“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/

“In 2018, 70.9 million prescriptions for antidepressants were written and the number had almost doubled since 2008, according to NHS England.

Yet, four in five patients said they had not been warned of potential side-effects, found mental health charity Mind who conducted a poll of 12,000 people.”

Tapering strips may help those who are struggling to withdraw from these drugs. Read the full story here: https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/25/mums-entire-body-shakes-violently-coming-off-anti-depressants-fast-12301906/?ito=cbshare&fbclid=IwAR3nv4fnx28GRaIWB5ejR0nNAP8Qs7sj4OVLzy00XUROPWAdFW9x7A_mIaM

Another research study warns that long term use of drugs marketed as antidepressants (SSRIs) “increases patients’ risk of developing antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.” Yet many prescribers and consumers remain unaware that these symptoms are signs of adverse drug effects to include withdrawal akathisia.

Read the full article here: https://www.sciencealert.com/antidepressants-can-cause-withdrawal-like-symptoms-that-make-getting-off-them-harder

“With over 600 medications carrying boxed warnings and over 40% of patients in the ambulatory care setting receiving at least one medication with a black box warning, it’s important for healthcare providers to be aware of commonly prescribed drugs that carry these severe side effect warnings.”

For the list of 10 black box warnings every physician should know when communicating drug safety and treatment, see https://www.mdlinx.com/internal-medicine/article/4873

Laura, who informed the FDA in hopes of adding a black box warning on the asthma drug, Singular, states the drug caused her son “severe, debilitating neuropsychiatric symptoms.”

This type of reaction typically occurs “with the abrupt discontinuation of centrally acting medications, like antidepressants or benzodiazepines. It is often referred to as a “withdrawal syndrome” and can last for weeks, months, or years as the brain recalibrates.”

Read the full story here: https://medshadow.org/drug-induced-side-effects/

Consumers state Lyrica, made by Pfizer pharmaceuticals, caused suicidal thoughts, brain fog and drug-induced anorexia.

Read the full article at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/lyrica-pbs-drug-linked-to-depression-anxiety/11921882?fbclid=IwAR3_53Mp6tkTyIEEGD_gAzbf6CQS2T2VC0oQPKeIILiNEwLY8E4do-hFyg0

As more people share their factual experiences when trying to stop drugs marketed as antidepressants, the British Medical Journal is releasing a survey for general practitioners in hope of helping doctors understand the adverse effects many consumers experience when trying to stop taking SSRIs. Read the full article here.