Prof Casey says antidepressants do not cause suicide; the FDA and the EMA are lying then?

I have a little problem. I love my country (Ireland) but have to admit that we Irish have a tendancy to accept our fate, no matter what. Corrupt policitions, the Catholic Church and our ‘key opinion leaders’ have been allowed to cause havoc on our lovely Emerald Isle for centuries. My main issue is our ‘leading’ psychiatrists who have and still are denying that antidepressants can cause suicide, despite the regulators and drug companies having to admit that they do.

I have already published a video where UCD psychiatrist Patricia Casey denies that antidepressants can cause suicide. As you know she has already sent me two solicitors letters (one and two) so here’s my problem; do I stop writing about what I believe in, that these drugs are killing people or do I say “póg mo thóin” and keep trying to warn the unsuspecting public? She certainly is not on her own and it seems that the College of Psychiatry of Ireland collectively believe that these drugs do not cause suicide. This is wrong on so many levels.

The EMA have warned that these drugs can increase the risk of suicide in under 25′s. The FDA added a black-box warning to all antidepressants because of the increased risk of suicide and yet our Irish psychiatrists continue to oppose the medicines regulators. This has got to stop. People are dying because of their ‘failure to warn’. Prof Casey was present at Shane’s Inquest and also this another mans, who co-incidentally were both taking Lundbeck’s drug. She sure does a lot of work for Lundbeck.

 

AC: Do you believe that citalopram can cause somebody who would not otherwise take their own life to do so?

CM (Lundbeck Doctor): Yes. http://davidhealy.org/model-doctors

 

póg mo thóin: Irish for “kiss my ass”.

 

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/something-is-rotten-in-irish-psychiatry/

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/was-this-a-campaign-of-intimidation-from-the-irish-college-of-psychiatry/

Lundbeck; Judge, Jury and executioner

Wiki: Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.

What’s just or fair about this; Last year it was reported that psychiatrists in Florida who were entrusted with diagnosing and prescribing drugs for wayward children, had taken huge speaker fees from drug makers.

The psychiatrists were hired by a state juvenile justice system. These supposedly wayward children were plied with heavy doses of powerful medications. Given that these drugs come with a black-box warning in America due to the risk of suicide accompanying these same drugs, it would make you wonder what kind of people are currently involved in American’s judicial system.

It was also reported this week that CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) are now partnering with Lundbeck, another drug company who happen to manufacture antidepressant drugs. Who made this decision and who thought this was a good idea?

Casa are supposed to work as advocates for abused and neglected children. These children would be of a similar age to other children that have caused Lundbeck and Forest Labs to be hauled through the courts numerous times. This was because their drugs Cipramil/Celexa and Lexapro/Cipralex have been found to have caused hundreds of suicides and violent deaths, as in the case of Mr Ian Fox. Most of these cases have been settled out of court, thereby allowing the evidence to remain confidential. What’s the price of a life to Lundbeck?

It’s bad enough that Lundbeck have Irish Psychiatrists in their pockets, are behind Irish depression sites and are sponsoring Irish sports events but allowing this company to target vulnerable children in the Justice system is going too far. These same children could be hauled before future courts as a direct result of the aggression that also accompanies Celexa/Lexapro. Lundbeck goal: to pilot a programme to be used by the other 1,000 CASA programmes across the nation.

Considering Lundbeck are currently being investigated by the European Commission, would it not make more sense to wait until the outcome of this investigation before this company is allowed anywhere near the Judicial system? It goes without saying that Lundbeck should not be allowed to have access to vulnerable children; What’s the plan? Hand-out some sample packs of suicidal Celexa or law-less Lexapro maybe?

Message to Lundbeck; Leave these kids alone, they have enough to contend with.

There are 1,161 suicides listed as an adverse side-effect of Citalopram on the RxISK.org website. There are 5,304 deaths listed as a side-effect of Lexapro on the same website.

The College of Psychiatry of Ireland; Protecting patient’s interests?

