March 2, 2021 at 10:47 am

Patients will Present with Agitation…

Emergency medical specialists and other first responders need to be able to recognize the signs of serotonin toxicity given that it can precipitate akathisia, especially if a drug dosage has recently been changed.

“Most of these patients will be agitated…”

Read the full story at https://www.emsworld.com/article/1225590/edge-ems-serotonin-syndrome-neuroleptic-malignant-syndrome-and-malignant-hyperthermia

March 1, 2021 at 10:24 am

Docs Need Akathisia Training

It’s important that doctors are aware that certain prescription drugs can cause withdrawal akathisia when discontinued. This includes drugs marketed for asthma, depression, infections, acne and mental health challenges.

“Perhaps the worst symptom of these is akathisia, described as a horrific type of pain and agitation that is poorly understood and seldom taken seriously by doctors.” Read the full article at https://www.madinamerica.com/2021/02/keys-successful-discontinuation-antipsychotic-medication/

February 22, 2021 at 2:23 pm

Akathisia Awareness Can Save Lives

You can earn CEU credit and increase your akathisia knowledge by taking our free, accredited one-hour course at MISSD.LearnUpon.com

Please share our course and videos to help others understand this prescription-drug induced disorder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x86aCDtvbT0

February 18, 2021 at 9:12 am

New Drug Risk Warning Labels Might Improve Patient Safety

Some antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, can cause akathisia and other serious adverse effects that negatively impact mental health. A new drug warning label might help consumers be better informed at the time of prescribing. Why isn’t the FDA embracing them?

Read the full article at https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/02/side-effects-drug-labels-levaquin-cipro/617992/

February 11, 2021 at 9:16 am

Akathisia and Parkinson’s Drugs

Many different types of drugs can cause akathisia.

“My condition seemed to deteriorate even more after I started taking this new medication. My akathisia started to worsen about an hour before my next dose of C/L was scheduled.”

Read the full article at https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2021/02/09/appearance-reality-invisible-nonmotor-symptoms/

February 10, 2021 at 1:14 pm

“Akathisia Stories” Help Others Be Better Informed

Consumers need to be informed of FDA Black Box warnings because the warnings contain critical drug risk info that can save lives.

“Prescribers never thought to tell us about it (the @US_FDA black box warning). If that information hadn’t been withheld…had informed consent been given, we wouldn’t be doing this show today,” -Natalie’s mom

Listen to MISSD’s Akathisia Stories at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-3-kristina-kaiser-gehrki/id1468978990?i=1000446927305

February 9, 2021 at 5:44 am

Singulair and Suicide

When asked if he remembers what happened to him, the now back-to-normal little boy replies, “You mean when I lost my mind?”

“For families like Tyson’s, Singulair may trigger a journey of confusion, concern, and turmoil. For others, it ends in death.” Merck sold the product for 10 years before adding depression, aggression, and suicide warnings.

Read the full article at https://www.kmov.com/singulairs-dangerous-side-effects-allergy-medicine-can-cause-depression-suicide/article_988773c2-4e9d-5974-af52-1e141717a0d6.html

February 8, 2021 at 8:15 am

Akathisia: Three Seasons in Hell

“During the day, I could ease my inner restlessness a little by walking in the park, sometimes for five or six hours at a time. However, there was nothing I could do about the insomnia at night because something would jolt me awake as soon as I started to drift off into sleep. It felt like a mini explosion or electric shock that ran through my body from head to foot. It was hard to describe in words…”

This thorough personal account of akathisia is well worth reading: https://ryanelliot.medium.com/three-seasons-in-hell-384a07a80a96

February 5, 2021 at 12:19 pm

New Book, “Shipwreck of the Singular,” States Health Care Needs Courage

Dr. David Healy’s latest book examines our changing environment through a healthcare lens and explores how we arrived at our present point of peril. MISSD believes a better understanding of such can improve healthcare and reduce adverse drug events, which is the fourth leading cause of death.

“The people best placed to grasp what is going wrong and force our ‘betters’ to justify the distinctions that have been bestowed on them are those whose lives have been touched by what is going wrong in healthcare,” said Healy, a psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, author and scientist.

Read the blog at https://davidhealy.org/shipwreck-of-the-singular-healthcares-castaways/ and buy the book at https://www.amazon.com/Shipwreck-Singular-Healthcares-David-Healy/dp/1989963145/

February 4, 2021 at 6:23 am

New Film Explores Polypharmacy Harms Among Vets

Filmmaker Michael Gier’s new documentary, “Wounded Heroes,” explores suicidality, polypharmacy harms and alternative, non-drug treatments among veterans and active-duty military members.

One veteran was prescribed more than 15 different drugs. “I was given what they called medically-induced apathy, which only made my PTSD worse,” said the vet.

“There has to be something better than just handing out a bunch of drugs,” Gier said. “Especially when he said the drugs weren’t working — they were just a Band-Aid.” Read the full article at https://kdhnews.com/fort_hood_herald/across_the_fort/upcoming-documentary-highlights-programs-helping-to-end-veteran-suicide/article_b25c7fbe-665a-11eb-86ca-3371dd57d5a8.html