Aftermath Of Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Fen-Phen, & Many Other Serotonergic Drugs

[Guest guest]

The Aftermath Of Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Fen-Phen, & Many Other Serotonergic

Drugs JoAnn Guest Jan 07, 2005 22:28 PST

 

http://www.rense.com/general/pro.htm

 

By Dr. Ann Blake Tracy - Executive Director,

International Coalition For Drug Awareness

www.drugawareness.org

5-6-00

 

 

Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, a PhD in Psychology and Health Sciences, has

specialized for 10 years in adverse reactions to serotonergic

medications. She is the executive director of the International

Coalition for Drug Awareness (www.drugawareness.org) and author of the

book PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? (800-280-0730)

 

WARNING: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A GRADUAL TAPERING OFF OF MEDICATIONS

IS SAFEST WITHDRAWAL METHOD TO AVOID SERIOUS WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS (Often

there is the terrible withdrawal associated with the SSRIs.

 

Unless patients are warned to come very slowly off these drugs by

shaving minuscule amounts off their pills each day, as opposed to

cutting them in half or taking a pill every other day, they can go into

terrible withdrawal which is generally delayed several months.

 

This withdrawal includes bouts of overwhelming depression, terrible

insomnia and fatigue, and can include life-threatening physical effects,

psychosis, or violent outbursts.)

 

Note: Keep in mind that these drugs are all serotonergic agents and

clones or " copy cat " drugs of Prozac - the first SSRI antidepressant

introduced to the market in America.

 

Basically what applies to one, applies to the others. For instance we

have more data out on Prozac because it has been around longer, but as

the mode of action is the same for all of these meds the effects will be

the same for the other drugs on this list as it is for Prozac.

 

If we are discussing one drug, similar effects would be expected from

any other company's version of the drug. In fact it would be more honest

to give them the titles of Prozac #1, Prozac #2, Prozac #3, etc. rather

than the brand names they have been given, from the second clone,

Zoloft, to the latest Prozac clone, Celexa.

 

My concern is that each new SSRI introduced seems to be a little

stronger on serotonin reuptake and therefore potentially more dangerous.

 

 

And the all too common practice of going from one SSRI to another blocks

additional receptors and magnifies the harmful effects of these

medications.

 

It is crucial to learn that according to medical research the theory

behind this group of drugs is invalid. Known as serotonin reuptake

inhibitors.

 

They are designed to block serotonin in the brain, thereby increasing

brain levels of this neurotransmitter. Yet for three decades researchers

have been intensely interested in serotonin because LSD and PCP produce

their psychedelic effects by mimicking serotonin.

 

Elevated serotonin is found in: psychosis or schizophrenia, mood

disorders, organic brain disease, mental retardation, autism and

Alzheimer's. While low levels of the metabolism of serotonin (which also

produces high serotonin), are found in those with: depression, anxiety,

suicide, violence, arson, substance abuse, insomnia, violent nightmares,

impulsive behavior, reckless driving, exhibitionism, hostility,

argumentive behavior, etc.

 

The drugs increase serotonin and decrease the metabolism of serotonin

leading to any and all of the above results. This information is

extremely crucial for patients and physicians to learn as soon as

possible.

 

We have a high rate of use of these drugs nationwide. Raising serotonin

and lowering the metabolism of serotonin in such a large number of

people can produce very serious, widespread and long term problems for

all of society.

 

So why are we now in the 90's being told that increased serotonin is

good for us? Is it because it is good for the pocketbooks of the

manufacturers?

 

One manufacturer is running full page newspaper and magazine ads and

half hour TV infomercials to bring in over $7 million daily, while on

the other hand they are settling Prozac suicide cases for huge amounts

of money in exchange for silence from victim's families on the details

of those settlements.

 

The silence in the court cases insures that the drug will be allowed to

finish out its patent time, thus bringing in the highest possible

profits for the company. They know that with $7 million coming in daily,

they can afford to settle a large number of lawsuits and still come out

" smelling like a rose " financially.

 

Eli Lilly has been sued for Prozac related deaths in numerous state and

federal courts with most of these cases being settled or dismissed -

many were dismissed due to the unethical manipulation of the Wesbecker

verdict (see time line for details).

 

We have witnessed no decrease in suicide, but increases in

murder/suicide, suicide, unwed pregnancies, domestic violence,

manic-depression, MS, hypoglycemia, diabetes, bankruptcies, divorce,

mothers (parents) killing children, road rage, school shootings, cancer,

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and fibromyalgia since these serotonergic

drugs have become so popular and I relate it directly to the effects of

these drugs.

