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Let's hear it for Pringle!!!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_evelyn_p_050808_ssri_protest___activ.htm

SSRI Protest - Activists Fed Up With FDA

by Pringle

http://www.opednews.com

Activists who are fed up with waiting for the FDA to take proper

action to protect the public from dangerous psychotropic drugs, are

holding a 3 day rally in front of White House to condemn the FDA's

failure to act on the matter.

On August 24, 25, and 26, between 9 am and 5 pm, prominent activists

from all over the nation will join victims and family members who

have lost love ones due to these drugs to raise public awareness

about their potential dangers.

They will specifically target the class of antidepressants known as

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include:

Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Luvox, Citalopram, Celexa,

Lexapro, and Paroxetine.

Routhier who lost his 40 year-old wife Diane 2 years ago to

suicide while she was on the antidepressant Wellbutrin, will be

leading the rally along with his 2 sons.

Hurcombe will also be attending from the UK. is an

editor and educator, and author of the book, Losing A Child. Her

daughter Caitlin died aged 19.

Other attendees include Mark and his mother, Donna. Mark was

shot during the Columbine rampage by who was on an SSRI

at the time.

Another leader in the fight against the over-prescribing of these

drugs, who will attend the rally is the world renowned expert on

SRRIs, Dr Anne Blake , Director of the International Coalition

for Drug Awareness.

Dr is the author of PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? a book written

after five years of research on approximately 1000 patients taking

SSRIs on a long-term basis.

She has specialized in adverse reactions to SSRIs and has testified

before the FDA and congressional committees on their adverse

affects. Since 1992 Dr has also served as an expert consultant

and witness in SSRI related civil and criminal court cases all

around the world.

A full force of advocacy groups will be represented with members of

Mothers Against Manufactured Madness, Alliance to Stop Psychiatry's

Influence in Religion and Education, and Mindfreedom.

An important part of the message that the public needs to know, is

that drug makers have known about the adverse affects of SSRIs since

before they received FDA approval. For example, in March 1985, three

full years before Prozac was approved, Dr Kapit reviewed the

drug and warned it posed a risk of worsening " vegetative aspects of

depressive illness " for some patients. He noted that out of 1427

exposures " there were two completed suicides " and " 13 patients who

attempted suicide. " He stated that " it may be appropriate " to

include a " warning " on the label " that certain signs and symptoms of

depression may be exacerbated by this drug. "

Drug makers have also known that SSRIs are practically useless in

treating children. For instance, in December 2004, ABC News

uncovered documents that revealed GlaxoKline, maker Paxil,

failed to disclose the results of studies as far back as 1997, which

determined that Paxil had little or no effect in treating depression

in children and also showed the company was aware of suicide-related

behaviors in young patients taking the drug.

Yet in 2001, Glaxo sent out a memo to its sales force touting the

drug's " remarkable efficacy and safety in the treatment of

adolescent depression. "

One advocacy group, recently accused the FDA of covering up Prozac's

dangerous side effects for 14 years. And as a result, their

spokesperson says hundreds of people have been victims of murder and

suicide.

Bonnie Leitsch is the founder of " Prozac Survivors Support Group, "

and along with Dr , is calling for immediate federal action to

warn the public that this class of antidepressants not only can

induce suicide in adult patients, but can also cause psychosis and

acts of violence.

The FDA cannot continue to play dumb. Leitsch's group has 14-year-

old film footage of the 1991 FDA hearings, where dozens of family

members testified about relatives who had either killed themselves,

or loved ones, or who had attempted suicide which they directly

attributed to being on SSRIs.

The Prozac Survivors group points to Magdalena as an example

of violence caused by SSRIs. The 30-year-old Indiana mother recently

murdered her two young sons while on one of the drugs.

At least 80,000 women each year in this country are being prescribed

these drugs during pregnancy, according to researchers estimates.

SSRIs are still being prescribed to pregnant women even though a May

2005 study published in the Journal of the American Medical

Association reported that pregnant women who take SSRIs late in

pregnancy raise the risk that their babies will suffer jitteriness,

irritability and serious respiratory problems during their first

couple of weeks.

