Many people who stop depression pills suffer from withdrawal and other adverse effects they didn’t learn about at the time of prescribing. Their physical and mental health declined from iatrogenesis—not from an underlying condition.
“I felt so tired all the time, as well as sick, dizzy and just out of it. I had to keep working, but by the time I got home in the evening I was flat on my bed,” said Julie Hiener, who tried to withdraw from citalopram.
A few months later, Julie started suffering memory lapses. “I’d be driving through town, and I’d suddenly think: “How did I get here?”
Akathisia is frequently misrepresented and misunderstood, even by highly-regarded medical establishments. One example is the Cleveland Clinic’s akathisia info page. It describes akathisia as simply a “movement disorder” and appears to minimize symptoms of intense inner restlessness, agitation and suicidality. This incomplete and inadequate information can delay diagnosis, increase emotional distress & tragic outcomes for akathisia sufferers. See https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23954-akathisia for the clinic’s akathisia info.
Our press release today highlights the struggle many vets face when seeking therapeutic care.
“MISSD recently presented at the first Veterans Harm Reduction Symposium, exploring the relationship between medication and veteran suicide. Symposium attendees shared similar adverse experiences as those MISSD spotlights in Voices of Veterans,” said Dolin. “Akathisia and related adverse psychiatric drug effects are systemic problems and not as rare as pharmaceutical companies have led the public to believe.”
The latest podcast on KevinMD features Martha Rosenberg, a journalist who has covered healthcare issues for decades, explaining how pharma uses fear as a marketing weapon to drive profits.
It was good to see the recent UK article about SSRI-induced alcohol cravings (article link shared in our recent post below).
More than 4 years ago, MISSD presented to the Hazelden Betty Ford Center about this very important health topic. View our presentation to learn more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xs0u7cdiSE.
“Tony suffered from a little-known side-effect of SSRIs: they can turn some people with no history of alcoholic dependence into full-on alcoholics.
‘Taking an antidepressant caused me to develop an alcohol use disorder, which stripped me of my ability to control or stop my consumption of alcohol,’ he recalls. It caused me to black-out after just a few pints and my behaviour changed to a scary degree.’
We’re proud to share this year’s highlights–and we realize such accomplishments are made possible by generous donors, grassroots collaboration, and thoughtful people who share our free resources to help others. Thank you!
Risks of self-harm, suicide, and violence–to include iatrogenic homicides, were known for decades by the pharmaceutical companies. This article is an excellent summary of how such out-of-character violence is hidden and dismissed. “Before marketing the companies ran two week healthy volunteer trials, in which people, like Traci Johnson, became suicidal and aggressive. So companies knew adverse events were coming from which doctors needed to be shielded – especially as no-one would get anything less than a toxic dose.”
How is it that an ingredient in the first version of 7-Up might help alleviate symptoms of akathisia and antidepressant withdrawal? RxISK.org’s recent article is an intriguing look at possible treatments currently being explored and discussed by some sufferers and medical researchers.
Read the article at https://rxisk.org/antidotes-for-akathisia-and-dysregulation/ and please contact RxISK.org if you or someone you know has experiences to share about these possible treatment options. It’s great to see more possible treatment options being explored given that MISSD frequently hears from people searching for ways to alleviate their symptoms.
It’s also nice to read, “We have liaised closely with groups like The Medication Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stuart Dolin –MISSD– set up by Wendy Dolin and run by an impressive group of people whose lives have all been touched by the catastrophes akathisia can visit on families.” Thanks, RxISK.org!
MISSD designated this annual day of global observance to increase akathisia awareness and remember all who suffer from or have been lost to this medication-induced disorder.
“Understanding akathisia is vital to preventing medication-induced self-harm, violence, and suicide,” said MISSD founder Wendy Dolin. “It’s crucial for people to be aware of the real risks and potential benefits before starting medications that can trigger akathisia. Our latest public health campaign, now reaching over a million active-duty military members and personnel on US military bases, is a major step toward greater awareness.” Read the full press release at https://www.einpresswire.com/article/744814742/international-akathisia-awareness-day-boosting-knowledge-to-enhance-patient-safety-and-prevent-medication-harm.
MISSD is reaching more than a million military members and base personnel with our new digital ads on bases serving all military branches. Together, we continue making a positive difference in patient safety.
