When Brandon Lawes was prescribed a benzodiazepine by an emergency room physician, he was left uninformed about the risks. What followed was a downward spiral into akathisia and related iatrogenic harm. Tune in and learn more on our Akathisia Stories podcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYTRdW_dmEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYTRdW_dmE
🚨 “This Is a National Emergency” – Featuring Brandon Lawes
What happens when a prescribed medication causes a life-threatening reaction, but no one recognizes it?
In this powerful episode of Akathisia Stories, independent natural health researcher and YouTube creator Brandon Lawes shares his harrowing experience with medication-induced akathisia and neurological injury following a prescription for Ativan (lorazepam).
Brandon describes:
🔹 Severe akathisia and extreme inner restlessness
🔹 Repeated misdiagnosis as “bipolar” and “schizophrenic”
🔹 Years of being told his symptoms were “all in his head”
🔹 The devastating consequences of unrecognized drug-induced harm
🔹 How CYP450 metabolism issues and drug-drug interactions contributed to his suffering
🔹 The role of patient advocacy and forensic pharmacology in uncovering the truth
As Brandon explains, akathisia is not a rare curiosity—it is a public health issue that can lead to suicide, self-harm, violence, and profound suffering when left unrecognized.
🎧 Join host Ivan Kaiser as he and Brandon discuss akathisia, benzodiazepines, pharmacogenomics, complex chronic illness, and why independent, non-pharma-funded education is essential to protecting patients.
📢 If you or a loved one has experienced akathisia or medication-induced harm, please consider sharing your story. Reach out at share@MISSD.co.
The Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation (MISSD) welcomes recent discussion in Independent Australia examining antidepressant use and the limitations of the “chemical imbalance” narrative.
With approximately 14% of Australians taking antidepressants, concerns about overprescribing, long-term use, and withdrawal effects continue to grow. Current evidence does not strongly the serotonin deficiency theory often used to explain these medications.
MISSD’s focus remains on patient safety:
We recognize that medications can help some individuals, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Greater access to non-drug supports and transparent conversations in healthcare are essential.
Read the full article here: https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/the-serotonin-myth-and-the-medicating-of-australia,21102.
A recent report highlights how limited access to therapy and mental health support is driving increased antidepressant prescribing in some areas.
While some medications can help people, patients and families are too often not warned about serious adverse effects such as akathisia—a medication-induced disorder that is often mistaken for worsening anxiety or depression. When akathisia is not recognized, distress may escalate through wrongful dose increases or additional medications.
Patients deserve accurate risk information and access to non-drug treatment options prior to prescriptions. Read the full article here: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/health-news/poor-mental-health-care-is-forcing-gps-in-certain-parts-of-the-country-to-dish-out-pills/ar-AA21dByv
Check out MISSD’s free educational resources to help consumers, clinicians and caregivers understand akathisia and prevent avoidable harm. Courses at: http://MISSD.LearnUpon.com/catalog.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the 21-year-old Norwich student who tragically took his own life after experiencing severe side effects from hair loss pills. Read the full story here https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/26122788.norwich-student-took-life-taking-hair-loss-pills/.
Cases like this highlight a critical but often overlooked issue: certain medications, including those prescribed for hair loss (such as finasteride), have been associated with akathisia — a med-induced disorder that can drive suicidal thoughts and actions. France recently strengthened warnings on finasteride for exactly these psychiatric risks.
Healthcare consumers and providers need to know about med-induced self-harm, violence, and suicidality. Our free resources and akathisia courses at MISSD.LearnUpon.com/catalog are available to everyone.
“I was begging for help; They just gave me more drugs. I was told that I would have to be on it (Zoloft) for life.” -Stacey, prescribed sertraline at age 18.
Listen to the full podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyVXZZW-aE&t=8s.
A recent Psychiatric Times article on medications and suicide prevention, featuring AFSP’s Chief Medical Officer, fails to mention akathisia. Given that akathisia is associated with self-harm, violence, and suicide, and is often made worse due to misdiagnoses and polypharmacy, akathisia should be a part of suicide prevention. Comprehensive suicide prevention must include clear information about akathisia, informed consent, and the need for close monitoring.
AFSP describes its research funding as “private donations,” including support from pharma‑linked foundations and partners, and has disclosed institutional grants from companies such as Otsuka and Pfizer. When suicide‑prevention messaging is partly funded by industry, omitting akathisia undermines fully informed, patient‑centered care. The Psychiatric Times’ opinion piece is here: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/effective-psychiatric-medication-use-suicide-prevention-a-conversation-with-christine-yu-moutier-md.
New SSRI prescribing guidelines mark an important step forward. Emphasis on safer tapering, informed consent, whole-person care, and regular review reflects what patients and families have reported for years.
Greater awareness of akathisia—a medication-induced state of intense inner restlessness linked to suicidality—is critical for prevention and early intervention.
A recent review of ketamine trials suggests that the drug showed rapid reductions in suicidal and depressive symptoms in some patients. What the report also highlights, however, are key limitations in clinical trials, including small study sizes, challenges with blinding, potential expectancy bias, and limited long-term safety data.
These issues extend beyond ketamine and reflect broader challenges in psychiatric drug research. The important question remains:
Are medication-induced conditions such as akathisia being consistently and clearly assessed in clinical trials?
MISSD calls for greater transparency and accuracy in clinical drug trials, including clearer adverse-event reporting and improved clinician education. Understanding these distinctions is essential to patient safety.
Stacey’s experience is one we hear far too often.
In this episode of Akathisia Stories, she shares how medication-induced akathisia was repeatedly misdiagnosed—leading to additional prescriptions that worsened her symptoms. Stacey’s story and petition highlight why clearer drug warnings and accurate risk info are essential.
▶️ Listen to the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqyVXZZW-aE&t=8s
📣 Take action: Sign the Change.org petition calling for clearer warnings on medications known to cause akathisia: https://tinyurl.com/ack95w3
🎓 Learn with MISSD’s free akathisia courses: https://missd.learnupon.com/catalo