APRIL charity Home Page DISCLAIMER
Many every day medicines and anaesthetics can induce psychiatric adverse reactions (ADRs) including depression, anxiety, insomnia, agitation and violence towards others or self harm.
There is no mention of medication induced suicide in the current Suicide Prevention Strategy for England!
If you have experience or comments to make on medication induced, or prescribed or over the counter (OTC) substance induced suicide, please urgently respond to the UK consultation on the DRAFT SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY
Write to the Department of Health
Mental Health and Disability Division
Department of Health
133–155 Waterloo Road London SE1 8UG
- Phone: 020 7972 1332
- email: suicideprevention@dh.gsi.gov.uk
Important BBC broadcast July 2011 re Benzo addiction - listen on Internet or copy the transcript of the programme by John Waite, to read later.
Professor Malcolm Lader of the Institute of Psychiatry is a world renowned expert on benzodiazepines, describing them as the opium of the masses. But once on them longer term, he says, going cold turkey can be extremely difficult.
Lader said in the programme:
I estimate about 20-30% of people who are on a benzodiazepine like diazepam have trouble coming off and of those about a third have very distressing symptoms. The anxiety or the sleeplessness comes back, they feel as if they're physically ill - we talk about a flu-like illness - then they start to get some very bizarre symptoms which we technically call hypersensitivity but essentially what it is the brain is starting to wake up and it over wakes - sounds appear loud and lights appear bright, so they're wearing sunglasses indoors and they also have a symptom whereby they feel very unsteady and they will walk round the room holding on to the walls - and they really are then in a bad withdrawal state.
A leading Benzodiazepine campaigner in the UK believes that Lorazepam/Ativan was the main cause of Michael Jackson's death - it is a recognised cause of respiratory depression.
Prescribed Addiction: John Waite investigates the "scandal" that has left up to 1.5 million people addicted to drugs prescribed to them by their GPs. Experts in the field tell us that addicts to benzodiazepine tranquillizers, the most popular of which are diazepam and temazepam, far outnumber those addicted to illegal drugs. Face the Facts www.bbc.co.uk radio 4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012wxxw
Listen now (27 minutes) or go to web site by clicking this link and make a copy of the transcript.
Read the responses, following statements on the programme, by a representative of the Royal College of GPs at www.benzo.org.uk
For an overview of the work of APRIL, listen to recording of a radio programme with APRIL Founder Millie Kieve interviewed on Dave Monk show - about APRIL - about mental health - adverse reactions -Health Committee Inquiry into Influences of Pharmaceutical Industry - together with Clinical Psychologist Martin Seager - Radio Essex.
Radio interview - Depression - Role of the psychologist - medicines effects - pharmaceuticals marketing and more from APRIL on Vimeo.
VIDEO FILMS OF OUR 2008 CONFERENCE ARE ALSO ON THIS SITE
click on title above to connect with over 20 videos on Vimeo or:
Scroll down menu bar on left FOR FILMS OF SPEAKERS WITH STRONG MESSAGES for the public and the Medical Profession
Overview
Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link (APRIL), creates awareness and collates information about adverse psychiatric side effects of everyday medicines.
Many drugs used for physical complaints can have an effect on our mood and behaviour.
Medicines for indigestion, acne, pain, infections, cholesterol, and anaesthetics may be implicated in serious mental changes: plus adverse reactions, or withdrawal symptoms caused by antidepressants, tranquilisers and other psychotropic drugs.
Golden Rules for Survival
Please review these Golden Rules which were requested and provided by many of the speakers at our November 2008 conference. This rare advice from those with unique knowledge of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is now on the web site. The link is in menu on left.
What does APRIL charity do?
Please refer to left menu heading and sub headings under 'About Us'
Which everyday medicines can cause psychiatric adverse side effects?
Please refer to left menu heading 'Overview' together with sub-headings. The heading 'Medicines List' contains several of the medicines most reported to APRIL as causing psychiatric adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
WARNING - It can be dangerous to stop taking some medication suddenly. Anti-depressants benzodiazepines and corticosteroids must be tapered off very gradually. Other drugs too - so always go back to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice.
Please read the Patient Information Leaflet that is provided with your medication. Keep for reference.
IF YOU ARE WORRIED THAT THE MEDICATION IS HAVING AN ADVERSE EFFECT physically, or having an effect on the way you are thinking or behaving, IMMEDIATELY SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP.
Evaluation of the value of patient reporting of adverse reactions to medicines - report now published: