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Deadly epidemic (I feel so sad today)


GiaK

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sometimes my work is very sad...and other times it's exciting...today I am sad...very.

 

http://beyondmeds.com/2012/05/21/a-deadly-epidemic-psychiatric-drugs/

 

Hi Gia, thanks for posting this article. I just came in from lunch, and a chat with my favorite waitress. She has issues with anxiety, and is on an antidepressant and a benzo.. she wants to get off. Unfortunately, she rarely goes on the internet so it will be difficult for her. She looked at me sadly and said "I'm so stuck, I'm in trouble with this stuff.:" I've offered to help, but the anxiety for which she was originally prescribed the now ineffective cocktail is preventing her from following through. Her income is minimal, and she recently had to move back with her very elderly mother when her marriage broke up. But still she forks out for this medication every month. Pity the people in our world.

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

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Gia,

I saw this just before you posted here. I cant describe my feelings. "I guess I'm living on borrowed time" was my first thought. I've outlived my life expectancy??

I completely trust Robert Whitaker's work, but I wanted desperately to find an error. Odd thing... I just looked at the obits in my hometown newspaper in W Pa. Half of the deaths for a few days were in the 45-66 age group and the other half 67-105. Several 50 year olds. Really struck me. The psychiatrically disability rate is very high there. I know a Peer Specialist there (never medicated, go figure!) and the meds he sees are outrageous, even to me. Most are on about 8-10 in their 30s and 40s.

I'm right there with you in sadness today.

{{{HUGS}}}

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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I worked with this population...people were dying in their 40s all the time...

 

most of them had much less resources than a lot of us have though...but still...these drugs ravage...no question about it.

 

I would imagine these stats are generally more significant among those of us who've been on neuroleptics...they're the real hard-core killers I think...but they all degrade the body so who knows really.

 

Then there is Grace Jackson's work that shows if you do live long enough on drugs you're likely to end up demented. http://astore.amazon.com/beyondmedsbookstore-20/detail/1438972318

 

sorry, I do feel rather gloomy today.

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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Gia,

I was on some of the neuroleptics at least for a trial - Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel (scary drug!), Geodon,

and Abilify (the only one that helped slightly for about 6 months). This was for my 'treatment-resistant depression' now known as pe-existing endocrine dysfunction. GRRR}}}

I tried just about everything to 'augment' SS/NRI

There was an Endocrine researcher at Penn doing a study looking at metabolic disorders caused by neuroleptics. Total length of study/drug treatment was 2 WEEKS or thereabouts. That was astounding!

I haven't followed up to see results. She seemed to go under the radar during that time...

 

Here it is, FYI

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/endocrin/research/trials_teff2.html

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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Hi Gia, my only aunt was on psychotropics for a diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia. One day my parents appeared unexpectedly outside my door, all dressed up in the middle of the day. I just blurted out "Auntie Ruth died." To which they responded yes. She was 63, my grandfather who also lived with my parents was 85 at the time. My parents wanted to know why I did not think it was my grandfather.. but my aunt had been on heavy duty neuroleptics for 30 years. Very sad.

 

I also have worked for a Mental Health Agency, with a Mobil Treatment Team. One of my functions was to follow up on med compliance and sit in on medical evaluations with a burnt out over the hill psychiatrist. At the time I did not know how dysfunctional and useless the medications were. I thought they were an alternative to hospitalization. Dreadful to think of the trauma those meds inflicted, and horrifying to find them used for anxiety disorders now. Sobering is a huge understatement.

 

Right "Rethinking Madness" is to my left on the desk top. I'll go back to that in a few minutes. At least it's reading that makes sense out of the world.. but what the world is we do not want.

As always, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! A proud supporter of the 10% (or slower) rule.

 

Requip - 3/16 ZERO  Total time on 25 years.

 

Lyrica: 8/15 ZERO Total time on 7 or 8 yrs.

BENZO FREE 10/13 (started tapering 7/10)  Total time on 25 years.

 

Read my intro thread here, and check the about me section.  "No matter how cynical you get, it's almost impossible to keep up." Lily Tomlin

 

 

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Hi Gia, my only aunt was on psychotropics for a diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia. One day my parents appeared unexpectedly outside my door, all dressed up in the middle of the day. I just blurted out "Auntie Ruth died." To which they responded yes. She was 63, my grandfather who also lived with my parents was 85 at the time. My parents wanted to know why I did not think it was my grandfather.. but my aunt had been on heavy duty neuroleptics for 30 years. Very sad.

 

I also have worked for a Mental Health Agency, with a Mobil Treatment Team. One of my functions was to follow up on med compliance and sit in on medical evaluations with a burnt out over the hill psychiatrist. At the time I did not know how dysfunctional and useless the medications were. I thought they were an alternative to hospitalization. Dreadful to think of the trauma those meds inflicted, and horrifying to find them used for anxiety disorders now. Sobering is a huge understatement.

