Update: this statistic remains true in 2016 as again featured in this MedScape article from May 3, 2016 Medical Error Is Third Leading Cause of Death in US and NPR covers it here. This is the original source: BMJ 2025 - National Library of Medicine is still saying this is true as of 2024: Medical Error Reduction and Prevention
From Science Daily yesterday: New research shows people who have used amphetamines such as benzedrine and dexedrine appear to be at an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study released February 22 that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16,... Continue Reading →
This information is pertinent to the "z-drugs" as well. Ambien, Lunesta, Zoplicone etc. This is an article by Reg Peart I picked up on a benzo withdrawal board. Reg Peart was a doctor who became unwittingly a victim of benzodiazepines many years ago much like many of us. He went on to do much great... Continue Reading →
The Accidental Addict (NZ news magazine) Assignment programme from 1995 dealing with the issue of iatrogenic benzodiazepine dependence. This is a 15 year old documentary. Why in hell are doctors still handing this crap out like candy? This phenomena of severe benzodiazepine withdrawal and post-withdrawal syndrome has been known about for two decades at least! The... Continue Reading →
The NIMH's CATIE trial of antipsychotics for adult schizophrenia is regularly understood to have shown that atypical antipsychotics are "no better" than the old standard antipsychotics. The CATIE study was one of several government-funded trials, here in the United States and in the United Kingdom, to come to that finding. But another conclusion to draw... Continue Reading →
Only between %1 and 10% of adverse drug effects are reported to the FDA. Here's the website where reports can be made easily online. Click here for MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form (3500)
Today Philip highlights this phenomena which has been mentioned many times on this blog as well. His closing statements on a story well worth reading: Instead of long-term anti-depressant use leading to health problems and physical dependence (or addiction, if you prefer), it's now leading to people being re-diagnosed with another disorder. I've been deeply... Continue Reading →
(I've been visiting early posts from this site. A lot are diary-like and there is more involvement from readers since this predates social media getting really big.) Something that comes up quite often in discussions with my friends and readers who have been on meds and have come off of them is how many of the "psychiatric" symptoms they were being "treated" for disappear upon discontinuation of the medications. This is widely known and experienced among those of us who have decided to stop medicating ourselves. For me there are two most astonishing details. The first was when I discoveredI was being given more and more Risperdal to medicate away the akathisia that the Risperdal was causing! Once off the Risperdal the akathisia was gone and so was most of what we'd called anxiety which led me to take massive doses of benzos. This is tragic and disgusting.
You think maybe something wasn’t quite right? This journey started the summer of 1985 and is about to end this summer of 2009. I have been withdrawing the past 5 years. Nothing ever did work and in retrospect much made me worse, hence the withdrawal process that began five years ago of which I am at the tail end. Many times on the “trials” of these drug
A friend of mine and an important advocate in this world of questioning drugs and psychiatry went to APRIL's Conference this year in London. Below is Sara Bostock's piece covering the the parts of the conference she attended. Thank you for sharing your experience with us here Sara: Last week, on November 6, 2008, I... Continue Reading →
You must be logged in to post a comment.