 

The death toll has continued to climb drastically since I wrote PROZAC:

PANACEA OR PANDORA?

 

Some of the cases you may be familiar with are: Mr. and Mrs. Phil

Hartman (Zoloft), Prozac was found in the van of Mark Barton, the

Atlanta day trader, who recently killed his family and others in a

shooting spree before taking his own life;

Neal Furrow, in LA Jewish school shooting was reported to have been

court ordered to be on Prozac along with several other medications;

the Salt Lake Family History Library shooting,

school shootings in Littleton, Colorado (Luvox), Atlanta, Georgia,

Springfield, Oregon (Prozac),

and Caldwell, Idaho;

another boy in Pocatello, ID in 1998 who in seizure activity from Zoloft

had a stand off at the school;

15 year old Chris Shanahan (Paxil) in Rigby, ID who out of the blue

killed a woman;

the shooting at the lottery in Connecticut last spring by Matthew Beck

(Luvox) that left five dead in a murder/suicide; the New York City

Subway bombing by Edward Leary (Prozac);

little 10 year old Timmy (Prozac) in southern Florida;

Nick Mansies (Paxil) in New Jersey who was convicted of killing a little

boy who was selling cookies door to door;

in Orange County, CA Dana Sue Gray (Paxil) who co-workers described as

a very caring nurse killed several elderly people;

Officer Stephen Christian (Prozac) one of the finest officers on the

Dallas Police force, who ran into a police substation shooting at fellow

officers and was killed;

13 year old Chris Fetters (Prozac) in Iowa who killed her favorite aunt;

David Rothman (Prozac) killed two co-workers and himself at the Dept. of

Agriculture in Ingelwood, CA;

Williams Evans (Zoloft) shot one co-worker at the Ohio Bureau of

Employment Services before shooting himself in Columbus, OH;

Winatchee, WA where 43 people were wrongfully imprisoned in a false

accusation of sexual abuse " witch hunt " fury started by a child under

the influence of Prozac and Paxil;

Christopher Vasquez (Zoloft) killed Michael McMorrow in Central Park;

Megan Hogg (Prozac) duct taped the mouths and noses of her three little

girls and took a handful of pills;

Vera Espinoza (Prozac) in Randolph, VT shot her small son and daughter

before shooting herself;

an elderly man (Prozac) in Layton, UT axed his wife and daughter to

death; Margaret Kastanis (Prozac) used a knife and hammer to kill her

three children before stabbing herself to death; an elderly man (Paxil)

in Dallas,

TX strangled his wife before shooting himself twice in the chest;

Larramie Huntzinger (Zoloft) blacked out and ran his car into three

young girls killing two in Salt Lake City, UT;

Mary Hinkelman (Prozac), a nurse in Baroda, MI shot her two small

daughters and her sister before shooting herself;

Lisa Fox (Prozac) shot her small son and her dog before shooting herself

in Brighton, MI;

Debi Louselle (Zoloft) shot daughter and then herself in Salt Lake

City, UT;

a father in Wyoming shot his wife, daughter and baby grand-daughter then

himself after only days on Paxil;

a mother (Prozac) in Pleasant Grove, UT killed her 17 year old son with

a sledge hammer while he slept before she attempted suicide by drinking

draino;

Larry Butzz, a superintendent of schools in Ames, IA shot his wife, son

and daughter before shooting himself - many cases pending in court are

not mentioned.

 

This is only a handful of MANY, MANY more cases - there would not be

room for anything else if I continued listing the cases.

 

A few additional famous victims: Princess Di (Prozac) and Dodi Fayed

-via their driver Henri Paul (Prozac), Monica Lewinsky (Prozac, Zoloft,

Effexor, Serzone and Phen-Fen),

Chris Farley (Prozac), Pres. Clinton's ex-partner Jim Mc Dougal

(Prozac),

Abby Hoffman (Prozac), Del Shannon (Prozac), Danielle Steele's son

(Prozac), INXS singer Michael Hutchence (Prozac),

Sarah - Dutchess of York (Phen-Fen)

 

The latest figures show Prozac has about 44,000 adverse reports filed

with the FDA. Out of those reports there are about 2500 deaths with the

large majority of them linked to suicide or violence.

