The patient information leaflet for semaglutide includes a warning to watch out for depression and suicidal thoughts. Semaglutide is sold under the brand name Ozempic when it’s prescribed for diabetes and Wegovy when it’s prescribed for weight loss.
It’s good to see this article mentions suicide as an SSRI side effect, but it would have been a better article if the author would communicate akathisia as a main reasons why.
MISSD was founded 11 years ago after Stewart Dolin’s akathisia-induced death on July 15, 2010. Today marks the 14th anniversary of the loss of Stewart, who was a loving husband and father, dedicated professional, and loyal friend to many.
While today our memories of Stewart remain etched in our hearts, we also celebrate the accomplishments MISSD has made to increase akathisia awareness and patient safety. This week we’ve reached thousands of education professionals at the American Association of School Counselors (ASCA) annual conference in Kansas City. Counselors we’ve spoken with are increasingly aware that many medications students are prescribed can cause suicidality, self-harm, and violence. Some counselors were even aware of the medical term, “akathisia” that precipitates these adverse effects.
Thank you for supporting MISSD on our mission to save lives.
MISSD founder, Wendy Dolin (r) and Marcie Berman, helped thousands of school counselors learn about akathisia at ASCA’s annual conference in Kansas City. Many prescriptions children take carry an FDA black box suicide warning and school counselors can help monitor for any unusual changes in thinking or behaviors.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among vets under 45.
But many vets sharing their adverse experiences in our latest public health video report these feelings started AFTER they were prescribed multiple medications in lieu of talk therapy. Listen & learn.
Yesterday, Memorial Day, recognized veterans & service to country.
Today our latest public health video recognizes the challenges many veterans face when seeking therapeutic care but are instead harmed by misguided prescribing and akathisia.
Our recent ad in Psychotherapy Networker reaches thousands of clinicians to further akathisia awareness. Akathisia 101 is open to ALL and offers 1 CME. Take the course at MISSD.LearnUpon.com.
Akathisia, anxiety, and suicidality induced by weight-loss drug, Ozempic? Psychiatric adverse effects are being reported by people taking Ozempic. One woman who tried to strangle herself had “hypomanic-type symptoms,” said Dr. Shahan Syed, of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. “That resulted in [what] could be akathisia, could be restlessness, but subsequently anxiety is the biggest factor that tips us over the edge doing something impulsive, which this patient particularly did.”
Suicide prevention programs that don’t ask about prescription drugs are turning a blind eye to iatrogenic harm and death. This excellent article shows how akathisia can be caused by one supposedly “harmless” prescription and then lead to years of a harmful prescribing cascade, misdiagnoses, and avoidable harm.
A recent RxISK.org article explores treatment-induced Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD). Improving our understanding of PPPD, which is associated with SSRIs, “may shed light on akathisia, a lethal ‘emotional’ effect” associated with SSRIs. In many cases dizziness coincided with suicidal agitation.”
If you think you might have PPPD, submit a report at RxISK.org to increase our understanding of PPPD and akathisia. For more information about PPPD, see https://rxisk.org/balancing-our-bodies-and-our-selves/ and the associated links included in the article.
