Adverse
Psychiatric Reactions Information Link
is a Registered
UK Charity No 1072305
APRIL charity 2008
Book now for APRIL's third conference in London November 6th 2008.
Adverse psychiatric side effects of medicines: What's your responsibility? Download pdf here.
APRIL provides information about Adverse psychiatric Drug Reactions (ADRs) to enable quick recognition of early signs of psychiatric or neurological ADRs such as headache, nightmares, insomnia, mania, depression.
If recognised quickly action may be taken to possibly prevent even more serious consequences, such as worsening depression, dementia, psychosis, aggression, careless or suicidal behaviour, murder.
Drugs used for indigestion, acne, inflammation, pain, infections, cholesterol, malaria prevention as well as for depression and anxiety, can all cause serious psychiatric side effects or withdrawal reactions.
Not everyone suffers from adverse effects as this depends on the individuals ability to metabolise (disperse) the drugs. Some of us lack necessary enzymes needed, or may be malnourished or dehydrated. Our genes, tissue type and other factors affect how well or badly we cope with medicines, herbal products and even food.
Long term treatment for perceived mental illness may be prevented if the psychiatric adverse effects of many medicines and anaesthetic is recognised in time.
The medicines used to treat psychiatric symptoms are known as psychotropic, anti-psychotic or neuroleptic and can lead to further unwanted side effects too numerous to list. For severe psychiatric illness, these medicines may be required but are often prescribed in higher and higher doses when side effects are not recognised and are mistaken for worsening mental state.
Sometimes quick withdrawal in the case of drugs such as Zoton, Dianette or Sulphasalazine prevents depression or anxiety from worsening. According to anecdotal reports to APRIL people may return to their former happy selves in a very short time.
Graduated withdrawal of corticosteroids such as prednisolone needs loving support for the patient and possibly very short term treatment to reduce anxiety. This can include relaxation techniques, walking etc.
Some people become dependent on drugs which include pain killers, tranquilisers, newer antidepressants, psychotropic medicine and they need professional help to withdraw.
WARNING do not suddenly stop taking medication without first finding out from your pharmacist or doctor, if it is safe to do so.
Withdrawal Protocols
Some medicines including SSRI antidepressants, cortico-steroids, benzodiazepines, pain killers should be slowly withdrawn. Withdrawal protocols for SSRI's and Benzo's are available. For Professor Ashton's benzodiazepine (and similar anti-anxiety drugs or sleeping pills) access benzo web sites including www.benzo.org.uk and for Professor David Healy's SSRI SNRI (and similar newer antidepressants) access MIND web site
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Seroxatwithdrawalinformation.htm
NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE
Information about the founder of APRIL
APRIL was founded by Millie Kieve who began researching ADR's after the death of daughter Karen in 1995. (more information about Millie and Karen in the Guardian article link at bottom of LATEST NEWS page) click button above, next to butterfly logo
Millie found there is an urgent need for the medical profession, as well as the public, to be made aware of the possibility that perceived mental and physical illness, including dementia, may in fact be adverse effects of medicines or anaesthetics (iatrogenic disease).
This comment was received and expresses the feelings of many who find the APRIL web site or have attended our conferences.
"I cannot find the words to describe the enormous debt of gratitude we all owe you and your organisation. Within days of coming off the medication my mum is her old self, thanks for giving us our mum back."
The General Medical Council (GMC) added side effects to their guidelines on medical education Tomorrow's Doctors. We received thanks for drawing their attention to the ommission of this from their publication.
Please help us
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Dianette Diane 35 cyproterone acetate
Please inform us if you have linked depression or suicidal feelings to the oral contraceptive pill, or to Dianette or Diane-35, while taking the medication or after withdrawal.
Pill under review over link to depression
Guardian, Monday May 8 2006
Sarah Boseley, health editor
click on INFORMATION button by Butterfly logo above to access information about individual drugs.
click on LATEST NEWS button for recent WARNINGS and information about about Zyprexa risk of diabetes and obesity, acne drug Roaccutane / Accutane (isotretinoin), Dianette / Diane 35 (cyproterone acetate) ADHD drug Strattera, SSRI antidepressant Seroxat / Paxil (paroxetine).
Overview
Adverse Psychiatric Drug Reactions Cannot Always Be Predicted
Reactions are often unrelated to the condition for which the medication was prescribed.
Adverse reaction or withdrawal symptoms can resemble psychiatric illness.
Many well known prescribed drugs may have inadequate warnings, or in fact no information regarding possible psychiatric adverse reactions or withdrawal effects enclosed with the medication.
The aim of Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link (APRIL)
- Public and medical awareness of the effects that drugs and medicines, prescribed for all medical conditions and those used for anaesthesia, may have on mental stability. Leading to improved Risk Assessment before prescribing and Informed Choices for patients.
We believe that:
- Information about the risk of dependency, advice on gradual withdrawal and warnings about long term side effects should be given to the patient when drugs are first prescribed.
- Manufacturers of drugs and medicines should share the information available about known psychiatric adverse drug reactions (ADRs), interactions, withdrawal problems due to dependency and clearly include the information on all Patient Information Leaflets (PILs).
- There should be unbiased research and consistent recording of all ADRs. See 'Latest News' on this web site for information about direct patient reporting.