The lawyers acting for Staff Sgt Robert Bales who allegedly massacred 17 Afghans, are currently looking at whether the Prescribed drugs he was taking were to blame. An article in today’s Telegraph states Prescribed drugs ‘to blame over spate of violence among US soldiers’ Link. Bart Billings, a former military psychologist and combat stress expert, told the Los Angeles Times “We have never medicated our troops to the extent we are doing now … And I don’t believe the current increase in suicides and homicides in the military is a coincidence,”

It is widely recognised, see Shane’s report, that Akathisia, brought on by prescription drugs, is the condition which can cause a drug induced suicide and/or homicide.

The body entrusted with the knowledge, including side-effects, of these drugs in Ireland is The College of Psychiatry of Ireland. I have written before about their “failure to warn” and active denials that these drugs can cause suicide and violence, despite the drug companies and the medicines regulators having to do so. Here’s what their website has to say about akathisia and antidepressants, which include a lot of ‘may be’s’ and theories;

What is antidepressant medication?

The manner in which antidepressants help to restore normal mood isn’t known for definite, but it is probably related to their effect on regulating the activity of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These are chemical messengers that help brain cells communicate and pass signals to each other. The chemicals most involved in depression are serotonin and noradrenaline and antidepressant medications influence their activity. There are other theories to explain the effectiveness of antidepressants in depression, such as their effect on the inflammatory and immune system and on their potential to promote nerve cell growth or (‘neurogenesis’) in certain brain areas. It may be through a combination of these effects that they are helpful in depression.

Then you are re-directed to a UK website http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/depression/medicines/cipramil.html, where it states, as usual, that it’s your illness that can cause the problem;

Depression and other psychiatric illnesses are associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and suicide. You should be aware that this medicine may not start to make you feel better for at least two to four weeks.  (This seems at odds with Prof. Casey’s statement, at a 2003 Lundbeck seminar who stated that these drugs work WITHIN DAYS.) However, it is important that you keep taking it in order for it to work properly and for you to feel better. If you feel your depression or anxiety has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts, or feelings about suicide or harming yourself in these first few weeks, or  indeed at any point during treatment or after stopping treatment, then it is very important to talk to your doctor. (No mention that it could be the drug causing these feelings and of course the patient will still be waiting for the anti-depressant effect to kick in).

Now here’s the big problem, the section dealing with akathisia;

SSRI antidepressants have been associated with the development of unpleasant or distressing restlessness and the need to move, often accompanied by an inability to sit or stand still. This is most likely to occur within the first few weeks of treatment. If you experience these symptoms you should consult your doctor. (No mention of the serious side-effects that akathisia can cause, just consult your doctor).

Shame on the Irish College of Psychiatry.

 

Here’s some other light-hearted reading concerning this issue:

http://jenniferhros.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/anti-depressants-psychiatry-needs-to-wake-up/

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/professor-david-healy-and-the-cardinals-of-psychiatry/

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/was-this-a-campaign-of-intimidation-from-the-irish-college-of-psychiatry/

http://davidhealy.org/the-story-of-ssri-stories

http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0030372

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/features/drugs-medical/ssri-suicide-akathisia.html

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/shanes-case-on-professor-healys-blog/

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/lundbecks-hall-of-shame/

Jake, that was one hell of an ad.

Here’s a slight change to the norm on this blog. This is not about Shane or Lundbeck. Sometimes, just sometimes, things can still make us laugh and this is one of those times.

I just wanted to share a story involving Shane’s brother, my other son Jake, 20. Himself and his friends made an advertisment for a competition which I, being biased, think is hilarious. Joe the director won an iPad 2, so I guess the organisers thought it was pretty good too. Jake is the one who went around for a week with red hands and a high-blood pressure complexion; so I’m sure you can guess which one he is! The 4 Wicklow boys could give the big advertising agencies a run for their money. Pharma advertising companies need not apply!!

Have a look for yourself…

Director: Joe Reid

Narrator: James Cantwell

Actors: Jake Clancy and Kyle Byrne

 

Mother Says Lundbeck’s Seizure Drug Blinded Her Son

Another case of Lundbeck’s nonexistent pharmacovigilence? The ‘failure to warn’ here is criminal, but not surprising. I can understand Lundbeck doing this to a child, considering it’s track record for killing and maiming children, but I can’t understand how the FDA could licence an addictive benzodiazepine, which can cause  aggression and suicidal thoughts, for children as young as 2.