Leitsch finds it unacceptable that pregnant women and new mothers

are still being prescribed drugs that have been known to induce

violence and suicide for more than a decade. " In 1991, there was

evidence of 500 deaths associated with antidepressants presented to

an FDA Advisory Committee hearing investigating Prozac, " she said.

" The failure to issue the warning has led to more suicides,

homicides, school shooters and mothers killing their own children, "

she added. According to Lietsch, 36 million Americans are taking the

antidepressant drugs.

" These are extremely dangerous drugs that should have been banned,

as similar drugs were in the past. Federal investigations into the

violence-inducing effects of these drugs are long overdue, "

said. " The scientific evidence behind this has been out there for

decades. All anyone ever had to do was read it, " she says.

The group provided details of several other high profile cases where

mothers have killed their children:

• In October 2002, Annie Mae Haskew smothered her 10-week-old son

after being diagnosed with postpartum depression and placed on

antidepressants.

• Yates drowned her five children in the family bathtub in

November 2004, while taking the antidepressants Effexor and Remeron,

prescribed at maximum dose.

• Dena Schlosser killed her 10-month-old daughter in November 2004

by severing the baby's arms after being diagnosed with postpartum

depression, hospitalized and prescribed psychiatric medication for

depression.

• On July 26, 2004, Ellen Moffitt suffocated her 5-week-old

infant and herself. She had been diagnosed with postpartum

depression and was taking Paxil.

• Emiri Padron smothered her baby daughter on June 22, 2004 and then

stabbed herself twice in the chest. Emiri was receiving psychiatric

treatment and investigators found Zoloft in her apartment after the

incident.

Late last year FDA directed manufacturers to add a " black box "

warning to the health professional labeling of all SSRIs to describe

the risk of suicide in children, and emphasize the need for close

monitoring of patients when started on these drugs.

On July 1, 2005, the FDA advised health care providers and adult

patients to be aware of the following:

Adults being treated with antidepressant medicines, particularly

those being treated for depression, should be watched closely for

worsening of depression and for increased suicidal thinking or

behavior.

Close observation of adults may be especially important when

antidepressant medications are started for the first time or when

doses for the specific drugs prescribed have been changed.

Adults whose symptoms worsen while being treated with

antidepressants, including an increase in suicidal thinking or

behavior, should be evaluated by their health care professional.

Advocates say these warnings are not only far too late, they contain

far too little. Leitsch says the FDA has an obligation to do

more. " They must warn the public that not only can the drugs include

suicide -- but heinous acts of violence -- mothers killing their own

children, or children killing other children, " she said.

Another protest against SSRIs is already scheduled to take place on

September 26 through the 28th at the address of the drug company

GlaxKline, maker of Paxil, at lin Plaza at 200 N 16th

Street and 1600 Vine Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Last and probably least, yours truly, Evie Pringle shall also attend

the rally.

Pringle

epringle05@...

( Pringle is a columnist for Independent Media TV and is an

investigative journalist focused on exposing government and

corporate coruption)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let's hear it for Pringle!!!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_evelyn_p_050808_ssri_protest___activ.htm

SSRI Protest - Activists Fed Up With FDA

by Pringle

http://www.opednews.com

Activists who are fed up with waiting for the FDA to take proper

action to protect the public from dangerous psychotropic drugs, are

holding a 3 day rally in front of White House to condemn the FDA's

failure to act on the matter.

On August 24, 25, and 26, between 9 am and 5 pm, prominent activists

from all over the nation will join victims and family members who

have lost love ones due to these drugs to raise public awareness

about their potential dangers.

They will specifically target the class of antidepressants known as

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include:

Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Luvox, Citalopram, Celexa,

Lexapro, and Paroxetine.

Routhier who lost his 40 year-old wife Diane 2 years ago to

suicide while she was on the antidepressant Wellbutrin, will be

leading the rally along with his 2 sons.

Hurcombe will also be attending from the UK. is an

editor and educator, and author of the book, Losing A Child. Her

daughter Caitlin died aged 19.