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Undisclosed information about Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) that have occurred during clinical trials should be published by the Pharmaceutical Companies. Some of the information has been witheld and the public or health professionals responsible for prescribing medication have been unaware of the true risk of harm. A House of Commons Health Committee Report on The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry and the committee's recommendations published April 2005 is available at the following link http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhealth/42/42.pdf
- Medical Education should encourage - freedom of information, careful risk assessment, appropriate prescribing and informed choices for patients. Students should be taught the importance of reporting all suspected Adverse Drug Reactions to the relevant authorities In the UK to The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency MHRA http://www.yellowcard.gov.uk/ USA and worldwide http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report/consumer/consumer.htm
- Medical Education should include as a mandatory examination topic for all undergraduates, the study of medication side effects, adverse drug reactions, interactions and medication withdrawal management.
- Anaesthetists should see a patient's full medical history, assess and explain the risk to one's mental health, for patients with known vulnerability to adverse psychiatric reactions.
- Anaesthetists or patients should report to the Medicines Regulator all suspected cases of post anaesthesia morbidity (illness) - All drugs used should be listed and although valuable, the MHRA in the UK or the FDA do not require the anaesthetist to specify which drug used pre, post or during surgery may be the causal agent.
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APRIL is a registered UK non profit charity no 1072305 PLEASE MAKE A DONATION using the secure Charity Choice button a the bottom of this home page.
Charity objective: To create awareness and protect those vulnerable to risk from adverse psychiatric reactions to prescribed and over the counter medications and anaesthesia.
Please support APRIL's essential work. Contributions of money, or offers to help with research, organising meetings or fund-raising will be welcome.
A secure online donation link button is at the bottom of this page. The charity is not charged for the collection and transfer of donations as the service is supplied free by the Co-operative Bank. I you prefer to mail a donation the address is:
APRIL, PO Box 2082,
Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 0GS
info@april.org.uk www.april.org.uk
APRIL is supported by many doctors and professors who help us with advice when needed. The thousands of reports of adverse drug reactions help us to compile evidence to persuade the regulators and educators that there is indeed a problem. Please contact us with your experiences which help our cause when presenting information to the authorities. Your personal information is confidential.
Click on Information at the top of the web page for links to specific drugs.
We endeavour to eventually reply to all emails but are sorry that this is not always possible.
We are not medically qualified - Please read the DISCLAIMER.
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APRIL mailing address: APRIL, PO Box 2082, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 OGS, England
email: info@april.org.uk Web site: http://www.april.org.uk
APRIL is a registered UK non profit charity no 1072305
APRIL Limited is a registered UK company limited by guarantee registration no. 3641410
Registered office address (not for correspondence): Treviot House 186 High Road Ilford Essex IG1 1JG
APRIL provides information about Adverse psychiatric Drug Reactions (ADRs):
- To enable patients, their carers, family or friends to recognise ADRs in time to possibly prevent even more serious consequences.
- We believe that everyone should have access to information, in clear language that they can understand.
- We campaign for the medical profession to report suspected ADRs. In the UK the users are not permitted to report and only 15% of serious ADRs are recorded.
- Knowledge of accurate statistics could pave the way to more informed choice of the most appropriate treatment for each individual.
- ADRs and withdrawal syndrome can lead to long term physical and mental ill health. Confusion can lead to accidents. Depression and agitation may result in self-harm and suicide.
WARNING - It can be dangerous to stop taking some medication suddenly. Anti-depressants and corticosteroids must be tapered off very gradually. Other drugs too - so always go back to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice.
Some prescription drugs with known psychiatric reactions include:
- Steroids
- Sulphonamides and other Anti-bacterials
- Hormonal drugs
- Acne drugs
- ADHD drugs
- Anti-Depressants
- Anti-Parkinsonian
- Anti-convulsants
- Anti-malarials
- Beta-blockers and other cardiovascular drugs
- Anti-biotics
- Anti- histamines
- Anti-hypersensitives
- Tranquillisers
- Statins
- anti-smoking
Drugs which cause dependency and consequent difficulties during and after withdrawal for some people include Benzodiazepines, (tranquillisers and sleeping pills), some antidepressants and pain killers.
POSSIBLE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF DRUG INTOLERANCE or WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME
- INSOMNIA
- MOOD CHANGES
- FEELING LOW
- CONFUSION
- HEADACHES
- DISTURBED SLEEP
- BAD DREAMS
- HALLUCINATIONS
- DEPRESSION
- THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE
- EUPHORIA
- MALAISE
- AMNESIA
- LOSS OF LIBIDO
A decline into mental illness and more serious states of:
- MANIA
- PSYCHOSIS
- AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR
- SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
IF YOU ARE WORRIED THAT THE MEDICATION IS HAVING AN ADVERSE EFFECT SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP.
under medical supervision a change of medication may be possible.
IT IS DANGEROUS TO STOP TAKING SOME MEDICATION SUDDENLY
- STEROIDS, BENZODIAZEPINE AND OTHER TRANQUILLISERS, ANTI DEPRESSANTS AND SOME OTHER DRUGS MUST NOT BE STOPPED ABRUPTLY.
- A GRADUAL REDUCTION UNDER SPECIALIST MEDICAL SUPERVISION OR A CHANGE OF MEDICATION MAY BE ADVISED.
- THERE WOULD BE A SERIOUS DANGER TO YOUR HEALTH IF YOU STOPPED TAKING SOME DRUGS TOO ABRUPTLY.
ALWAYS SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE BEFORE MAKING CHANGES WITH MEDICATION
Email us at: info@april.org.uk
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