 

The suicide statistics relating to women are shocking. According to the

CDC there are about 30,000 suicides yearly in the United States. Out of

those about 6,000 are women - a ratio of about 4.3 to 1, male to female.

 

About twice as many women as men are treated for depression

demonstrating that generally men are more than 8 times as lethal in

their suicidal gestures as women.

Women were known to use less lethal means until the SSRI

antidepressants hit the market.

 

But on Prozac and Paxil, women committed 40% of the suicides - many were

strikingly violent and clearly leaving no means for rescue.

 

(Remember that because Prozac was the first of this group of drugs its

track record gives us a vision of what is to come with other

serotonergic antidepressants, especially when they are so powerful in

the reuptake of serotonin.)

 

TIME LINE OF CRITICAL INFORMATION DISCOVERED SINCE THE BOOK:

 

*NOTE: Any documents beginning with PZ are Lilly documents on Prozac

which have been ferreted out by attorneys and are now being used in

lawsuits against the drug company.

 

(Christian vs. Eli Lilly, by Vickery & Waldner, Houston, TX) - - Mid

1950's: Dr. Felix Sulman began his research on those who suffer from

high serotonin levels because of an inability to metabolize serotonin.

 

He found that serotonin is a stress neuro-hormone leading even rabbits,

the most docile of creatures, to be aggressive.

 

He coined the term " serotonin irritation syndrome. " He found that those

who were unable to break down serotonin would have the levels increase.

 

They " were in effect being poisoned by the serotonin produced by their

own bodies, the irritation victims suffered from migraines, hot flashes,

irritability, sleeplessness, pains around the heart, difficulty in

breathing, a worsening of bronchial complaints, irrational tension and

anxiety. . . horrifying nightmares.

 

It also caused his volunteers to sleep badly - that is, always on the

edge of consciousness so that they were not properly rested - and to

wake after only a few hours of sleep. " (sleep apnea) He also found it

caused pregnant women to abort. - - October, 1977: Slater, et.al.,

Inhibition of REM Sleep by Fluoxetine, a Specific Inhibitor of Serotonin

Uptake, October 1977, at p. 385 -

 

Prozac was found to affect sleep habits, specifically to suppress deep

sleep, which the scientists call REM (rapid eye movement) sleep in cats.

 

By the fourth day of drug treatment the cats receiving the larger

doses, which had been friendly for years, began to growl and hiss. . . .

After cessation of the drug treatment, the cats returned to their usual

friendly behavior in a week or two; those on the higher doses recovering

more slowly. - - 1977: [PZ 1298 1999] " A total of six dogs from the high

dose group were removed from treatment ... due to severe occurrences of

either aggressive behavior, ataxia, or anorexia. " ] - - July 31, 1978:

[PZ1061 1025-28, July 31, 1978]

 

Human subjects began to be used by Lilly in controlled clinical trials.

The first group of patients showed no improvement in their depression,

but there were a " large number of reports of adverse reactions. " The

first human to receive Prozac experienced " dystonia resembling an

extrapyramidal reaction " - an uncontrollable, Parkinson-like shaking or

trembling. - - July 23, 1979 [PZ 1297 969]

 

The clinical studies in depression showed that " some patients have

converted from severe depression to agitation within a few days; in one

case the agitation was marked and the patient had to be taken off drug.

In future studies the use of benzodiazepines to control the agitation

will be permitted. " - - August 3, 1979: The clinical trials excluded

patients who had serious suicidal risk. [E.g. control #001519, IND

Protocol No. 14, August 3, 1979; PZ1135 695, July 2, 1986 memorandum of

Dr. Wernicke]. - - December 17, 1984: [PZ 65 449, report of Lilly to

FDA] Lilly reported to the FDA that benzodiazepines and other sedatives

were given with Prozac throughout the clinical trials. This was to help

offset the stimulant effect of the drug.