Thursday, April 05, 2012

Mother Says Seizure Drug Blinded Her Son

GALVESTON, Texas (CN) – A mother claims in court that Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals’ seizure drug Clobazam blinded her 9-year-old son, made his skin slough off, and filled his mouth with blisters.

Kelly Gutierrez sued Lundbeck LLC, Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals Services LLC and H. Lundbeck, on behalf of her son, L.C., in Federal Court. Lundbeck A/S is a Dutch corporation; the other Lundbeck entities are based in Deerfield Park, Ill. “Clobazam is marketed under the names ONFI and Frisium by defendants,” according to the complaint.

According to the complaint, ONFI is a prescription medicine used along with other medicines to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in people 2 years old or older. ONFI was approved for use in the United States in October 2011. Gutierrez says doctors prescribed ONFI to her son to treat his epilepsy/seizure disorder, and the drug was initially successful in controlling his seizures. ”However, 3 weeks into the treatment, L.G.’s mother noticed a change in the color of the pigmentation in L.G.’s eyes,” the complaint states. “Several days later, after what looked like chicken pox developed all over his body, L.G. began having difficulty breathing and was taken to the emergency room.

“The next day, L.G.’s mouth filled with severe blisters. Just days later, L.G.’s condition had worsened to the point that he was air lifted to Shriner’s Burn Hospital in Galveston, where he was placed in the intensive care unit.”The surgeries began the next day. So far, L.G. has had four surgeries, including pig skin grafts to replace all the skin that has sloughed off. He now has stitches in his eyes, is blind, horribly disfigured, and suffers horrific pain on a daily basis. “Due to use of ONFI, L.G. developed Steven[s] Johnson Syndrome (SJS) that escalated to TENS (toxic epidermal necrolysis).

“SJS is a rare, serious disorder in which skin and mucous membranes react severely to a medication. SJS begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by painful red or purplish rash that spreads and blisters causing the human skin to die and shed. SJS is treated as a burn, which is why L.G. is currently being treated at Shriner’s in Galveston. “In December 2011, Defendants completed a study linking the use of Frisium to SJS and TEN. Despite having the information, no such information was passed on to medical professionals who might choose to prescribe ONFI to patients like L.G.” (Parentheses in original.)

Gutierrez seeks punitive damages for product liability, negligence and gross negligence.

She is represented by Anthony Buzbee.

…………………………………………………….

Clobazam Adverse Events

Common adverse effects reported by patients receiving clobazam included somnolence, sedation, fever, drooling, constipation, cough, urinary tract infection, insomnia, aggression, fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, irritability, vomiting, trouble swallowing, problems with coordination, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

The FDA warns that clobazam may increase the risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors in a very small number of people. Patients taking antiepileptic drugs should be monitored for depression and unusual changes in mood or behavior. Link.

It’s not the first of Lundbeck’s drugs that can cause blindness in children; http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/vigabatrin-sabril-which-can-be-used-in-infants-can-cause-blindness-suicide-ideation-and-aggression/

Prozac led to grandfather’s suicide.

Prescription pills led to Littlehampton grandfather’s suicide  

Brian Palmer, 63, another SSRI victim.

Here’s another Coroner’s warning concerning another SSRI, Fluoxetine, also know as Prozac, and again the Coroner is left to do the job of the medicines regulator. Days after he began taking Prozac, Brian Palmer’s mental health deteriorated and he shot himself in the head.

Excerpts from Article…

THE devastated family of a grandfather who killed himself following a bad reaction to anti-depressants have urged doctors to warn patients of the possible side-effects before prescribing the drugs.

The coroner at an inquest held last Wednesday (March 14) at Chichester concluded he took his own life following the prescription of anti-depressant pills.

Speaking after the hearing, Brian’s widow Jennifer, 62, appealed to doctors to take the time to explain to their patients all the possible side-effects of any drugs they prescribe.

