This story was first posted on davidhealy.org. It has been the most commented on post there. It epitomizes what RxISK.org is all about - one woman getting to grips with a problem she has on treatment.) I have been asked to write this story to raise awareness about a strange side effect of treatment and my efforts to get to the bottom of it. Before … [Read more...] about Driven To Drink: Antidepressants and Cravings for Alcohol
Night of the Living Cymbalta: B’s Story
I myself had been on and off a long series of antidepressants, but never had really dramatic withdrawal symptoms until I stopped the SNRI inhibitor Cymbalta. It started when I tried to step down from 120 mg per day, back to the standard 60 mg dose. From simply feeling depressed and tired, I shifted into full meltdown mode: crying uncontrollably; unable to concentrate; … [Read more...] about Night of the Living Cymbalta: B’s Story
Gambling on the Side Effects of Antidepressants: Does Pfizer Play Dice?
This piece by Daniel O'Sullivan was first posted on Crikey.com. Our interest was stimulated by a query to RxISK from Daniel who had been told by the Australian regulator (the TGA) that they only had one report of this. Looking for gambling in RxISK, gives 1 case in Australia, but 4 cases of pathological gambling - more than from all the rest of the world combined, and 8 cases … [Read more...] about Gambling on the Side Effects of Antidepressants: Does Pfizer Play Dice?