The Daily Mail today publishes two articles describing the devastating and often deadly impact of psychiatric drugs. In the first piece, Cochrane Collaboration co-founder Prof Peter Gøtzsche details the findings of his new book, Deadly Psychiatry and Organised Denial (2105).
“More than 80 million prescriptions for psychiatric drugs are written in the UK every year,” says Gøtzsche. “Not only are these drugs often entirely unnecessary and ineffective, but they can also turn patients into addicts, cause crippling side-effects – and kill. For instance, antipsychotics, commonly given to dementia patients to keep them quiet, raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Psychiatric drugs also make falls more likely, and breaking a hip can shorten life significantly, while some antidepressants are linked to a potentially deadly irregular heartbeat.
And the death toll from these pills has been grossly underestimated. As I reveal in a new book … the true figure is terrifying: according to my calculations, based on data from published and unpublished sources, for psychiatric drugs are the third major killer after heart disease and cancer.”
The second article is written by CEP co-founder Luke Montagu and summarises his horrific experience withdrawing from benzodiazepines and antidepressants.
The articles can be found at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3234334/Prescription-pills-Britain-s-biggest-killer-effects-drugs-taken-insomnia-anxiety-kill-thousands-doctors-hand-like-Smarties.html
I’m finding it so gratifying that Peter Breggin, MD, who has been writing since the 1970’s about the dangers of psychiatric drugs, has been joined by other experienced, knowledgeable, ethical health professionals such as Peter Gotzsche, MD, Joanna Moncrieff, MD, Robert Whitaker, Paula Caplan, PhD, Sami Timimi, MD, and so many more. There are powerful voices in this movement against a failing biopsychiatric paradigm based on experimental theory and criminal deception rather than solid, valid evidence-based science. Also, patients voices are finally being included in this dialogue, not being dismissed as “anecdotal, unscientific”( pharma’s story) but viewed as “narrative knowledges:” patients are the valid evidence base. I believe it was UK Psychiatrist Stephen Weatherland who made this comment. One can see how powerful patient’s voices are in R. Whitaker’s book, Anatomy of an Epidemic. I’ve met so many patient’s just in my area in trouble on psych drugs, and many having gone through cold turkey withdrawals with no one to help them…sick with protracted symptoms, myself included. It’s truly a criminal epidemic. Looking forward to hearing the September 18th conference!
I would like to congratulate professor Gøtzsche for his integrity in dealing with this matter. Hoping he is only the starting of what thousands of doctors and psychiatrist should be supporting. Professor Gotzsche I admire your courage, professionalism and your direct action to deal with this horrible, unhumane problem that is a huge stain in the western world civilization. Please I understand that a lot of the people in psychiatry could may not know the harm the psychiatric drugs and DO NOT FORGET ECT treatment are provoking in their patients, that after all are as well family, friends, cooworkers but now there is no excuse, please go deep into the matter and confront the need for a change of no psychiatric medication in special ANTIPSYCOTICS and ECT. I do agree there is a huge need for places where people can be dexintoxicated and really helped. It is a honour for UK to have PSYCHIATRIST with a highl level of intelectual and humanitarian calibre as it is DR BOB JOHNSON that has had the courage to maintain his position against so many of his “professional” fellows and integrity inspite the health systen in UK gave him his back to so hard work in psychiatry.
WE NEED TO BE TOGETHER IN THIS if we want really changes. It is not going to be easy but we cannot allow this tragedy to be left as a legacy for our children to solve it is already to messy. . Any of our children can be a victim of this if we do not start to act now. My salutations to all members of CEPUK and to all that have the courage, integrity and humanitarian values to confront this situation and look for solutions. Thank you
I am surprised such an emminant man should deal in such blatant scare tactics !
For reasons that are extremely complex an involve a holistic approach , psycho-active drugs are still used and unfortunately still need to be used in community settings , some people with “mental health ” problems would reek havoc , thioer lack of insight deeper all most ingrained defensive ( neurotic) autistic style of being means a lot of other people have to suffer the consequences of their behavior .
Is this acceptable , No!
I am again surprised by his strident black and white approach to psycho-pharmacology but I will agree on some level the long term use and the over use or reliance on this form of medication can do harm to people , they are often not able to manage their crises successfully and it becomes a crutch for them and a way out for social services etc.
Again yes in many studies there have been reports of the oxidative stress damage the lethargy and Parkinsons like symptoms and these must be off set against the damage the person might do iether to themselves or to others , although psychopaths are are and mental illness often dormant most people who commit crimes of one sort or another have done so because they have a mental disorder they have just attempted to hide from others .
Again is the priest who commits paedophilia ok, the heavy secret drinker , the compulsive gambler and on and on these people often have psychiatric disorders and need help , maybe it is the fear of being medicated that they baulk at asking for it , or just may be it is social peer pressure etc .
early in it’s manifestation it can be worked with but as such behavior becomes more and more entrenched then what ?
I was hospitalized in my twenties for self destructive behavior , I occasionally have to resort to pharmacological drugs to help me sleep , I am currently trying lots of other approaches and have all most 20 years exp in pyschotherapeutic milieu, yes try all other methods to help but occasionally I feel medication is a good stop gap.
Ideally their should be free counselling and psychotherapy on the NHS or availability of less power full complimentary health diet/ fitness approaches but often patients are resistant and I am sure most G.P’s consider it a last resort.
PLEASE STOP scare mongering !
for those with no experience feel free to watch :
Bellevue Inside Out │Full Documentary – YouTube
Are we witnessing cause or effect of treatment?
Do these treatments address an illness or symptoms of an illness?