She said: “I noticed a change in him almost straight after taking the pills. I asked to see the box in the days before but he said he couldn’t find it. I found it a few days after his death and it listed all the changes I had seen in him. My heart just stopped.

The inquest heard how, days after Mr Palmer began taking the drugs, his mental health deteriorated.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Penelope Schofield said: “He took his own life following the prescription of the drug Fluoxetine and Zopiclone.”

The coroner said she would be writing to the Fitzalan Medical Centre to advise GPs there  to warn all patients of the potential side-effects any prescribed drug can have. Full Article.

……………………………………………………………..

How much evidence is needed? There is so much evidence that Prozac and other SSRI’s can cause suicide and homicide and yet this poor man probably had no warning. At least in England, unlike in Ireland, there was no psychiatrist attending this Inquest denying that SSRI’s can cause suicide.

The first high-profile Prozac Murder/suicide; Link.

Prozac blamed for woman’s suicide; Link.

John virapen admits to bribing the Swedish Government to enable the licencing of Prozac; Link.

Then there is Maria, whose son died by by suicide less than 2 weeks after starting Prozac; Link.

Prozac defence for murder; Link.

Side-effects of antidepressants raised in ‘The Seanad’ by Senator David Norris.

Senator David Norris, another hero willing to speak out. Yesterday an Adjournment Debate was held in the Seanad, initiated by Senator Norris. I had contacted him a while back asking if he could raise the issue of the suicide/homicide side-effects of antidepressants. While he was extremely friendly and sympathetic, I wasn’t expecting anything, as I understand it is a delicate issue to raise. The only other politician who raised my concerns was Jan O’Sullivan in a Dail debate, here.

I cannot thank Senator Norris enough and hope the usual Psychiatry brigade do not give him a hard time. The devastating side-effects of antidepressants have now been raised in the Dáil (Parliament) and the Seanad (Senate) and our meeting with the Minister for Meltal Health (Kathleen Lynch) will be held on May 3rd. People deserve to be warned and the Irish warnings are pathetic and verge on criminal. Senator Norris addressed the issue perfectly. I have so much respect for this man because he had the guts to tackle this problem head on and is no doubt prepared for the usual onslaught.

Sitting Time 17:30

Sitting Date 27/03/2012

                                                                                                          ^ Medicinal Products ^

Senator David Norris: The fascinating dialogue between the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, and Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh in which the Leas-Chathaoirleach intervened was one of the most interesting and fluent exchanges I had heard in the Irish language for many a long day.  I doubt such has been heard in the Dáil for quite a while either, which is another good reason to keep Seanad Éireann going.  Let it be recorded that the Minister of State nodded.

I raise a poignant case involving the death of a young man who was a constituent of mine, albeit not one personally known to me.  His mother had, however, written to me on a number of occasions about various matters and I know the family is a fine one.  The young man in question did not want presents for his 21st birthday; he wanted everything to be given to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  He had also helped out with the homeless and was completely against violence, even when it had been visited upon him.  Despite this, in August 2009 he killed himself and another young man.  The reason, his mother believes, is that he was having emotional difficulties which she described as a broken heart.  While I presume it was a romance that did not work, I simply do not know the circumstances.  In any case, she took her son to the doctor who prescribed anti-depressants.  After 17 days on the drug citalopram he took the dreadful action mentioned.  His mother enlisted the support of a leading Irish authority, Professor David Healy, who has given evidence in trials in the United States and is a world renowned authority on the relationship between certain anti-depressant drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, and suicide and homicide.  He gave evidence to the Coroner’s Court that in his opinion the drug had caused the young man in question to become suicidal and homicidal.   A number of other Irish academics, whose names I will give subsequently, have come to the same conclusion.

That SSRIs have the potential to cause suicide and homicide is acknowledged in the United States where the relevant patient information leaflet lists these side effects.  Unfortunately, the patient information leaflet in Ireland does not include such a warning.  Whereas the Canadian leaflet includes a five page black box, the Irish leaflet contains absolutely nothing.  I ask that a question be raised about a conflict of interest between the Irish Medicines Board and the interests of the patient in question.  The IMB which has links with drug companies continually refers to the European Medicines Agency, a body which is under inquiry because of its conduct with regard to various drug companies.

