MISSD is pleased to see increased public awareness of critical adverse drug effects that can cause akathisia, psychosis, serotonin toxicity, delirium, and precipitate medication-induced suicide. Take and share our accredited akathisia course so that others can be safer health care consumers. See http://MISSD.LearnUpon.com

The MISSD podcast series called Akathisia Stories features the real experiences of families who lost loved ones to akathisia-induced death. Health care professionals, consumers, and caregivers can learn much by tuning in at https://www.studiocchicago.com/akathisia-stories

MISSD applauds that the Federal Communications Commission is designating an easily remembered phone number–988–as America’s new suicide prevention hotline. It is also critical that crisis counselors who are trained in suicide prevention be educated about akathisia and ask callers if they have recently stopped, started, or changed a medication dose or type.

Read the full article here: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/23/politics/fcc-national-suicide-hotline/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2WEZfj5fE1ypHE2YcE6p8Vkn0AA9kmeVHuBBAQByGAS20WnjLUEl0NH_Q

MISSD was founded after Stewart died an akathisia-induced death 10 years ago today. We’ve accomplished much since then, and ask that you help us make akathisia a household word.

“COVID-19 has increased public awareness of drug risks. Given that some drugs being explored as COVID-19 treatments can cause akathisia, now more than ever, it is time to talk about akathisia so that lives can be saved,” said Dolin.

Get the full story at https://www.einpresswire.com/article/521758867/akathisia-can-cause-suicide

MISSD always stresses the importance of monitoring for adverse drug effects when stopping, starting, or changing a drug dose or type. The same recommendation is made when changing a medication between generic and brand name.

“Don’t assume that your side effects are normal, especially when you have not experienced them before when taking the same drug. You can also submit adverse drug reports to the FDA via their MedWatch program and report any possible concerns,” said Dr. Joshua Brown, a drug safety researcher for the Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.

“Generic drugs make up an estimated 90% of all prescriptions dispensed to patients. In clinical training, we are all taught that generics are the same as the name brand. However, as generic drug recalls continue to occur, and after reading the book Bottle of Lies by Katherine Eban, you start to get a picture that it may not be true,” said Brown.

Read the full article at https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/name-brand-vs-generic-drug

Physicians should frame treatment options by their “harms and benefits,'” not by their “risks and benefits,” according to a recent article by Dr. David J. Alfandre, an ethicist from the National Center for Ethics in Healthcare.

“Presenting treatment decisions as a comparison of risks vs. benefits creates an inherent imbalance in which benefits simply exist, whereas harms are uncertain.”

Akathisia and other serious adverse drug effects can be better identified and harms reduced when prescribers accurately communicate what patients and caregivers should look for regarding such treatment-induced harms. Read the full article at https://www.renalandurologynews.com/home/news/ethical-issues-in-medicine/explaining-treatment-risks-to-patients/?fbclid=IwAR3Vzc4qLvSAzNK3eq5gvRSQH8AkFDquKTET1KlnoGTk8Tmedms44pvDvvQ

Accurate info about adverse drug effects can reduce avoidable suffering and deaths. Our recent presentation to Chicago’s Hazelden Betty Ford Center about akathisia and antidepressant-induced alcoholism is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xs0u7cdiSE