In 2023 a new set of Canadian Guidelines for the Management of Alcohol Use Disorders put a serious problem on the radar for doctors that few of them likely expected. See Antidepressants, Alcohol and Anne-Marie. The antidepressants doctors commonly prescribed, often telling people these medicines would help them manage their alcohol issues, were likely causing the problem – … [Read more...] about Ostriches, Doctors, SSRIs and Tylenol
Pregnancy
Restoring the Magic to Healthcare
The Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) story starts in 1969 with Arvid Carlsson (above) who created Zelmid, the first SRI, after listening to people on antidepressants. He linked an anxiolytic effect some older drugs have to the serotonin system. The SRIs aimed at exploring that effect - Normality and Antidepressant Dysregulation. Fluoxetine (Prozac). sertraline (Zoloft). … [Read more...] about Restoring the Magic to Healthcare
Embracing Healthcare’s Opportunities
Up to 1980, the pharmaceutical industry was small beer. Most of the companies had recently demerged from chemical companies, and were hiring management consultants to help them work out how to do the job. A steady stream of life-saving drugs from the 1940s to 1960s that people and health services were willing to buy at prices greatly in excess of their costs of production … [Read more...] about Embracing Healthcare’s Opportunities
It is Hard for Thee to Kick Against the Pricks
The title of this post by Peter Selley comes from the Acts of the Apostles. It captures the moment where the Divine is advising Paul to stop persecuting Christians. Acts 9:5 (KJV). An if you can't beat them, why not join them moment. The words lend themselves to the situation of anyone attempting to grapple with the growth of a new RSV religion in more than one sense. Among … [Read more...] about It is Hard for Thee to Kick Against the Pricks
Challenging My Doctor to Disclose
This recently published US strategy on Suicide Prevention epitomizes all that is going wrong in medicine today. It is stuffed full of references to Shared Decision Making, Informed Consent and Lived Experience. Stuffed full of token words, window-dressing, tick-boxing. It will increase rather than reduce suicide rates. It is clear that the people behind this, and … [Read more...] about Challenging My Doctor to Disclose
For Every Matter under Heaven, there is a Season
This post is by Peter Selley, - a doctor and RSV research trail blazer. 'Tis the season to be jolly. In the Northern hemisphere the dreadful RSV season is drawing to a close: man- and womankind can now relax. But over the next few weeks “experts” in Europe and elsewhere will begin planning for the annual invasion by the deadly RSV virus for the 2024-25 season. In the UK … [Read more...] about For Every Matter under Heaven, there is a Season
Fertility and Desire
Recent posts on RxISK and davidhealy.org have covered Fertility and heralded the forthcoming birth of a Fertility Zone. On RxISK Uterine Roulette and Consent No Room at the Inn Medicine, Civilization and Cradles Sex, Fertility, France and Serotonin Timeline Disaster Sex Yes, No Sex Disaster On DH Has Healthcare Gone Mad Pharmageddon and … [Read more...] about Fertility and Desire
Sex, Fertility, France and Serotonin Timeline
In a recent press conference, Emmanuel Macron said that France faced a Fertility Crisis and needed a Demographic Rearmament - see Liberty, Equality, Fertility. The Timeline below traces an important contribution from the medicines we take to that crisis, left unmentioned in his speech - and the role of an important player, the Industry making those medicines. The Early … [Read more...] about Sex, Fertility, France and Serotonin Timeline
Medicine, Civilization and Cradles
Hush-a-bye baby on the tree-top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock; When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, Down will come baby, cradle, and all. We face a problem as important or more important than Climate Change - the changing climate in healthcare - see Pharmageddon and Our Healthcare Climate. For a decade, RxISK has been pointing to a polypharmacy pandemic, … [Read more...] about Medicine, Civilization and Cradles
Drugs & Sex & Fertility – and SSRIs
Our Love Life Needs You © Nina Otulakowski August 2022 This post calls on everyone, male or female, currently or previously taking any drug who thinks that a drug may have impacted on their fertility. Fertility should be of interest to anyone taking serotonin reuptake inhibiting drugs - SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics, antihistamines, antibiotics, analgesics and related drugs - … [Read more...] about Drugs & Sex & Fertility – and SSRIs