This post is linked to Functional, Fashionable or Toxic. No professional or patient body interested in the potentially toxic effects of medicines and how to defuse these could possibly ignore the Mefloquine - Lariam story. It has featured on several RxISK posts for over a decade - The Strange History of Lariam and Lariam Hell and most recently in David Rimmington's Sanctuary … [Read more...] about Ariadne’s Thread and Post-Mefloquine Toxicity
Sanctuary Trauma
The Troubled Dream of Life
This is the first time RxISK has run 2 posts on the same topic on the same day. Not only that but in addition to the Troubled Dream of Life linking to Drug Induced Loss of Capacity that follows on from this post, Troubled also links to Damnation and Salvation posted on dh.org today. Finally all 3 also link to both The Eclipse of Science and of Us, Entranced, Spellbound and … [Read more...] about The Troubled Dream of Life
Repairing Ruptures in Clinical Care
Better Times Will Return © Josie Russell 2017 This post is by our warzone correspondent Harriet Vogt from frontline trenches. A few weeks ago I was invited to join an online discussion with a group of experts on iatrogenesis who have an in-depth knowledge of antidepressant withdrawal and the risks of polypharmacy. These highly informed, articulate, empathic medical … [Read more...] about Repairing Ruptures in Clinical Care
No One Expects the Reformation
The title of this post borrows a famous line from Monty Python: No one expects the Spanish Inquisition This is an advance notice of things to come rather than a post per se. To get a sense of the things to come, it is worth reading the Antidepressants, Homicide and a Challenge post and the comments that come after it where many regular contributors to RxISK pick up … [Read more...] about No One Expects the Reformation
Breaking the Word of Promise to our Hope
Be these juggling fiends no more believed, That palter with us in a double sense; That keep the word of promise to our ear, And break it to our hope. William Shakespeare: Macbeth A storm blew up just over a week ago with a Lancet article on antidepressant dependence and withdrawal. Based on company studies, this article gave some credence to the idea that antidepressants … [Read more...] about Breaking the Word of Promise to our Hope
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
No Room at the Inn
This post continues the Silencing Safety, Lonesome Heroines, and Uterine Roulette theme of Consent. It is a twin birth with In Secula Seculorum. The original Xmas was not a peaceful event, nor is this Xmas, and this is not a peaceful post. It hinges on the work of Peter Selley - who is not responsible for any irreverence or edginess in tone. The Very Dead of Winter It is a … [Read more...] about No Room at the Inn
Lonesome Heroines, Forgotten Women and Consent
This post needs reading along with Silent Health and Silencing Safety. The Forgotten Woman in Silent Health is the Lonesome Heroine here. Informed Consent Someone, seriously injured by a medicine he had taken, got in touch this week asking if it was possible to take an action against his doctor or in some way get compensation for his drug inflicted damage. He was sure he had … [Read more...] about Lonesome Heroines, Forgotten Women and Consent
Empathy for Drug Induced Injuries
Dr. Healy, I am writing to you after receiving distressing messages from my son, who asked for help with regards to names of specialists or supports to help him with his extreme PSSD condition. This may seem like helicopter parenting, but I feel compelled to write in regards to the devastating impact your message had on him. He is in utter despair over what has happened. … [Read more...] about Empathy for Drug Induced Injuries
DD and AA Groups Similarities and Differences
Illustration: Is There Life After Meds?, © 2014 created by Billiam James DD in this case stands for Drug Damaged. AA for Alcoholics Anonymous. Some of the material in this post is likely to disturb some readers. Reading it in conjunction with Here We Stand We Can Do No Other and Dos Centavos - Veinte Euros may help make sense of material that may not sit well with some … [Read more...] about DD and AA Groups Similarities and Differences