 

Right "Rethinking Madness" is to my left on the desk top. I'll go back to that in a few minutes. At least it's reading that makes sense out of the world.. but what the world is we do not want.

 

I just had a conversation with my brother. He is wanting to know what what date I will be well enough to support myself. My answer was I don't know. To him that is not an answer. I told him that with this crap, it could be years. To him, that is still not an answer. He feels, like social security, disability for depression is a cop out. Kick the lazy bums off and make them find a job. I wouldn't mind having a job, however I feel so bad now i may never recover. Do I take responsibility for all the reckless stunts I pulled in the past? Hell yes! He's been feeling the stress himself, however, he's doing better than I. I couldn't even feel emotion on any thing he threw at me. NOW THAT'S SCARY! I feel so brain damaged.

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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Im trying to find link to original article/study referencing the 45 yo statistic.

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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the common statistic is 25 years earlier than average...

 

here is a nice little piece that discusses it and also links to the original source, plus some news outlets that reported on it...

 

http://beyondmeds.com/2011/03/16/25years-statistic/

 

it has since been found in many other studies though too...this one is the easiest to dig up as it was the most widely reported at the time.

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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"Psychotropic medications may mask symptoms of medical illness and contribute to symptoms of medical illness and cause metabolic syndrome… [and] polypharmacy [is] identified as a risk factor for sudden death."

 

Yup. The demoralization and defeat factors are, for me, overwhelming. Such a miasma of emotions.

Venting to the choir!

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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I worked with this population...people were dying in their 40s all the time...

 

most of them had much less resources than a lot of us have though...but still...these drugs ravage...no question about it.

 

I would imagine these stats are generally more significant among those of us who've been on neuroleptics...they're the real hard-core killers I think...but they all degrade the body so who knows really.

 

Then there is Grace Jackson's work that shows if you do live long enough on drugs you're likely to end up demented. http://astore.amazon.com/beyondmedsbookstore-20/detail/1438972318

 

sorry, I do feel rather gloomy today.

 

Thank you for sharing. I've had a gloomy day personally and this just hits home. I am still alive, I don't always feel so though. I've decided to stay in the game. Obviously, I am still alive.

 

One thing, something personal to me right now, is the repeated assaults we endure, like waves crashing on a beach.

 

1. Bad things experienced while taking psych meds due to unwanted (side) effects

2. Bad things experienced during discontinuation

3. Bad things experienced in withdrawal-related syndromes

4. Bad things experienced due to the hopeful (typically uncertain) interventions undertaken to alleviate the bad things of withdrawal (always hopefully, sometimes with lousy result)

5. Complications which lead to early death

 

I am right now trying to hang on and minimize additional damages (4.) largely caused by steps I took to get better, or try to. So far, notsogood.

 

Let's all have a good day tomorrow.

 

best,

Alex

"Well my ship's been split to splinters and it's sinking fast
I'm drowning in the poison, got no future, got no past
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free
I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me.

Everybody's moving, if they ain't already there
Everybody's got to move somewhere
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow
Things should start to get interesting right about now."

- Zimmerman

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I just heard that yet another person I knew back in my hometown in Pennsylvania was found dead at age 52. It's been one after another in the 45-55 age group recently. I don't know the cause but he was found after several days. Sorry to be so morbid. That seems very unusual for someone so young and in my small hometown.

 

Meistersinger, have you noticed this in your part of the state? I realize it's not just Pennsylvania. I'm not in an area where I know many people. I don't read the obits regularly as some friends do.

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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I just heard that yet another person I knew back in my hometown in Pennsylvania was found dead at age 52. It's been one after another in the 45-55 age group recently. I don't know the cause but he was found after several days. Sorry to be so morbid. That seems very unusual for someone so young and in my small hometown.

 

Meistersinger, have you noticed this in your part of the state? I realize it's not just Pennsylvania. I'm not in an area where I know many people. I don't read the obits regularly as some friends do.

 

Lately, I try to avoid the newspapers, as I can't take the bleakness. Election year politics really send me off the deep end. I can't handle all the negative campaigning, as well as the in your face style. Any wonder the only channels I watch are Disney and sprout?

History:

1995--Prozac--Quit CT by GP

1995--Effexor--Quit per my GP

1996--Amitriphene--Quit CT when changed GP

2005--Citalopram and BusPar. Prescribed when I decompensated in my GP's office. GP referred me to behavior health. Psychiatrist prescibed these drugs. Taken off citalopram in 2011 due to FDA warning. Quit Buspar during transition to viibryd.

Viibryd--2011 to present. Had a severe reaction in March 2012. Advised both GP and Psychiatrist I was trying to get off these drugs.

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