 

In a memorandum of Lilly scientist Charles Beasley [PZ 541 2007-08]

issues of " agitation vs. sedation " and concomitant sedative medications

like benzodiazepines (to control the agitation) are discussed. Concerns

are that agitation in a suicidal patient can induce suicide. - - March

3, 1986 Lilly controlled the flow of information to the FDA and decided

that suicide data on Prozac should not be evaluated, " in the

safety-update for the FDA the number of suicides and suicide attempts

will not be especially evaluated. "

 

[PZ 879 1966, March 3, 1986 telex] - - September 12, 1986: German BGA

very concerned with the risk of suicide and ultimately approved Prozac

on the condition that physicians be warned of the risk of suicide and

told to consider using sedatives and closely monitor patients. [PZ 878

1383, report of Lilly consultant Pohlmeier; PZ 2467 299, September 12,

1986]

 

Lilly actually warned physicians in Germany and other countries that

this measure " can be necessary " to minimize the risk of suicide, [PZ

1341 402, December 6, 1989 German warning; PZ 2469 490] - - February 7,

1990:

 

In response to the Harvard study, Teicher, et al., Lilly's top

scientist, Leigh Thompson, told his fellow executives that " Lilly can go

down the tubes if we lose Prozac " .

 

[PZ 1941 827, February 7, 1990]. In the ensuing months Dr. Thompson

spoke frequently with his principal FDA regulator about the issue, once

at 6:15 in the morning. [PZ 391 1959, July 18, 1990]. Lilly later

described the man as " our defender " . [PZ1941 2256, September 12, 1990] -

-

 

May 29, 1990, Lilly added " suicidal ideation " in the section dealing

with post-marketing reports. [PZ883 562, July 26, 1990 memorandum] - -

September 14, 1990: Contrary to the advice of his staff, Dr. Thompson

told the Eli Lilly Board of Directors that suicide and hostile acts were

probably, caused by the patients' underlying disorders rather than

Prozac. [PZ542 2101, September 14, 1990; PZ4002 889, Board Minutes].

 

The staff was concerned because they knew that this issue was never

studied during the clinical trials. - - September 11, 1990: Note from

Dr. Bruce Stadel, Chief of the Epidemiology Branch, attaching an

analysis done by Dr. David Graham, Section Chief within the Epidemiology

Branch, of Lilly's July 17, 1990 submission to the FDA on the

Prozac/suicidality/violence issue.

 

The following factors were (a) brought to the attention of those in the

higher echelons of the FDA, but (b) ignored, discounted or " trashed " by

them: #1 Lilly's analysis improperly excluded 76 out of 97 suicides; as

Dr. Stadel expressed it, " t is inappropriate in a safety analysis to

exclude such a large proportion of case " ;

#2 Lilly admitted that its clinical trials " were not designed for the

prospective evaluation of suicidality " and that " n these trials,

patients with current suicidal ideation were excluded " ; #3 Lilly

admitted that the HAMD-3 rating scale it used to assess suicidality in

clinical trials was inadequate; and that Lilly's statements about

violence only demonstrated " how great under-reporting is " and that

" [t]he actual data showed a higher percentage of treatment-emergent

suicidality among fluoxetine (2.9% than tricyclic (0.8%) patients . . .

[which percentage] was similar to that reported by Teicher. " - -

July 1, 1992: A study lead by Dr. Lorne Brandes of the Manatoba

Institute of Cell Biology in Winnipeg, Canada was published in CANCER

RESEARCH linking the two most popular anti-depressants, Elavil and

Prozac to cancer. - - 1993(?):

A study headed by Edward Domino showed LSD flashbacks and LSD reactions

induced by Prozac. - - June 9, 1994: The New York Review of Books

article by Dr. Sherwin Nuland slams Peter Kramer for pushing Prozac in

his book Listening to Prozac. He pointed out that all docs are taught in

med school this little poem about serotonin: " This man was addicted to

moanin', confusion, edema, and groanin', intestinal rushes, great

tricolored blushes, and died from too much serotonin. "

He listed constriction of lungs and intestines, diarrhea, wheezing,

flushing, mental confusion, tightening of bronchioles, and lessening

conscious control over behavior from increases in serotonin. " Moreover,

.. . . it is still too early to arrive at a reliable estimate of possible

dangers that may appear in the long term, " and 15% dropped out of the

clinical trials on Prozac because of adverse reactions.

He also discussed the similarity of serotonin to the psychedelics like

LSD and PCP. - - November, 1994: Krystal JH, Webb E, Cooney N, et al.,

" Specificity of Ethanol-like Effects Elicited in Serotonergic and

Noradrenergic Mechanisms, " ARCHIVES OF GENERAL PSYCHIATRY, Vol. 51,

Issue 11, pgs 898-911, 1994 demonstrated that an increase in brain

levels of either of two neurotransmitters, serotonin or noradrenalin,

produces:

#1 a craving for alcohol, #2 anger, #3 anxiety. They found this to be

especially true for those who have a history of alcoholism. An increase

serotonin in turn increases noradrenalin. Numerous reports have been

made by reformed alcoholics who are being " driven " to alcohol again

after being prescribed a serotonergic drug. And many other patients who

had no previous history of alcoholism have continued to report an

" overwhelming compulsion " to drink while using these drugs.