Other attendees include Mark and his mother, Donna. Mark was

shot during the Columbine rampage by who was on an SSRI

at the time.

Another leader in the fight against the over-prescribing of these

drugs, who will attend the rally is the world renowned expert on

SRRIs, Dr Anne Blake , Director of the International Coalition

for Drug Awareness.

Dr is the author of PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? a book written

after five years of research on approximately 1000 patients taking

SSRIs on a long-term basis.

She has specialized in adverse reactions to SSRIs and has testified

before the FDA and congressional committees on their adverse

affects. Since 1992 Dr has also served as an expert consultant

and witness in SSRI related civil and criminal court cases all

around the world.

A full force of advocacy groups will be represented with members of

Mothers Against Manufactured Madness, Alliance to Stop Psychiatry's

Influence in Religion and Education, and Mindfreedom.

An important part of the message that the public needs to know, is

that drug makers have known about the adverse affects of SSRIs since

before they received FDA approval. For example, in March 1985, three

full years before Prozac was approved, Dr Kapit reviewed the

drug and warned it posed a risk of worsening " vegetative aspects of

depressive illness " for some patients. He noted that out of 1427

exposures " there were two completed suicides " and " 13 patients who

attempted suicide. " He stated that " it may be appropriate " to

include a " warning " on the label " that certain signs and symptoms of

depression may be exacerbated by this drug. "

Drug makers have also known that SSRIs are practically useless in

treating children. For instance, in December 2004, ABC News

uncovered documents that revealed GlaxoKline, maker Paxil,

failed to disclose the results of studies as far back as 1997, which

determined that Paxil had little or no effect in treating depression

in children and also showed the company was aware of suicide-related

behaviors in young patients taking the drug.

Yet in 2001, Glaxo sent out a memo to its sales force touting the

drug's " remarkable efficacy and safety in the treatment of

adolescent depression. "

One advocacy group, recently accused the FDA of covering up Prozac's

dangerous side effects for 14 years. And as a result, their

spokesperson says hundreds of people have been victims of murder and

suicide.

Bonnie Leitsch is the founder of " Prozac Survivors Support Group, "

and along with Dr , is calling for immediate federal action to

warn the public that this class of antidepressants not only can

induce suicide in adult patients, but can also cause psychosis and

acts of violence.

The FDA cannot continue to play dumb. Leitsch's group has 14-year-

old film footage of the 1991 FDA hearings, where dozens of family

members testified about relatives who had either killed themselves,

or loved ones, or who had attempted suicide which they directly

attributed to being on SSRIs.

The Prozac Survivors group points to Magdalena as an example

of violence caused by SSRIs. The 30-year-old Indiana mother recently

murdered her two young sons while on one of the drugs.

At least 80,000 women each year in this country are being prescribed

these drugs during pregnancy, according to researchers estimates.

SSRIs are still being prescribed to pregnant women even though a May

2005 study published in the Journal of the American Medical

Association reported that pregnant women who take SSRIs late in

pregnancy raise the risk that their babies will suffer jitteriness,

irritability and serious respiratory problems during their first

couple of weeks.

Leitsch finds it unacceptable that pregnant women and new mothers

are still being prescribed drugs that have been known to induce

violence and suicide for more than a decade. " In 1991, there was

evidence of 500 deaths associated with antidepressants presented to

an FDA Advisory Committee hearing investigating Prozac, " she said.

" The failure to issue the warning has led to more suicides,

homicides, school shooters and mothers killing their own children, "

she added. According to Lietsch, 36 million Americans are taking the

antidepressant drugs.

" These are extremely dangerous drugs that should have been banned,

as similar drugs were in the past. Federal investigations into the

violence-inducing effects of these drugs are long overdue, "

said. " The scientific evidence behind this has been out there for

decades. All anyone ever had to do was read it, " she says.

The group provided details of several other high profile cases where

mothers have killed their children:

• In October 2002, Annie Mae Haskew smothered her 10-week-old son

after being diagnosed with postpartum depression and placed on

antidepressants.

