Psychiatric Drugs

While there are millions of Americans addicted street drugs, millions more are hooked on mind-altering psychiatric drugs, both young and old alike. These drugs are being promoted to misled consumers by telling them they have a chemical imbalance or some type of disorder, however, the disturbing facts behind this absurdity include there is no proof of the allegations that the disorders actually exist or if the drugs work. In fact, it's usually just the opposite; the drugs and their side effects end up causing more damage to the individual and don't actually solve anything. Effective drug policy will help to educate people on the true dangers of these drugs.


Below you will find news and information about the effects of various types of psychiatric drugs as well as ties between the pharmaceutical industry and psychiatry and other types of fraud.

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Many Authors Of Mental Health Diagnosis Guidelines Have Financial Ties To Drug Makers, Study Says

Exerpt from Kaiser Health Network via Medical News Today.

The majority of psychiatrists who worked on the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's widely influential diagnostic manual had financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry before, during or after the manual was published, according to a study published Thursday in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, the New York Times reports.

Researchers from Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts studied financial records and conflict-of-interest statements in medical journals from 1989 to 2004. They found that 95 of 170 psychiatrists who worked on the 1994 edition -- the most recent -- of APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual had financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry during that period (Carey, New York Times, 4/20). The DSM often is "described as the psychiatrist's bible," and although the manual does not "contain specific recommendations for treating patients ... psychiatrists regularly refer to the diagnostic criteria for understanding mental disorders," the Newark Star-Ledger reports (Silverman, Newark Star-Ledger, 4/20). In addition, FDA will not approve a drug to treat a mental condition that is not listed in the DSM, making it of "enormous importance to pharmaceutical firms," the Chicago Tribune reports (Graham, Chicago Tribune, 4/20).

The study finds that 100% of panelists who oversee specific sections on schizophrenia and mood disorders had financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, more than 80% of panelists for sections on anxiety disorders, eating disorders, medication-induced movement disorders and premenstrual dysphoric disorder had financial ties to the industry (Vergano, USA Today, 4/20). The researchers could not determine whether financial ties to the industry were established before or after the psychiatrists contributed to the DSM because disclosure information in journals and elsewhere is not specific about dates, co-author Sheldon Krimsky, a policy expert at Tufts, said (Vedantam, Washington Post, 4/20). The most frequent financial tie involved money for research. In addition, 22% of the contributing psychiatrists received consulting income, while 16% were members of drug company speakers bureaus (New York Times, 4/20).

Lisa Cosgrove, lead author of the study and a clinical psychologist at UM, said, "I don't think the public is aware of how egregious the financial ties are in the field of psychiatry" (Washington Post, 4/20). Cosgrove said the study could not prove that financial ties influenced DSM panelists but added, "[W]hat we're saying is it's outrageous that the manual doesn't have a disclosure policy" (New York Times, 4/20). Cosgrove added that drug makers have a "vested interest" in which disorders are included in DSM, citing the inclusion of newly classified disorders, such as social anxiety, as areas of potential industry influence (Newark Star-Ledger, 4/20)...

FDA Public Health Advisory

March 22, 2004 Subject: WORSENING DEPRESSION AND SUICIDALITY IN PATIENTS BEING TREATED WITH ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked manufacturers of the following antidepressant drugs to include in their labeling a Warning statement that recommends close observation of adult and pediatric patients treated with these agents for worsening depression or the emergence of suicidality. The drugs that are the focus of this new Warning are: Prozac (fluoxetine); Zoloft (sertraline); Paxil (paroxetine); Luvox (fluvoxamine); Celexa (citalopram); Lexapro (escitalopram); Wellbutrin (bupropion); Effexor (venlafaxine); Serzone (nefazodone); and Remeron (mirtazapine).

Warning Information

Health care providers should carefully monitor patients receiving antidepressants for possible worsening of depression or suicidality, especially at the beginning of therapy or when the dose either increases or decreases. Although FDA has not concluded that these drugs cause worsening depression or suicidality, health care providers should be aware that worsening of symptoms could be due to the underlying disease or might be a result of drug therapy.

Heath care providers should carefully evaluate patients in whom depression persistently worsens, or emergent suicidality is severe, abrupt in onset, or was not part of the presenting symptoms, to determine what intervention, including discontinuing or modifying the current drug therapy, is indicated

Anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, akathisia (severe restlessness), hypomania, and mania have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric. Although FDA has not concluded that these symptoms are a precursor to either worsening of depression or the emergence of suicidal impulses, there is concern that patients who experience one or more of these symptoms may be at increased risk for worsening depression or suicidality. Therefore, therapy should be evaluated, and medications may need to be discontinued, when symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient's presenting symptoms.

If a decision is made to discontinue treatment, certain of these medications should be tapered rather than stopped abruptly (see labeling for individual drug products for details).

Because antidepressants are believed to have the potential for inducing manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder, there is a concern about using antidepressants alone in this population. Therefore, patients should be adequately screened to determine if they are at risk for bipolar disorder before initiating antidepressant treatment so that they can be appropriately monitored during treatment. Such screening should include a detailed psychiatric history, including a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, and depression

Health care providers should instruct patients, their families and their caregivers to be alert for the emergence of agitation, irritability, and the other symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidality and worsening depression, and to report such symptoms immediately to their health care provider.

The requested labeling changes are consistent with recommendations made to the Agency at a meeting of the Psychopharmacological Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC) and the Pediatric Subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee (Peds AC), held on February 2, 2004. The possibility of suicidality associated with the use of antidepressant drug products in the pediatric population was also the subject of two previous FDA communications (FDA Talk Paper on June 19, 2003, and FDA Public Health Advisory on October 27, 2003).

Suicidality in Adults Being Treated with Antidepressant Medications

Several recent scientific publications suggest the possibility of an increased risk for suicidal behavior in adults who are being treated with antidepressant medications. Even before these reports became available, the FDA began a complete review of all available data to determine whether there is an increased risk of suicidality (suicidal thinking or behavior) in adults being treated with antidepressant medications. It is expected that this review will take a year or longer to complete. In the meantime, FDA is highlighting the following recommendations.

Adults being treated with antidepressant medications, particularly those being treated for depression, should be watched closely for worsening of depression and for increased suicidal thinking or behavior. Close watching may be especially important early in treatment, or when the dose is changed, either increased or decreased.

Adults whose symptoms worsen while being treated with antidepressant drugs, including an increase in suicidal thinking or behavior, should be evaluated by their health care professional.