(A few personal accounts: #1 A young woman, a recovering alcoholic,

reported that during the eight month period she had been using Prozac

she found it necessary to attend AA meetings every day in order to fight

off the strong compulsions to begin drinking again.

#2 In the Southeastern United States a middle aged psychologist, also a

recovering alcoholic, after being prescribed Prozac, found herself

needing to attend AA meetings morning, noon, and night to keep from

destroying the sobriety she had achieved.

#3 A young father, who was Mormon and had never before in his life used

alcohol, found himself drinking Ever Clear and exhibiting bizarre as

well as violent behavior, after being prescribed Prozac and Ritalin.

#4 A young mother who had never used alcohol before began drinking large

amounts within weeks of being prescribed Prozac and quickly found

herself committed to a mental institution due to the psychotic behavior

that resulted. Added to her Prozac prescription were anti-psychotic meds

and electric shock treatments. She then began to experience seizures and

was started on anti-seizure meds.

#5 A concerned neighbor reported her friend was drinking straight Vodka

on a regular basis after being prescribed Zoloft.

#6 A daughter reported her father, sober for 15 years, began drinking

again on Prozac. - - December, 1994: Not guilty verdict on Wesbecker

wrongful death suit against Lilly's Prozac. - - Treatment emergent

suicidality with Prozac has been demonstrated to be two to three times

higher than any other anti-depressant. (Jick, et al., Antidepressants

and Suicide) - -

May, 1995: Judge John Potter who presided over the Wesbecker case filed

documents to demand that Lilly be forced to disclose the secret deal

they made with the plaintiffs to withhold very damaging evidence in

exchange for settlement. In his pleading to the court Potter stated,

" Lilly sought to buy not just the verdict, but the court's judgment as

well. " Potter accused Lilly of " giving the verdict the widest possible

publicity " accompanied by the claim that Lilly had " proven in a court of

law that Prozac was safe. " Furious with Lilly's attempt to turn his

courtroom into an advertising agency for Prozac, he claims his motion

reflects " the court's duty to protect the integrity of the judicial

system. " He believes, as do prominent legal ethicists, that a full and

open disclosure of the terms of the settlement is a necessary public

safety issue. - -

July, 1997: Mayo Clinic found that the increased serotonin, which

produces blood clotting, was causing a gummy glossy substance to build

up on heart valves.

Dr. Heidi Connolly with the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases and

Internal Medicine, who headed the study stated, " We do know that

fenfluramine and phentermine [Fen-Phen] alter the way the brain chemical

serotonin is metabolized, and serotonin that circulates in the blood can

cause valve injury. "

Fenfluramine produces a rapid release of serotonin, inhibits serotonin

reuptake, and may also have receptor agonist activity. The study's

revelations should send a loud and very clear warning throughout the

medical community concerning all serotonergic medications - -

ugust 25, 1997: Letter to Dr. Tracy, " I caught the last part of your

presentation on Radio Station KEX, Portland, while flipping through the

dial last night.

I was flabbergasted to hear you speak of the horrible potential side

effects from Prozac, which I have been taking for approximately four

years, particularly since I have been diagnosed recently with

cardiomyalgia, severe artery disease, congestive heart failure and also

fibromyalgia.

(I was a very " well " person prior to taking the Prozac and am now

exhausted all the time, with horrible aching joints and considerable

pain and a massive heart problem.)

The adverse cardiovascular effects from Prozac, the one drug in this

class of drugs out long enough to have somewhat of track record, are

listed in the drug information sheet put out by the manufacturer.

The " frequent " effects listed are hemorrhage and hypertension. The

" infrequent " effects include very serious adverse effects: congestive

heart failure, myocardial infarct, tachycardia, angina pectoris,

arrhythmia, hypotension, migraine syncope and vascular headache. - -

September, 1997: Redux and Phen-Fen were pulled from the market. - -

October 20, 1997: Dr. Candace Pert, Research Professor at Georgetown

University Medical Center, past head of the brain chemistry department

at the National Institute of Health, and author of the new book,

MOLECULES OF EMOTION, sounded an alarm in TIME, October 20.