• Yates drowned her five children in the family bathtub in

November 2004, while taking the antidepressants Effexor and Remeron,

prescribed at maximum dose.

• Dena Schlosser killed her 10-month-old daughter in November 2004

by severing the baby's arms after being diagnosed with postpartum

depression, hospitalized and prescribed psychiatric medication for

depression.

• On July 26, 2004, Ellen Moffitt suffocated her 5-week-old

infant and herself. She had been diagnosed with postpartum

depression and was taking Paxil.

• Emiri Padron smothered her baby daughter on June 22, 2004 and then

stabbed herself twice in the chest. Emiri was receiving psychiatric

treatment and investigators found Zoloft in her apartment after the

incident.

Late last year FDA directed manufacturers to add a " black box "

warning to the health professional labeling of all SSRIs to describe

the risk of suicide in children, and emphasize the need for close

monitoring of patients when started on these drugs.

On July 1, 2005, the FDA advised health care providers and adult

patients to be aware of the following:

Adults being treated with antidepressant medicines, particularly

those being treated for depression, should be watched closely for

worsening of depression and for increased suicidal thinking or

behavior.

Close observation of adults may be especially important when

antidepressant medications are started for the first time or when

doses for the specific drugs prescribed have been changed.

Adults whose symptoms worsen while being treated with

antidepressants, including an increase in suicidal thinking or

behavior, should be evaluated by their health care professional.

Advocates say these warnings are not only far too late, they contain

far too little. Leitsch says the FDA has an obligation to do

more. " They must warn the public that not only can the drugs include

suicide -- but heinous acts of violence -- mothers killing their own

children, or children killing other children, " she said.

Another protest against SSRIs is already scheduled to take place on

September 26 through the 28th at the address of the drug company

GlaxKline, maker of Paxil, at lin Plaza at 200 N 16th

Street and 1600 Vine Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Last and probably least, yours truly, Evie Pringle shall also attend

the rally.

Pringle

epringle05@...

( Pringle is a columnist for Independent Media TV and is an

investigative journalist focused on exposing government and

corporate coruption)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let's hear it for Pringle!!!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_evelyn_p_050808_ssri_protest___activ.htm

SSRI Protest - Activists Fed Up With FDA

by Pringle

http://www.opednews.com

Activists who are fed up with waiting for the FDA to take proper

action to protect the public from dangerous psychotropic drugs, are

holding a 3 day rally in front of White House to condemn the FDA's

failure to act on the matter.

On August 24, 25, and 26, between 9 am and 5 pm, prominent activists

from all over the nation will join victims and family members who

have lost love ones due to these drugs to raise public awareness

about their potential dangers.

They will specifically target the class of antidepressants known as

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include:

Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Luvox, Citalopram, Celexa,

Lexapro, and Paroxetine.

Routhier who lost his 40 year-old wife Diane 2 years ago to

suicide while she was on the antidepressant Wellbutrin, will be

leading the rally along with his 2 sons.

Hurcombe will also be attending from the UK. is an

editor and educator, and author of the book, Losing A Child. Her

daughter Caitlin died aged 19.

Other attendees include Mark and his mother, Donna. Mark was

shot during the Columbine rampage by who was on an SSRI

at the time.

Another leader in the fight against the over-prescribing of these

drugs, who will attend the rally is the world renowned expert on

SRRIs, Dr Anne Blake , Director of the International Coalition

for Drug Awareness.

Dr is the author of PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? a book written

after five years of research on approximately 1000 patients taking

SSRIs on a long-term basis.

She has specialized in adverse reactions to SSRIs and has testified

before the FDA and congressional committees on their adverse

affects. Since 1992 Dr has also served as an expert consultant

and witness in SSRI related civil and criminal court cases all

around the world.

A full force of advocacy groups will be represented with members of

Mothers Against Manufactured Madness, Alliance to Stop Psychiatry's

Influence in Religion and Education, and Mindfreedom.