It is important to note that the jury at the inquest into the death of the young man in question returned an open verdict, in other words, it did not return a verdict of suicide.  The drug in question only has a particular effect on specific individuals.  While I do not deny it has an anti-depressant effect on some people, a minority experience severe trauma as a result of taking it and this can lead to totally uncharacteristic violence.

After the inquest, the manufacturer of the drug stated on an RTE news programme that its drug could not have caused the events and that there was no evidence to support Professor Healy’s claim, despite the fact that it had a kind of “Dear Doctor” letter stating side effects could include self-harm and harm to others, also known as suicide and murder or homicide.  The College of Psychiatry of Ireland dismissed the views of Professor Healy as speculative, despite the drug manufacturer accepting the existence of the side effects of self-harm and harm to others.

The drugs in question can cause people to become uncharacteristically suicidal or extremely violent; the facts are known.  I, therefore, ask that the issue of a conflict of interest be examined to get at the facts, to establish by investigation what is the impact of the drugs and ensure there are adequate warnings placed before patients in order that they and their doctors will know there is a possibility of side effects.  I refer to two learned articles which may be of assistance: Anti-Depressants and Violence: Problems at the Interface of Medicine and Law, by Professor David Healy et al  in PLoS Medicine which can be downloaded from the Internet, and Suicidality, Violence and Mania caused by Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, SSRIs: A Review and Analysis, by Peter R. Breggin in The International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine.

While I am aware that the Minister of State, like myself, is not a qualified doctor and that this is not his particular area of responsibility, I would be grateful if he would bring the matter to the attention of his colleague in government, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and ask her if she would be willing to receive a deputation, including the bereaved mother of this wonderful young man.  From everything I have learned about him, I wish I had had the opportunity to know him because he seems to have been an adornment to this planet.

Deputy Dinny McGinley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Norris as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú inniu.  Perhaps the Senator might be good enough to convey my condolences and sympathy to the mother and family of the unfortunate young man to whom he referred.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, are anti-depressants available on prescription only.  They are licensed for use in Ireland and across the European Union for the treatment of depressive disorders and some anxiety conditions.  It is estimated that at any one time more than 450,000 people in Ireland experience depression.  Young people, in particular, can find it hard to cope with depression and one in ten adolescents experience a depressive episode.  Untreated depression can have a fatal outcome.  Anti-depressants, when used properly, are effective in the treatment of depression and lead to a reduction in suicidal thoughts.  According to the College of Psychiatry of Ireland, approximately 3% of Irish adults use anti-depressants.  It is important to note that, in addition to the significant health benefits of medicines, all medicines carry some risks.  People taking anti-depressant medicines may also experience adverse effects.

The Irish Medicines Board is responsible for the licensing and safety and monitoring of medicines in Ireland.  In conjunction with medicines authorities in other member states, it continuously monitors the safety of medicines in a collaborative way and takes actions, as necessary, to ensure medicines continue to have a favourable benefit-risk profile for patients.  As part of the system of monitoring medicines’ safety, it has a spontaneous reporting system by which health care professionals and patients can report suspected adverse reactions to medicines.  It also reviews, approves and continuously updates the product information and package leaflet of medicines to reflect the current state of knowledge of each medicine and the risks associated with its use.  All new and emerging safety data are assessed by it in conjunction with EU medicines authorities.

Unfortunately, depression can be associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide in some patients.  This risk persists until significant remission of the depression occurs.  It has been known for some time that there is a potential risk of suicide related behaviour, particularly in the early stages of treatment with anti-depressants.  The approved product information for anti-depressants specifically highlights the need for careful monitoring of patients with suicidal thoughts following initiation of treatment.

In 2008 a comprehensive review of the safety profile of SSRIs was undertaken at European Union level by EU medicines authorities.  During this safety review the existing warnings contained in SSRI product information were further strengthened throughout Europe and manufacturers of SSRIs were obliged to update the product information on all SSRIs.  The new updated warnings were communicated by the Irish Medicines Board to health care professionals.

