See Taper MD In 2016 life expectancy in the United States fell for a second year in a row. This was the first time anything like this had happened apart from a brief flatlining for men around 1962 we now know was linked to tobacco use. In 1962 the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) put in place a set of regulations that are the single greatest influence on healthcare … [Read more...] about Five Minutes to Midnight
Withdrawal
Introducing Taper MD
Do you think you or someone you love are on too many meds? Did you know that reducing your medication burden may be the single best thing you can do to improve your quality of life? Adverse drug events are now a leading cause of hospitalization, disability, and death, all at great human and financial cost. Seniors are particularly vulnerable, as aging affects our ability … [Read more...] about Introducing Taper MD
Psychotropic Drug Dependence in Scotland: Petition PE01651
Email from Marion Brown PE01651 – Prescribed drug dependence and withdrawal I wanted to let you know that our Scottish petition seems to be gathering a very remarkable and powerful collection of published ‘evidence’ of patient experiences especially – and from all over the world! The petitions clerks are being kept busy with ‘processing’ these and uploading to the petition … [Read more...] about Psychotropic Drug Dependence in Scotland: Petition PE01651
Bladder and Bowel Problems After Antidepressants
In addition to sexual problems such as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) and persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), a range of other urological problems linked to antidepressants are increasingly coming into view, and can sometimes be long-lasting after the drugs are stopped. They are likely to be significantly more common than is generally thought, and it's definitely … [Read more...] about Bladder and Bowel Problems After Antidepressants
PGAD: Clitoridectomy or ECT?
Editorial Note: Following on from The Princess and the Frozen Pea, this is a second post in a PGAD series. There will be one more on the range of conditions mentioned here that are often linked to PGAD - interstitial cystitis, pelvic floor dysnergia, prostatitis and others. See also PGAD Video Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) has been associated with SSRI use … [Read more...] about PGAD: Clitoridectomy or ECT?
The Princess and the Frozen Pea: PGAD
Imagine: sitting with friends – maybe a couple of people you have never met before also present – having supper. You’re uncomfortable; it’s hard to sit still. You try hard to concentrate on the conversation – the political turmoil erupting around you, or a film someone’s just been to see – but you can’t. Because the discomfort between your legs is unbearable. It fills every … [Read more...] about The Princess and the Frozen Pea: PGAD
RxISK Prize: Campaign & Challenge
The RxISK Prize campaign took off 3 months ago. The generosity of donors from all walks of life - many out of work because of the impact of these conditions on them - has been astonishing. There have also been substantial anonymous donations. While many of those affected have lost faith in doctors and pharmaceutical companies, seeing the donations come in has restored a … [Read more...] about RxISK Prize: Campaign & Challenge
Here We Stand, We Can Do No Other
Editorial Note. This post runs hand in hand with Vampire Medicine and Cisparency on David Healy.org. It is the second of three posts, following on from Reformation Day laying the basis for a RxISK Map which is linked to the RxISK Prize. When you are facing down the barrel of a tank… Pharmaceutical companies, medical academics, the government and the media will pitch … [Read more...] about Here We Stand, We Can Do No Other
RxISK Prize: Stigma and Recovery
This continues the series of posts about the RxISK Prize. It lays the way for the RxISK Prize and Map which will feature next week Stigma PSSD, PFS, PRSD and PGAD come with a heavy burden of stigma. This is a problem AIDS activists met head-on and conquered in an extraordinary fashion. It had never been done quite like this before by anyone. In the early 1980s few … [Read more...] about RxISK Prize: Stigma and Recovery
RxISK Prize: Global Impact
Globalization is not a word that's in favor at the moment. In the face of this very recent economic development that seemed to be sweeping the board in the 1980s and 1990s, we now want to reassert national boundaries, hang onto "our" jobs, and keep out others - sometimes those who have done a great deal to create our prosperity in the first place. This is understandable. … [Read more...] about RxISK Prize: Global Impact