An important part of the message that the public needs to know, is

that drug makers have known about the adverse affects of SSRIs since

before they received FDA approval. For example, in March 1985, three

full years before Prozac was approved, Dr Kapit reviewed the

drug and warned it posed a risk of worsening " vegetative aspects of

depressive illness " for some patients. He noted that out of 1427

exposures " there were two completed suicides " and " 13 patients who

attempted suicide. " He stated that " it may be appropriate " to

include a " warning " on the label " that certain signs and symptoms of

depression may be exacerbated by this drug. "

Drug makers have also known that SSRIs are practically useless in

treating children. For instance, in December 2004, ABC News

uncovered documents that revealed GlaxoKline, maker Paxil,

failed to disclose the results of studies as far back as 1997, which

determined that Paxil had little or no effect in treating depression

in children and also showed the company was aware of suicide-related

behaviors in young patients taking the drug.

Yet in 2001, Glaxo sent out a memo to its sales force touting the

drug's " remarkable efficacy and safety in the treatment of

adolescent depression. "

One advocacy group, recently accused the FDA of covering up Prozac's

dangerous side effects for 14 years. And as a result, their

spokesperson says hundreds of people have been victims of murder and

suicide.

Bonnie Leitsch is the founder of " Prozac Survivors Support Group, "

and along with Dr , is calling for immediate federal action to

warn the public that this class of antidepressants not only can

induce suicide in adult patients, but can also cause psychosis and

acts of violence.

The FDA cannot continue to play dumb. Leitsch's group has 14-year-

old film footage of the 1991 FDA hearings, where dozens of family

members testified about relatives who had either killed themselves,

or loved ones, or who had attempted suicide which they directly

attributed to being on SSRIs.

The Prozac Survivors group points to Magdalena as an example

of violence caused by SSRIs. The 30-year-old Indiana mother recently

murdered her two young sons while on one of the drugs.

At least 80,000 women each year in this country are being prescribed

these drugs during pregnancy, according to researchers estimates.

SSRIs are still being prescribed to pregnant women even though a May

2005 study published in the Journal of the American Medical

Association reported that pregnant women who take SSRIs late in

pregnancy raise the risk that their babies will suffer jitteriness,

irritability and serious respiratory problems during their first

couple of weeks.

Leitsch finds it unacceptable that pregnant women and new mothers

are still being prescribed drugs that have been known to induce

violence and suicide for more than a decade. " In 1991, there was

evidence of 500 deaths associated with antidepressants presented to

an FDA Advisory Committee hearing investigating Prozac, " she said.

" The failure to issue the warning has led to more suicides,

homicides, school shooters and mothers killing their own children, "

she added. According to Lietsch, 36 million Americans are taking the

antidepressant drugs.

" These are extremely dangerous drugs that should have been banned,

as similar drugs were in the past. Federal investigations into the

violence-inducing effects of these drugs are long overdue, "

said. " The scientific evidence behind this has been out there for

decades. All anyone ever had to do was read it, " she says.

The group provided details of several other high profile cases where

mothers have killed their children:

• In October 2002, Annie Mae Haskew smothered her 10-week-old son

after being diagnosed with postpartum depression and placed on

antidepressants.

• Yates drowned her five children in the family bathtub in

November 2004, while taking the antidepressants Effexor and Remeron,

prescribed at maximum dose.

• Dena Schlosser killed her 10-month-old daughter in November 2004

by severing the baby's arms after being diagnosed with postpartum

depression, hospitalized and prescribed psychiatric medication for

depression.

• On July 26, 2004, Ellen Moffitt suffocated her 5-week-old

infant and herself. She had been diagnosed with postpartum

depression and was taking Paxil.

• Emiri Padron smothered her baby daughter on June 22, 2004 and then

stabbed herself twice in the chest. Emiri was receiving psychiatric

treatment and investigators found Zoloft in her apartment after the

incident.

Late last year FDA directed manufacturers to add a " black box "

warning to the health professional labeling of all SSRIs to describe

the risk of suicide in children, and emphasize the need for close

monitoring of patients when started on these drugs.

On July 1, 2005, the FDA advised health care providers and adult

patients to be aware of the following:

Adults being treated with antidepressant medicines, particularly

those being treated for depression, should be watched closely for

worsening of depression and for increased suicidal thinking or

behavior.

