It would be interesting to know if either were taking or had recently taken SSRIs or other psych drugs.
This from drugawareness.org:
Today the LA TIMES ran a large article discussing the violence associated with the SSRIs. Note this statement from the article:
"And GlaxoSmithKline, during clinical tests on children with obsessive-compulsive disorder or depression, found that the percentage of children taking Paxil who became hostile â?? which was defined as everything from angry thoughts to violent acts â?? ranged from 6.3% to 9.2%. For those taking the placebo, the range was zero to 1%, according to published records."
This is critical information that needs to get out. Once again I would encourage you to get this information to your local papers, BUT once again I stress the urgency of including what this article left out:
#1 The warning that abrupt or rapid withdrawal (which most doctors continue to do) is VERY dangerous and can lead to even more serious problems as the patient can experience seizures, heart attack, suicidal or homicidal ideation along with psychosis, severe flu-like symptoms, electric shocks, etc. from coming down too rapidly. It is not worth taking the chance.
#2 Too many patients on these drugs will sit back and say, "Oh, those people were that way before the drug. The drug had nothing to do with their behavior and I am not that kind of person."
But they need to understand that this is a drug reaction the patient has no control over. As I explain in detail in my book about SSRIs, Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare, when one reaches a point where the REM sleep has been repressed for long enough the body and brain WILL force one into REM while awake to compensate.
Add to that this: The impairment produced by the drugs of one's ability to metabolize serotonin produces nightmares. Then you, in that REM state -the dream state, begin act out that nightmare.
The only control one has over this type of response is whether or not he chooses to take the drug that produces the nightmares and represses REM leading to this end result.
We now know that 80% of the cases being diagnosed with this disorder (RBD) are on SSRIs. Another 6% are on the older antidepressants.
#3 Before these drugs hit the market this sleepwalk nightmare known as RBD was known as a "drug withdrawal state." This will give you some idea of why it is so important to avoid serious withdrawal from an SSRI antidepressant. I cannot tell you how often I hear from people that they have tried and tried to come off these drugs before, but after getting my tape on withdrawal they were FINALLY able to come off without serious problems and make it off and get well.
If 80% of the patients being diagnosed with this horrible sleepwalk state in which the large majority hurt themselves or someone else, how many more will experience RBD in withdrawal from SSRIs? It is clear to me that we can expect a
high rate.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, with all of this information coming out about the dangers of SSRIs, get this warning to people everywhere about the dangerous withdrawal! We have far too many horrible cases coming in already without having the numbers absolutely skyrocket due to the lack of warning about withdrawal -
especially with children.
Ann Blake Tracy, PhD
Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug Awareness
Author: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare
& audio tape or CD on safe withdrawal: "Help! I Can't Get Off My Antidepressant!"