RxISK

Making Medicines Safer for All of Us

Memory

Hope, Hype, Consent and Alzheimer’s

18 Comments

By Johanna Ryan A recent New York Times article told the troubling story of two women who died in a clinical trial of a new Alzheimer’s drug. Jean and Genna One in particular stayed on my mind.  Her name was Jean Terrien, and she was just about my age.  Like me, she lived in the Chicago area, perhaps a dozen miles up the road, and had been retired for just about a … [Read more...] about Hope, Hype, Consent and Alzheimer’s

Balancing Our Bodies and Our Selves

25 Comments

Thanks to R who helped trigger this important RxISK post and some doctoring. . In July 2023, RxISK ran a post, written by R, giving an account of her Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness.  PPPD was new to us.  R had been in regular contact for a decade because of protracted withdrawal problems. Her problems came back in waves that were difficult to manage. She was then … [Read more...] about Balancing Our Bodies and Our Selves

Brain Fog: What is it? How to Treat it.

22 Comments

Lots of people complain of cognitive problems on or after taking medications, whether psychotropic drugs, cholesterol lowering statins, asthma drugs like montelukast, or fluoroquinolone antibiotics. They often use the word “Brain Fog” to cover this.  Women get Brain Fog in pregnancy that can linger afterwards. People with Long Covid complain of Brain Fog as do the Covid … [Read more...] about Brain Fog: What is it? How to Treat it.

Antidepressants: Education and Disability Certificates

38 Comments

This post covers difficulties primarily on antidepressants that medicines can cause to people in schools or universities who end up unable to study or do course-work, as well as the difficulties people can have trying to get off medicines, a process that can be pretty disabling. The materials linked to this post are being put in your hands to run an experiment and hopefully … [Read more...] about Antidepressants: Education and Disability Certificates

Daffodils and Withdrawal?

15 Comments

Stimulated by the recent Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) discussion, the following began as a comment from one of RxISK's background activists but grew into a post. RxISK is not about to desert orthodox medicine and turn to herbalism but herbalism may well have a lot to offer.  It looks like many traditional remedies actually do act on systems we knew nothing about until … [Read more...] about Daffodils and Withdrawal?

Can Antidepressants Make You Less Attractive?

30 Comments

In recent years, there has been increasing concern about the problem of antidepressants finding their way into the environment. These drugs aren't fully absorbed by the body and are present in human waste. Small concentrations are then flowing into rivers via wastewater treatment facilities where wildlife can be affected. In August 2018, several media outlets reported that … [Read more...] about Can Antidepressants Make You Less Attractive?

SSRIs & Loss of Identity

133 Comments

Editorial Note: This post reflects a probably not uncommon reality. There is no doubt people can be left with permanent dysfunction after a short course of SSRIs, or permanent depersonalization, so a permanent change of identity is possible and even likely for some - but features nowhere in the books. The author initially figured his problems were linked to memory but is now … [Read more...] about SSRIs & Loss of Identity

Flox-Tox; Guerilla Guide

32 Comments

Editorial Note: Twenty-five years ago, Diane Fried took Floxin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and a predecessor of Levaquin and Cipro, and was severely damaged as a consequence, leading her husband to write Bitter Pills. Three years ago we featured two posts on fluoroquinolone antibiotic problems. We have also featured posts on the closely related Lariam - mefloquine - and its … [Read more...] about Flox-Tox; Guerilla Guide