Psychiatric Drugs that Cause Violence

If you keep up with the news you are already aware that many psychiatric drugs cause violence, suicide and multiple side effects.  Well, now Mercola has published a list of specific drugs known to cause violence.  It is not speculation anymore!  A matter of fact some of the drug studies revealed this problem early on, prior to the marketing of the drug, yet it was released and is still on the market.

Top Ten Legal Drugs Linked to Violence

Meanwhile, here is a list of the drugs:

10. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq): An antidepressant which affects both serotonin and noradrenaline

9.  Venlafaxine (Effexor): An antidepressant also used to treat anxiety disorders

8.  Fluvoxamine (Luvox): Another SSRI antidepressant

Abilify (Aripiprazole) Side Effects

Abilify, which is the brand name for aripiprazole, is an antipsychotic medication used to treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, manic depression, major depression and now autism, and many others.  Abilify has been all over the news.  The side effects can be life threatening.  The FDA has issued warnings that Abilify can lead to Leukopenia, Neutropenia and agranulocytosis, (all abnormal lowering of the white blood cell count).  The list of adverse reactions and warnings keep mounting.

Abilify Side Effects include, but not limited to:

Confusion

Fast heart rate (tachycardia)

High fever

Seroquel (Quetiapine Fumarate) Lawsuit

Seroquel, manufactured by AstraZeneca, is an oral medication used to
manage the symptoms associated with schizophrenia such as delusions, thought disorder, hallucinations, social withdrawal, lack of energy,
apathy, and reduced ability to express emotion.

The drug, which was approved by the FDA for marketing in 1997, affects
a broad range of neurotransmitter receptors, including serotonin
receptors.  It is  also sometimes used to treat the mania associated
with bipolar disorder.

News of Seroquel’s side effects and emerged as a result of observational
data released at a medical conference in Philadelphia which showed that
patients on Seroquel had 3.34 times as many cases of diabetes as those
on older antipsychotics such as haldoperidol.

Risperdal (Risperidone) Lawsuit

Risperdal, which is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a division
of Johnson & Johnson, is another member of the family of drugs knows
as  Atypical Antipsychotics.

Risperdal has been linked to diabetes and, more specifically, Type 2
diabetes. (Type 2 diabetes is sometimes called adult-onset diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of heart disease
and stroke)

Other serious side effects, however, include Neuroleptic Malignant
Syndrome (NMS), Tardive Dyskinesia, stroke or stroke-like events,
and even death.  (NMS is a potentially fatal syndrome involving
muscle rigidity, and irregular blood pressure and pulse).

Tardive Dyskinesia is a central nervous system disorder, which results in
involuntary movement of the limbs and twitching of the face and tongue.)

Zyprexa Lawsuit

Atypical Anti-Psychotic Drug Lawsuits

Zyprexa (Olanzapine®) Lawsuit

Zyprexa, like Risperdal and Seroquel, has been associated with serious
side effects in patients, especially those who have already been
diagnosed with diabetes.

Knowledge of the potential dangers of Zyprexa were discovered as a
result of a series of findings beginning in 2001 when the FDA was alerted
to 19 case reports of diabetes associated with the drug.

One of these cases resulted in a patient’s death due to necrotizing
pancreatitis, a very serious condition in which cells in the pancreas
die.

An emergency report issued by the Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry
in April of 2002 concerning the side effects of Zyprexa noted that there
had been two deaths of patients who had diabetes prior to taking the
anti-psychotic medication.

Mayo Clinic on Alternatives for Major Depression

To my surprise, The Mayo Clinic is advising alternative treatments for major depression.  I list their suggestions below:

St. John’s wort – an herb supplement; one site suggested 300 mg per day for mild or moderate depression.

SAMe. (pronounced “sammy”) – a synthetic supplement (not natural); not approved in the U.S., but in Europe.

Omega-3 fatty acids – from food or supplements.

The Mayo Clinic reminds us that supplements are monitored by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) just as medicines are monitored. 

Dr. Oz on Valerian Root for Anxiety

On yesterday’s episode, February 25, 2009, of the Dr. Oz Show, per Gluten Free Carla’s Blog, Dr. Oz stated that Valerian Root works on the brain and is good for anxiety.

Has anyone tried this?  Please let us all know if you have.  If you’re about to try it, please bookmark this page and come back and give us an update!

Fatty Acid Reduces Risk of Progression of Psychiotic Disorder and Prevention in Young

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Published in “General Psychiatry” by the American Medial Association

February 2, 2010

G. Paul Amminger, MD; Miriam R. Schäfer, MD; Konstantinos Papageorgiou, MD; Claudia M. Klier, MD; Sue M. Cotton, PhD; Susan M. Harrigan, MSc; Andrew Mackinnon, PhD; Patrick D. McGorry, MD, PhD; Gregor E. Berger, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(2):146-154.

Context  The use of antipsychotic medication for the prevention of psychotic disorders is controversial. Long-chain -3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may be beneficial in a range of psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia. Given that -3 PUFAs are generally beneficial to health and without clinically relevant adverse effects, their preventive use in psychosis merits investigation.

The Feingold Diet Program for ADHD on BlogTalk Radio

Jane Hersey, the director of the Feingold Association, a non-profit organization, will be on BlogTalk Radio on Carla’s Cooking Show on Monday, February 15, 2010 at 1:30 pm PDT / 4:30 pm EDT. 

Per Carla’s Cooking,

“Jane Hersey, Director of The Feingold Association and author of “What Are All Those Funny Things in Food? And Should I Eat Them?” and “Why Can’t My Child Behave” will present eye-opening information that will provide a very basic understanding about how the food we select can affect us, including behavior and learning; astonishing information on brand foods to avoids and why; information on both harmful and healthy sugar substitutes; eating healthy on a budget; and her latest passion, how to provide our children with healthy school lunches for less money. I wish I could tell you more, but I do not want to spoil the show. Tune in!”

What is the The Feingold Diet Program?

Per the Feingold Association’s website,

Side Effects of Prozac and Paxil for Breastfeeding Mothers

I remember when pregnancy meant not taking any drugs; not even aspirin; not even allergy medicine.  Since when is it okay to take SSRIs before or during pregnancy?  The article below explains a new study on how Paxil and Prozac and other SSRIs can negatively affect milk production in lactating (breastfeeding) women. 

“Taking Prozac, Paxil, or other antidepressants from the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause delays in lactation in new mothers and difficulty in breast-feeding newborns, a new study says.