She stated, " I am alarmed at the monster that Johns Hopkins

neuroscientist Solomon Snyder and I created when we discovered the

simple binding assay for drug receptors 25 years ago.

Prozac and other antidepressant serotonin-receptor-active compounds may

also cause cardiovascular problems in some susceptible people after

long-term use, which has become common practice despite the lack of

safety studies. " (emphasis added)

As we are being led to believe these drugs produce effects only in the

brain, Dr. Pert accuses the medical profession of oversimplifying the

action of these drugs and adds that " the public is being misinformed

about the precision of these selective serotonin-uptake inhibitors. "

It is critical that both physicians and patients be made aware of these

adverse physical reactions.

She points out that the medical profession not only oversimplifies the

action of these drugs in the brain, but " ignores the body as if it

exists merely to carry the head around! " And that, " these molecules of

emotion regulate every aspect of our physiology. " The body plays a very

significant role in how we feel and act the way we do.

This fact can no longer be ignored. - - Serotonin and serotonin

receptors exist throughout the body, as well as the brain, and every

aspect of the body's physiology is affected by these serotonergic

medications.

In fact approximately 90% of the body's serotonin is produced in the

intestinal tract. According to Dr. Michael Gershon of New York's

Columbia Presbyterian, this is the reason why Prozac produces so many

gastrointestinal side effects. - -

March, 1998: Two new studies published - one that shows Prozac so

strongly inhibits one particular serotonin receptor that this produces

both obesity and seizures and the other discusses the blockage of muscle

and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors indicating interactions

between the serotonergic and cholinergic systems in the central nervous

system. - -

April, 1998: Our next generation of guinea pigs - one month before a 15

year old on Prozac, Kip Kinkel, in Springfield OR killed his parents and

two classmates the American Psychiatric Association and the American

Academy of Pediatric Psychiatrists asked the FDA to consider the

serotonergic antidepressants for use in children as young as two and

drugs for anxiety, aggression and manic depression in babies only one

month old!

The use of Prozac among young children ages 6 - 12 has increased an

alarming 400% from 1995 (51.000 new prescriptions) to 1996 (203,000 new

prescriptions). - -

June, 1999: CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY NEWS reported that Dr. Malcolm Bowers a

psychiatrist at Yale has found that physicians are not paying enough

attention to patient factors that could make initiation of SSRIs

dangerous.

He found that " SSRI-induced psychosis has accounted for 8% of all

general hospital psychiatric admissions over a recent 14-month period. "

And " What is surprising is that this particular group of side effects is

really underplayed. "

(The 8% figure represents over 150,000 SSRI induced psychotic breaks per

year!!!!!!!) - -

Warning: Children so often get coughs and colds, yet using a cough or

cold medication with dextromethorphan could cause the serotonin

syndrome, a very serious and potentially fatal adverse reaction and/or

produce PCP reactions. - -

Serotonin syndrome remains an often misdiagnosed or unrecognized fatal

reaction due to the medical profession being so uninformed about this

drug-induced disorder. - -

Developing brains are far more vulnerable than adult brains and brain

damage generally becomes more apparent after the brain is fully

developed, rather than immediately.

Increases in cortisol produce brain damage while medical research shows

that one single 30mg dose of Prozac DOUBLES the level of cortisol.

This drastic increase in cortisol causes a multitude of serious physical

reactions including impairment of linear growth, as well as impairing

the development and regeneration of the liver, kidneys, muscles, etc.

In light of so many unspeakable tragedies, I have grown weary of all the

silly philosophical discussions we have heard since Kramer's LISTENING

TO PROZAC came out.

Patients are dying or having their health destroyed mentally as well as

physically (when do we begin to discuss the very serious physical side

effects associated with high levels of serotonin?).

These patients and their families are frantically searching for answers

while this research sits right under our noses and could easily be made

available to them. The widespread use of Prozac and its clones is not a

statement of either their safety or their effectiveness.

It is a statement about the effectiveness of an infinite marketing

budget and incredible advertising campaign! These drugs have very

serious physical side effects, as well as dangerous psychiatric side

effects.

To prevent further tragedy this medical research must be acknowledged

and addressed in headline news without delay rather than remain buried

in seldom read medical research documents as has been the case in the

past with other mind- altering medications, once thought to be safe,

which were subsequently prohibited by law, ie. LSD, PCP, cocaine, etc..

