“We thought it was critical to make people aware how to navigate through and around the sudden cardiac drug risk that does exist with these medications,” said Mayo Clinic professor of cardiovascular medicine Dr. Michael Ackerman, “and that’s why Mayo Clinic urgently assembled this special article.”

Further limiting its potential for population-wide use, the drug can “cause suicidal thoughts, emotional instability and nightmares, effects consistent with the side effect known as akathisia.”

Read the full article at https://www.postbulletin.com/life/health/mayo-warns-drug-touted-by-trump-as-covid–cure/article_78e0d526-6efa-11ea-a503-e3b5c2c69d56.html

Today is “World Sleep Day” and a good time to remind consumers that many commonly-prescribed medications can cause insomnia. Insomnia can be a symptom of akathisia and other serious drug-induced disorders that can impair cognitive functioning and alter behaviors.

Read the full article at https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/insomnia/causes/medicines-that-can-cause-insomnia

“One reason so many people may be on antidepressants is that they are hard to get off of! Stopping such medications suddenly can lead to unpleasant symptoms that go away if the person starts taking the medicine again. Nervousness, anxiety, sensations like electric shocks, dizziness, confusion, insomnia and bouts of unprovoked crying can be hard to handle.”

Read the full article at https://www.journalnow.com/lifestyles/home-garden/more-than-million-americans-take-antidepressants-authors-say/article_36f2f74b-e268-5731-bdc0-d92a036d2cd4.html

The FDA determined the “risks of treatment from Singulair outweigh the benefits in certain patients, particularly those with mild symptoms that can be adequately treated with alternative therapies.”

“As reports of suicide and other adverse events continued, the FDA evaluated available data on the risk for neuropsychiatric events, including from reports submitted through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and published observational studies. “

Get the full story at https://www.healio.com/pulmonology/asthma/news/online/%7Bc7fabfc2-e3c5-4d8d-9156-807181fdfa55%7D/fda-requires-boxed-warning-for-montelukast

Akathisia 101 is open to all–consumers, caregivers, health and safety professionals, etc. Here are a few comments from clinicians who completed MISSD’s free course available at MISSD.LearnUpon.com

“I work in a community mental health setting and I plan to email my colleagues this information so we all can be better informed.”

“I feel much more competent in supporting my clients as a result of taking this course. I work primarily with veterans struggling to cope with PTSD.”

“Heard about it at RCPSYCH congress in June-excellent resource that I will share with colleagues.”

An open letter written to the VA by US veteran, Derek Blumke, highlights adverse drug effects, informed consent problems and the need for meaningful actions to reduce iatrogenic harm and avoidable deaths among veterans.

Read the letter at:

https://www.madinamerica.com/2020/03/open-letter-va-secretary-wilkie-deprescribing-veteran-suicides-plan/