My son committed suicide 15 days after being prescribed prozac, despite not having any diagnosed mental disorder. I run a group for parents who have lost their children to SSRIs. Our children's cases are well documented and we have a wealth of information including medical files, blood test results, DNA testing which shows genotypes etc. Our families are more than happy to provide access to this information for research projects.
the prozac was used because of symptoms of depression Prozac in about 2 weeks helps alleviate depression. but in so doing gives the patient energy to act on depressive symptoms. hence the increased danger of suicide
Nice theory but one that has no evidence base. Its trotted out regularly but there is no research to support it. As the FDA warning notes Fluoxetine may cause worsening depression. Can you explain the biological mechanism whereby inhibiting uptake of serotonin gives someone 'energy'? Explain too why if, according to your theory the symptoms of depression are alleviated, one then acts on these symptoms.
part of depression is not feeling up to doing much of anything at all.the persons thoughts and feelings ore those of helplessness and withdrawal.Prozac gets them moving again.,and they carry out the thoughts that have been running through their minds. No one really knows much at all about serotonin mechanisms of action on the CNS.
Again, where's your evidence. Helplessness is not a DSM-IV indicator, hopelessness is. RCTs of SSRIs have shown they induce mania and psychosis, depression does not. My son was assessed by 2 psychiatrists on the day he was medicated. Both found no evidence of depressive symptoms and made no diagnosis. Are you suggesting they missed depression severe enough to result in suicide 15 days later or would you accept the conclusion bourne out by research and which was the finding of my government's causality assessment, that the SSRI he was given was the most likely cause of his suicide?
Lots of my depressed patients complained of helplessness i.e. "no way out of this morass "DSMIV can't cover everything. I admit I was assuming the depression part;still wonder tho why 2 psychiatrists recommended the Prozac!
Thanks Christina, would love to join you on facebook. Can you send me a link?
I have a facebook account - its under Toran's name. My organisation CASPER also has one which is at www.facebook.com/Caspercommunity will send a friend request to yours :)
christina, you believe that ;the meds caused you to be suicidal,, yet you oppose the use of meds in efforts to control some persons' ideation and mood fluctuations. We must admit that the brain is a chemical machine and continue efforts with meds to learn more about brain dysfunction (and in many cases they do seem to help a lot). Along with your son,Maria, many persons seem to have depression triggered by meds. Some day we may be able to use meds to more effectively and selectively influence mental and emotional function with no tragic side effects. At the same time, we do need persons like yourselves to help keep the profit motive from stimulating the drug companies to sometimes risk fatal side effects in the very persons they are trying to help.
Thanks Laura, I know Ann Blake Tracey and SSRI stories well. Those of us who have lost normal, healthy children to these drugs are building a global network to warn other families and hold big pharma, psychiatry and government regulators accountable for their marketing of drugs which have nil or negligible benefit above placebo but double the risk of suicide in those who use them. In the memory of our children, we are committed to ensuring others are not harmed as they were.
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