Close observation of adults may be especially important when

antidepressant medications are started for the first time or when

doses for the specific drugs prescribed have been changed.

Adults whose symptoms worsen while being treated with

antidepressants, including an increase in suicidal thinking or

behavior, should be evaluated by their health care professional.

Advocates say these warnings are not only far too late, they contain

far too little. Leitsch says the FDA has an obligation to do

more. " They must warn the public that not only can the drugs include

suicide -- but heinous acts of violence -- mothers killing their own

children, or children killing other children, " she said.

Another protest against SSRIs is already scheduled to take place on

September 26 through the 28th at the address of the drug company

GlaxKline, maker of Paxil, at lin Plaza at 200 N 16th

Street and 1600 Vine Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Last and probably least, yours truly, Evie Pringle shall also attend

the rally.

Pringle

epringle05@...

( Pringle is a columnist for Independent Media TV and is an

investigative journalist focused on exposing government and

corporate coruption)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let's hear it for Pringle!!!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_evelyn_p_050808_ssri_protest___activ.htm

SSRI Protest - Activists Fed Up With FDA

by Pringle

http://www.opednews.com

Activists who are fed up with waiting for the FDA to take proper

action to protect the public from dangerous psychotropic drugs, are

holding a 3 day rally in front of White House to condemn the FDA's

failure to act on the matter.

On August 24, 25, and 26, between 9 am and 5 pm, prominent activists

from all over the nation will join victims and family members who

have lost love ones due to these drugs to raise public awareness

about their potential dangers.

They will specifically target the class of antidepressants known as

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include:

Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Luvox, Citalopram, Celexa,

Lexapro, and Paroxetine.

Routhier who lost his 40 year-old wife Diane 2 years ago to

suicide while she was on the antidepressant Wellbutrin, will be

leading the rally along with his 2 sons.

Hurcombe will also be attending from the UK. is an

editor and educator, and author of the book, Losing A Child. Her

daughter Caitlin died aged 19.

Other attendees include Mark and his mother, Donna. Mark was

shot during the Columbine rampage by who was on an SSRI

at the time.

Another leader in the fight against the over-prescribing of these

drugs, who will attend the rally is the world renowned expert on

SRRIs, Dr Anne Blake , Director of the International Coalition

for Drug Awareness.

Dr is the author of PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? a book written

after five years of research on approximately 1000 patients taking

SSRIs on a long-term basis.

She has specialized in adverse reactions to SSRIs and has testified

before the FDA and congressional committees on their adverse

affects. Since 1992 Dr has also served as an expert consultant

and witness in SSRI related civil and criminal court cases all

around the world.

A full force of advocacy groups will be represented with members of

Mothers Against Manufactured Madness, Alliance to Stop Psychiatry's

Influence in Religion and Education, and Mindfreedom.

An important part of the message that the public needs to know, is

that drug makers have known about the adverse affects of SSRIs since

before they received FDA approval. For example, in March 1985, three

full years before Prozac was approved, Dr Kapit reviewed the

drug and warned it posed a risk of worsening " vegetative aspects of

depressive illness " for some patients. He noted that out of 1427

exposures " there were two completed suicides " and " 13 patients who

attempted suicide. " He stated that " it may be appropriate " to

include a " warning " on the label " that certain signs and symptoms of

depression may be exacerbated by this drug. "

Drug makers have also known that SSRIs are practically useless in

treating children. For instance, in December 2004, ABC News

uncovered documents that revealed GlaxoKline, maker Paxil,

failed to disclose the results of studies as far back as 1997, which

determined that Paxil had little or no effect in treating depression

in children and also showed the company was aware of suicide-related

behaviors in young patients taking the drug.

Yet in 2001, Glaxo sent out a memo to its sales force touting the

drug's " remarkable efficacy and safety in the treatment of

adolescent depression. "

One advocacy group, recently accused the FDA of covering up Prozac's

dangerous side effects for 14 years. And as a result, their

spokesperson says hundreds of people have been victims of murder and

suicide.

Bonnie Leitsch is the founder of " