Out-of-character, sudden deaths continue to raise urgent concerns about the mental health side effects of doxycycline, a commonly prescribed antibiotic. Teenager Alana Cutland died after taking the drug which was prescribed as an anti-malaria med prior to her univiersity trip to study in Madagascar. Her devastated parents emphasized that while antibiotics play an important role, the severity of adverse effects like suicidal ideation can be virtually undocumented, leaving families shocked and grieving.

Emily Darlington, MP, has called for the Department of Health to review the coroner’s report. A 2019 BMJ case report also noted suicidal thoughts in young people taking doxycycline for skin conditions, highlighting the need for awareness and vigilance.

Akathisia is a medication-induced disorder often associated with medication-induced suicidality and suicide. MISSD believes patient information leaflets should fully inform consumers about suicidality riks — and should specifically list the term, AKATHISIA. Read the full article at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/36005831/alana-cutland-doxycycline-drug-suicide/.

In 2023, the FDA received over 1.4 million reports of adverse drug reactions, many of which involved violence, suicidal thoughts, or actual harm to self and others. This data highlights the critical need for greater transparency, accountability, and vigilance in prescribing and monitoring medications.

MISSD emphasizes the urgency of educating patients and healthcare providers about these risks, ensuring that side effects — particularly those that can lead to harm or violence — are taken seriously, tracked, and prevented whenever possible. Read the full article at: https://www.aol.com/news/fda-adverse-event-data-reveals-194654547.html.

More than 155,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001. Among them were U.S. Marine Corps veteran Hunter Whitley, 23, and U.S. Army veteran Connor Brumfield, 22. Both were prescribed SSRIs by VA practitioners without being warned of the FDA’s “black box” warning: the heightened risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in people under 24.

The VA’s Office of Inspector General determined that this failure to provide informed consent likely contributed to their deaths.

Black box warnings exist to protect patients — but only if prescribers take them seriously and communicate them clearly. Veterans, like all patients, have a right to be informed of both the possible benefits and the real risks before starting any medications.

MISSD remains committed to advocating for transparency, clear communication about drug risks, and the safe use of medications to prevent future tragedies. Read the full article at: https://www.madinamerica.com/2025/08/veteran-suicide-prevention-legislation-introduced-that-will-save-lives/.

A newly published forensic investigation reveals how a tragic suicide was caused by the interaction of three commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs. This case, published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine, highlights how even drugs considered “safe” can become lethal in combination. The synergistic effects of these medications triggered serotonin toxicity, respiratory depression, and ultimately medication-induced suicide.

The danger wasn’t just the overdose—it was how the drugs amplified each other’s toxic effects, overwhelming the central nervous system. The case shows how akathisia, serotonin toxicity, and other adverse drug effects are often overlooked. Theres is an urgent need for better therapeutic monitoring, clear communication about risks, and education for prescribers, patients, and caregivers. Read the full study at: https://bioengineer.org/paroxetine-overdose-suicide-linked-to-benzodiazepine-antipsychotics/.

A new Wall Street Journal investigation exposes the widespread and dangerous practice of prescribing multiple psychiatric drugs—known as polypharmacy—to veterans with PTSD. Despite VA guidelines discouraging such combinations, hundreds of thousands of veterans are still being given these drug cocktails, often without full awareness of the risks.

The side effects can be devastating: increased suicidality, emotional blunting, severe withdrawal symptoms, and even death. Many veterans report being prescribed five or more central nervous system drugs at once—with little access to the therapy that could address the root causes of their trauma.

MISSD continues to advocate for accurate akathisia diagnoses and transparency in clinical drug trials so that healthcare consumers and professionals know the real risks prior to prescribing.

Our veterans deserve better. Read the full WSJ article here: https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/veterans-affairs-ptsd-polypharmacy-3c9673ac