He’s a London-based graphic artist and a crusader against benzos.
Colin says, “I went into a life on hold at the age of 25 when I became an iatrogenic victim of tranquillisers and many other consequent mind drugs. I came out of that chill at the age of 55 through personal discovery. So much for medical expertise in the use of drugs which I discovered were only supposed to be prescribed for a month at most including withdrawal.
I became a Primary teacher in 1972 and did Art as a main course. This followed years as a civil servant, local government officer, bus conductor and many temporary jobs – you can do that in London. That lasted until I was 38 in 1985 when the effects of polypharmacy finally caught up with me.
Anyway having struggled my way off the drugs, as you do, I moved into campaigning on the issue of benzodiazepines and other prescribed mind altering nostrums. I quickly discovered that health provision was about politics primarily and not health benefit, which was a side-effect if it occurred. I felt this message should be disseminated as widely as possible and I do this through images and print. But an image in the right place is worth a million words.
Like many other victims of tranquillisers I am never going to recover from the social and health effects that come with the addiction but I do my best to prevent others falling into the trap.”
How many times have we all heard this? That benzodiazepines are not addictive, provided we take them exactly as prescribed. Sounds like something you would hear on the street corner. “Go ahead, try it! What’s your problem?? Trust me……….” Of course they are addictive. The thing I don’t understand is this: what fuels the continued ignorance in the medical community? I am serious here. What is in it for them? There simply has to be some reason that the doctors are so resistant to things like…….. facts. Thank you for getting the word out. Loved the cartoon! Please come visit http://www.stopbenzos.com
“Suicide attempt was associated with discontinuation in 1.2% of RISPERDAL®-treated patients compared to 0.6% of placebo patients, but, given the almost 40-fold greater exposure time in RISPERDAL® compared to placebo patients, it is unlikely that suicide attempt is a RISPERDAL®-related adverse event (see PRECAUTIONS)”
A 100% Increase?
Page 38:
Physical and Psychological Dependence
RISPERDAL® has not been systematically studied in animals or humans for its potential for abuse, tolerance, or physical dependance.
But out of the blue is a 100% Increase in Suicide Attempt upon Discontinuation.
So long as Drug Companies are allowed to Fund the FDA through PDUFA, nothing is going to change. We simply Can’t leave that pile of money on the table at FDA.
I know all about addiction, having been on heroin for 10 years. You are said to be physically addicted to a drug when a withdrawal syndrome commences after said drug is “discontinued”. So how on earth pushers of Prozac, Seroxat, etc can describe “abstinence syndromes” and yet still claim these drugs are not addictive is totally beyond my comprehension…
psychiatry is a pseudo science prescribing addictive drugs without any proper tests to confirm any chemical imbalance in the brain
Stopbenzos,
You might want to check out Colin Downes-Grainger’s artwork on Emma’s Art Margin site. http://www.artmargin.com/otherartists/colindownesgrainger.html
He’s a London-based graphic artist and a crusader against benzos.
Colin says, “I went into a life on hold at the age of 25 when I became an iatrogenic victim of tranquillisers and many other consequent mind drugs. I came out of that chill at the age of 55 through personal discovery. So much for medical expertise in the use of drugs which I discovered were only supposed to be prescribed for a month at most including withdrawal.
I became a Primary teacher in 1972 and did Art as a main course. This followed years as a civil servant, local government officer, bus conductor and many temporary jobs – you can do that in London. That lasted until I was 38 in 1985 when the effects of polypharmacy finally caught up with me.
Anyway having struggled my way off the drugs, as you do, I moved into campaigning on the issue of benzodiazepines and other prescribed mind altering nostrums. I quickly discovered that health provision was about politics primarily and not health benefit, which was a side-effect if it occurred. I felt this message should be disseminated as widely as possible and I do this through images and print. But an image in the right place is worth a million words.
Like many other victims of tranquillisers I am never going to recover from the social and health effects that come with the addiction but I do my best to prevent others falling into the trap.”
Vince
How many times have we all heard this? That benzodiazepines are not addictive, provided we take them exactly as prescribed. Sounds like something you would hear on the street corner. “Go ahead, try it! What’s your problem?? Trust me……….” Of course they are addictive. The thing I don’t understand is this: what fuels the continued ignorance in the medical community? I am serious here. What is in it for them? There simply has to be some reason that the doctors are so resistant to things like…….. facts. Thank you for getting the word out. Loved the cartoon! Please come visit http://www.stopbenzos.com
Check the FDA labels themselves.
Risperdal 10/06/2006:
page 25
Associated With Discontinuation of Treatment
A 100% Increase?
Page 38:
Physical and Psychological Dependence
But out of the blue is a 100% Increase in Suicide Attempt upon Discontinuation.
So long as Drug Companies are allowed to Fund the FDA through PDUFA, nothing is going to change. We simply Can’t leave that pile of money on the table at FDA.
I know all about addiction, having been on heroin for 10 years. You are said to be physically addicted to a drug when a withdrawal syndrome commences after said drug is “discontinued”. So how on earth pushers of Prozac, Seroxat, etc can describe “abstinence syndromes” and yet still claim these drugs are not addictive is totally beyond my comprehension…