Knowing the causes and symptoms of akathisia prior to starting, stopping, or changing dosage or type of certain medications can save lives. Had these families been in formed of the risks prior to receiving these prescriptions, they likely would never have had an akathisia story to share in our public health video. Listen and learn at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibCOhnmM608
See and share our public awareness video, “What Does Akathisia Look Like?” Akathisia is often missed or misdiagnosed in part because of the false belief that all akathisia sufferers exhibit uncontrollable movements. Some akathisia sufferers do not exhibit movement and others are able to control movements for short periods of time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER4JGnRssSk
Cepro and Levaquin, two commonly prescribed antibiotics can cause akathisia and death. But the FDA doesn’t have a black box suicide warning on either drug despite a medical expert’s urging.
Heather McCarthy, a mom whose son, Shea, died after suffering the adverse effects of Levaquin, points out these iatrogenic deaths are prompted by psychiatric side effects and aren’t traditional deaths of despair. “By all the visible circumstances does it look like suicide? Yes,” said Heather. “I’m a mom. I loved my son. I knew my son. He did not want to die. To put these all in a box of suicide, I feel is a real injustice to these victims.”
Read the full article at https://www.wrtv.com/news/wrtv-investigates/new-push-for-change-as-growing-number-of-suicides-linked-to-popular-antibiotics
A new study finds clinicians need withdrawal guidance and training to better ensure patients can safely discontinue these drugs. When SSRI withdrawal and withdrawal akathisia is misdiagnosed as relapse, consumers are more likely to continue taking risky drugs they do not need.
Read the full article at https://www.madinamerica.com/2022/02/official-guidelines-antidepressant-discontinuation-fail-practitioners-patients/
“Studies have identified a correlation between the incidence of suicide and suicide ideation and the prescription of antidepressants, particularly in children and adolescents. Two recent studies have shown that antidepressants may alter brain structure and can cause neurotoxic effects on the developing brain…” Read the full article at https://www.madinamerica.com/2022/02/negative-impact-antidepressants-youth/
Yesterday MISSD released its latest video which was produced in collaboration with No Shame On U and funded by an UpStart grant. Akathisia isn’t a mental health disorder; it’s a medication-induced disorder that can cause suicidality. It’s important that the public is informed of akathisia and situational challenges that can cause avoidable death.
On our latest episode of Akathisia Stories, Marcello and his mother, Lisa, shed light on the challenges of obtaining an accurate akathisia diagnosis and treatment. Marcello was in college when he was prescribed a common drug marketed as an antidepressant. He wasn’t depressed but was given the drug for mild, “garden variety” anxiety. That prescription started his decline. Listen and learn at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQvtN1kz-TQ
Suicide prevention initiatives should not keep akathisia in the dark. MISSD is pleased our latest video includes akathisia as a suicide risk factor. While akathisia-induced deaths are not the same as traditional deaths of despair caused by depression, akathisia is frequently misdiagnosed as depression — and then mistreated. This video was a collaboration with No Shame On U and funded by an UpStart grant. Please see and share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r9lcvh90kE
Given that doctors take an oath to first, do no harm, this opinion piece is disturbing. Children–and adults–who take SSRIs are at increased risk of suffering akathisia and medication-induced suicide. Yet consumers and caregivers are often left uninformed and fewer than 5% of prescribers ever monitor for suicidal thoughts after dosing.
Read the full article at https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/After-the-FDA-issued-warnings-about-16919922.php
Families should be made aware that suicidality and suicide can be adverse effects caused by Prozac and other SSRIs marketed as antidepressants.
“I just thought it was the trauma and blamed it on all that, but it was a rapid decrease in my mental health as soon as I got put on it. I didn’t want to be alive. I felt everything was against me. My head was just so messy because of this medication,” said Stephanie, who was prescribed Prozac as a child.
Read the full article at https://news.stv.tv/scotland/being-put-on-antidepressants-as-a-teen-made-me-feel-more-suicidal