MISSD started with one story, one devastating loss, and continues more than a decade later with one critical mission: To save lives.
Today’s episode of Antidepressant Risks features MISSD founder Wendy Dolin’s powerful story of akathisia awareness and safe patient advocacy. Listen to Dolin’s powerful conversation with Katinka Blackford Newman at: https://youtu.be/judm6Ae96u8.
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
On Prescribed Harm Awareness Day, we’re highlighting Side Effects May Include…, a powerful new play by award-winning playwright Lisa Loomer, now showing at the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University near the Washington DC metro area.
The production sheds light on akathisia and the often-overlooked risks of medication-induced suicide—issues central to MISSD’s mission. We were honored to serve as a resource for the play. See our press release for more info at: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/834725047/lisa-loomer-s-critically-acclaimed-play-highlights-akathisia-and-prescribed-harm.
MISSD applauds award-winning playwright Lisa Loomer for her powerful and deeply personal play, Side Effects May Include…, now running at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. The festival is recognized as one of the top theater festivals in the world by publications such as The New York Times and American Theater.
Inspired by her own son’s heartbreaking experience, Loomer adeptly brings akathisia and related iatrogenic harm into the spotlight. Akathisia is a devastating, medication-induced disorder that can lead to self-harm, violence, and suicide. Yet most sufferers report they were never warned about the risk, nor given fully informed consent before being prescribed medications associated with akathisia. Most sufferers also report their akathisia symptoms were missed, dismissed or misdiagnosed as signs of DSM-labeled disorders.
Critics are praising Side Effects May Include… for its emotional impact, gripping storytelling, and steadfast look at a global public health crisis.
“Like being burned alive in a locked coffin.”
“Living in a scream.”
These are the words used to describe akathisia in the play—and for many, they are all too real.
MISSD is honored to be listed as a resource in this critically acclaimed production. We are deeply grateful to Lisa Loomer for using her voice to raise awareness about a condition that affects millions, demands informed consent, and deserves urgent attention. For more information about this production, see https://dctheaterarts.org/2025/07/17/side-effects-may-include-at-contemporary-american-theater-festival/.
We stand with Stephanie McGill-Lynch and her campaign for Jake’s Amendment in Ireland. After losing her 14-year-old son Jake in 2013, she’s been calling for essential reforms to the Coroner’s Act—so that iatrogenic harm (medically induced harm) can be properly recorded as a contributing cause of death when warranted.
When healthcare contributes to a tragedy, families deserve truth—not silence. Blaming victims of iatrogenesis for their own prescribed demise is morally wrong and can perpetuate stigma and lead to further medical harm.
Stephanie’s advocacy is a powerful step toward honesty, healing, and accountability. Listen and learn more about Jake’s Amendment at: https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/jakes-amendment-why-sinn-fein-wa-ZjQ5NjgzZTY3NGE5NTEyMGI4MGY0NmQ1MDQ0YzQyYjA=.
Akathisia is often one of many symptoms of SSRI withdrawal. “What most prescribers and consumers don’t understand is that depression pills can cause “symptoms that persist for long periods after you stop them,” said British psychiatrist Mark Horowitz.
Symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, electronic brain zaps, dizziness…and can be permanenet or last an average of eight years. Read the full article at https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5460018/antidepressant-ssri-side-effects-withdrawal-symptoms.