Oct. 1998 note from a British nurse: " I started having bad reactions . .

.. Oct '96 I found Prozac to be causing joint and muscle pain itself . .

.. signs of Cushing's Syndrome. . .

I was very pro-Prozac until last October and wouldn't have listened to

anything said against it until I got problems (thought it was saving my

life, while all the time it was insidiously and slowly killing me!) When

I first heard about your book on the Internet I was interested but quite

sceptical.

However, since reading it and having suffered so many problems with

Prozac, I have come to the conclusion that the book is brilliant, and a

life-line as far as I am concerned. I tried to fault the research and

reasoning, but could not and still can't. I would like to extend my

thanks to you for your heroic stance on this enormously important issue.

I have tremendous respect and admiration for your hard work,

determination and courage in pursuing this subject so vigorously,

against so much powerful opposition for the benefit of people like me.

Your integrity puts many, if not most doctors and psychiatrists to

shame. It is reassuring to find that there are a few people who are

prepared to fight for the truth for the benefit of mankind. "

" PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? is an incredible compilation of medical

data that will lay the groundwork to educate other professionals and the

general public about the new SSRI antidepressants - Prozac, Zoloft,

Paxil, Luvox, Effexor and Serzone. " . . . Jeff Wise, psychologist, Salt

Lake County Drug and Alcohol Abuse

" In 15 years of reading books on drugs I have never read a book with

more information or so well documented as PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? .

.. . Dr. Kevin Millet, Bountiful, UT

" As I lecture to physicians nationwide on the medical use of

psychoactive drugs PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? always accompanies me in

my brief case. . . . Dr. Bruce Woolley, neuropsychopharmacologist,

Brigham Young Univ.

" I found PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? fascinating reading and the most

complete analysis of the various factors pertaining to the Prozac

controversy. " . . . Attorney Donald Sokol, Susanville, CA

" PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? literally saved my life, and if I'd known

about it a year earlier, could have saved me untold grief and agony as

well. It is the only collated, comprehensive source I know of for this

information , . . . this book described everything that had happened to

me in great detail, gave scientific reasons why it happened, backed it

all up with solid research, included testimonials from hundreds of

others in the same situation, it immaculately details, explains, and

refers one to the latest research on a whole hornet's nest of 'atypical'

side-and/or after-effects from the use of these antidepressants. It also

contains information on how to reduce the severity of problems

encountered while starting on or going off these meds. . . . Nick

Jameson, Prozac patient

" Magnificent! This text is a monument to Ann Tracy's tenacity and love

for her fellow human beings. " . . . Dr. Paul Kennedy, N.J.

" PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? has not left one question about these drugs

unanswered! Ann Tracy has covered them all. " . . . Margaret McCaffery,

N.Y. (lost her daughter, a neurosurgeon, in a Prozac suicide)

" The work Dr. Ann Blake Tracy is doing is very important and she is

truly a heroine. " . . . Dr. Candace Pert, Washington, DC, one of the two

developers of the serotonin binding process which made possible the

development of the serotonergic drugs, (Dr. Pert has boldly stated,

speaking of these serotonergic medications, " I am alarmed at the

monsters I created! "

ORDER PHONE: 1-800-280-0730 WEB ADDRESS: members.aol.com/atracyphd &

www.drugawareness.org ORDER ADDRESS: Cassia Publications, PO Box 1044,

West Jordan, UT 84084 PRODUCTS: (All prices in US funds<<<) ( Postage

and handling: $4 in US, $8 in Canada & Western Europe, and $10 elsewhere

- per book - or for any 6 tapes ordered without a book - no charge for

postage on tapes ordered with a book.) Book: PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA?

($19.95) Audio Tapes: " Help! I Can't Get Off My Antidepressants! (1 1/2

hr - $9.95); BYU Lecture (Christian - LDS; 45 min - $4.95); Dr. Tracy's

favorite radio shows: Interview with David and Fawn Christopher (1994,

Very informative - health oriented, 1 hr - $6.95), Art Bell Show (Sep.

1999, 4 hours, set of four tapes packed with information - $29.95),

Interview with Frosty Fowler (1997, Christian oriented, 1 hr - $6.95);

Liberty Radio interview (1999, politically oriented, 1 hr $6.95) & more

to follow.

SIGHTINGS HOMEPAGE

http://www.sightings.com

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

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