Fwd: [SSRI-Research] Canadan Catholic Woman's Group Warns of SSRI Antidepressants

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JustSayNo

Mon, 29 Dec 2003 19:12:42 -0500

[sSRI-Research] Canadan Catholic Woman's Group Warns of SSRI

Antidepressants

 

Canadian Catholic Woman's Group Warns of SSRI Antidepressants

 

08/07/103

 

http://www.cwl.bc.ca/resolutions2003.html

 

Resolution BC 05/03

(Education and Health Standing Committee, presented by Victoria Diocese)

 

THE DANGERS OF PROZAC-TYPE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS

(SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

 

 

Whereas, Clinical research shows that up to one in ten adults who

take Prozac (1) can become belligerent and pose risk to others and

themselves; and

 

Whereas, Prozac was originally tested and thought to be safe, there is now

evidence according to a new Canadian study that contrary to what many

doctors

believe, Prozac can kill when taken in an overdose, therefore be it

 

Resolved, That the Council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada in

annual convention assembled, urge Canada Food and Drug Administration to

undertake the following:

 

a) to make information available to all people living in Canada regarding

the

potential dangers involved in using Prozac and other SSRI antidepressants;

and

b) to make warning labels mandatory regarding all side effects on Prozac and

all

other SSRI type medications.

 

BRIEF: THE DANGERS OF PROZAC-TYPE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS

 

The drug Prozac is an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) widely

used to treat depression. Depression is believed to be caused by abnormal

levels of Serotonin. The SSRIs work by blocking the brain's reabsorption of

serotonin, a chemical messenger that allows cells to communicate with each

other.

 

Many general practitioners have recognized that SSRIs can be addictive and

cause suicidal tendencies in some people. The risk of suicide for Prozac

takers is one out of ten.(2)

 

Antidepressant studies (3) provide support for the argument that SSRIs

in certain circumstances may induce a suicidality that would otherwise not

have happened.

 

Also, that children and adolescents taking antidepressants had a significant

change in behaviour, including becoming impulsive, disinhibited and

suicidal.(4)

 

It is essential that the patients and the families of patients be made aware

of

a possible risk of an increase in suicidal behaviour and other potentially

dangerous side-effects when taking SSRIs. All SSRIs should carry warning

labels with this information.

 

 

 

 

FOOTNOTES:

 

1 Prozac is a brand name for Fluoxetine - an SSRI antidepressant

2 Healy, D. Letter to Dr. Keith Jones, Director Medicines Control Agency,

London, 4 Nov., 1999

3 Healy, D. Emergence of Antidepressant Induced Suicidality.

http://www.pssg.org/healystudy.htm

4 Garland, E.J. Amotivational Syndrome linked with SSRI use in youth for the

first time. Brown Univ Child and Adol Psychopharm 3(10):1, 6-8, 2001

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

1.- Antidepressants can kill when take in overdose. Times Colonist, April

27,

2001

2.- Garland, E. Jane and Elizabeth A. Baerg. Amotivational Syndrome linked

with

SSRI use in youth for the first time. Brown Univ. Child and Adol.

Psychopharm. 3

(10):1, 6-8, 2001

3.- Healy, David. Emergence of Antidepressant Induced Suicidality. (Only

Introduction and Discussion of Study). http:/www.pssg.org/healystudy.htm

[Complete article in Primary Care Psychiatry, vol. 6 no. 1, 2000]

4.- Ibid. Letter to Dr. Keith Jones, Director Medicines Control Agency,

London.

4 Nov. 1999

5.- Ibid. Letter to Dr. June Raine, Director of post-Licencing Division,

MCA,

London. 19 June 2001. Re: SSRIs and suicide

6.- Ibid. Letter to Alan Milburn, Secretary of State for Health,

London. 8 April

2002

7.- McIlroy, Anne. When depression turns deadly. The Globe and Mail, April

21,

2001

8.- Meysenburg, Rosie. Possible cause for the increase in murder/ suicide,

road

rage and workplace violence. ICFDA Position Paper