While anti-depressants play a central role in the treatment of depression, patient safety must be paramount.  The Irish Medicines Board actively monitors the safety of medicines, including SSRIs, on an ongoing basis and does not hesitate to issue safety warnings and update information, if required.  At European level, new legislation will be implemented later this year which will include a range of new measures to improve patient safety such as improved systems for monitoring the safety of medicines and patient reporting of adverse reactions.  The purpose of the legislation is to ensure the system of monitoring medicines safety in Ireland and throughout the European Union is as responsive as possible to the emergence of new information on medicines safety in order that patients continue to have access to safe and effective medicines.

Senator David Norris: I thank the Minister for his gracious reply and, in particular, for his words of sympathy to the mother of the young man, which I will certainly pass on with a copy of his statement.  I wish to comment briefly on the statement, in particular the Minister of State’s remark that the IMB “has a spontaneous reporting system by which health care professionals and patients can report suspected adverse reactions” and that it is continuously monitoring.  This simply has not worked.  In fact, it has been useless.  As I understand it, the IMB has not even replied to this woman.

I want to further put on the record that the assistant State pathologist, Dr. Declan Gilsenan, has expressed very considerable concern in this area and lent his full weight to it.  He said he has seen too many suicides among people who had started taking these drugs and, in his considered view, the evidence was more than anecdotal and he was hoping to raise the matter directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch.  This adds strength to the case, which has the support of Dr. Gilsenan, Professor Healy, Dr. Pat Bracken and Dr. Terry Lynch.  I would be grateful if the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, would draw this to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch.  Perhaps she may be prepared to see a delegation.

Deputy Dinny McGinley: I appreciate the Senator’s deep knowledge of this drug.  His comments will certainly be brought to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch.

Senator David Norris: I am very grateful.

End of Take

http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2012-03-27.148.0&m=1116

My story; I hope it never becomes yours.

My story; I hope it never becomes your story.

My name is Tony and I’m 51 years old. I am so lucky to have met my true soul mate, Leonie; she is the core of my world. Everything revolves around her and our kids, to say we were blissfully happy, is an understatement. We cruised through life, nothing could rock us, the foundation was solid. I’m a motor mechanic, own my own garage and Leonie is a hairdresser, we worked hard and laughed harder. Then one day, on August 16^th 2009, the Police came to our home and told us our beautiful son Shane had killed another person and himself; words will never be able to say how we felt, our world crashed. Most of you will know about Shane’s story, a really good guy, big heart, never drank, final year in Trinity, the sensible one, believe me, he was all of above and more.

You see this is my problem, Shane never had any mental health problems, he broke up with his girlfriend and had a broken heart for a few months, the worst he could do was cry; so what? He had emotions like any other decent human being, which to me meant he cared for people. We brought him to a doctor, which I thought was like someone bringing a broken car to me to fix, and that the doctors would do the same for Shane.

As far as I am concerned, when Shane walked through their doors and paid money for their professional services, a contract was formed and they had a duty to care for Shane. Anti depressants (SSRI’s) we thought were happy pills, well they are called ANTI-depressants, yet after 17 days of these mind altering drugs the tragic events were to unfold. We just didn’t understand until Dr. Michael Corry, RIP, stated that Shane could not have done what he did if he was not on these drugs and then it started to make sense.

I feel so sorry for the people that have lost someone to suicide and didn’t have someone like Dr Corry to tell them the hidden truth. People just don’t make the connection with suicide/homicide and the side effects of these dangerous drugs. We look at the world in a very different way now, we have discovered exactly how corrupt the pharmaceutical companies, Irish Psychiatry and the medical system are, so let’s call a spade a spade, in my opinion they are getting away with murder.

I love my wife and my kids, always have and always will, that’s a given, but it’s also a fact that we will never stop campaigning till the truth prevails. Let’s hope our Government will do the right thing and listen to Professor Healy and Declan Gilsenan when we meet, and act on this. People need to be warned about the side-effects of these mind altering drugs. Ireland was the first country in Europe to ban smoking in public, so why can we not be the first to make medicine safe again? And hopefully my story will never become yours?

Another homicide to add to Lundbeck’s Pharmaco(non-existent)vigilance.

Just another story to add to Lundbeck’s pharmacovigilance department.

This is the story of Odysseus, as told by Professor Healy on his blog yesterday. He stated that “This was one of the most clear cut cases of SSRI induced violence that I’ve seen.”

Odysseus was a man in his 70′s, a pillar of the community and very happily married to Penelope; he was put on Citalopram(Celexa/cipramil) for anxiety.

He kept a diary while he was on Cipramil, which recorded that he was feeling worse and worse, and  becoming concerned that he might be going mad. He returned to the doctor and complained about his antidepressant but was persuaded to continue the pills – “these drugs take several weeks to work”. Stupid bloody doctors almost always say the same thing and rarely recognise a drug induced problem.

On the 10th day since he started on Citalopram, Odysseus got a blunt instrument, went into the bedroom where his wife was sleeping and battered her to death.

BUT HEY, I’M SURE PENELOPE’S DEATH IS LOGGED, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHERS, IN LUNDBECK’S PHARMACOVIGILANCE DEPARTMENT. Link to full Article.

There is a mental health forum coming up, taking place on 23 May 2012 in London. The objective, “achieving the best possible outcomes for patients with mental health conditions.” Sounds great, right? The Conference, which is aimed at GPs, hospital specialists and mental-health specialists, is supported by none other than the highly dubious Lundbeck. I do hope these medical professionals will be made aware of the suicidal/homicidal side effects of Lundbeck’s drugs! Link to Conference.

Will Ireland bring change?

What was that you said???

This is a picture of the lovely Dr Corry who testified about the dangerous side-effects of SSRI’s to the Irish Government in 2006. Link. We met him shortly after Shane died when he said in the papers that he would stake his career on the fact that Shane “would not have done what he did if he wasn’t on anti-depressants.” It turned out his career was at stake when Timothy Dinan, a member of the Irish College of Psychiatry made a complaint to the Medical Council about Dr Corry’s comments. Dr Corry said the same thing again on RTE a few weeks later and this time another member of the college made a complaint against RTE to the Broadcasting Association of Ireland. They really don’t like to be contradicted do they? Is it any wonder that medical professionals are afraid to speak out. Dr Corry died on 22.02.2010.

Something is happening here in Ireland with a growing number of brave doctors, psychiatrists, and medical professionals willing to speak out. An increasing number are raising their concerns about the use of mind-altering SSRI’s. hallelujah! For years the Irish College of Psychiatry have denied that Antidepressants can cause suicide and violence. They have been allowed to deny the devastating side-effects of these drugs, undisputed, for far too long. I won’t go into my opinion on their level of ignorance, I’ve said it already. Denying the side-effects of these drugs, prescribing them for complaints from bed-wetting to broken hearts and getting paid handsomely by the same pharmaceutical companies who make these drugs, is in my opinion an unforgivable disgrace; especially when even the drug companies have to admit that the drugs can cause, inter alia, both suicide and violence.

Now here’s another name to add to the list, Ita McSwiney, a psychotherapist who has worked as a nurse in adult mental health services for over 30 years. This week in the ’Irish Examiner’ she spoke out and said she wanted to add her name to the growing number of people concerned about the  side-effects of SSRI’s. Here she tells of her patients experiences of the side-effects:

“From my experience of my work, I have no doubt that a significant number of people, particularly in the early treatment phase with antidepressants, experience bizarre, and often uncharacteristic thoughts, impulses and images  that can be both terrifying and  difficult to ignore. Examples disclosed to me in the course of my work that come to mind include:

(i) A sudden urge to drive across oncoming traffic at speed;
(ii) An impulse to drive their vehicle at speed over unprotected quays, into a wall or over a cliff;
(iii) An urge to physically harm themselves or attack a loved one;
(iv) On  one occasion a patient expressed the urge to physically attack me, having  spotted a potential weapon near to hand.”

What was that you said??? No evidence? Full Article Here.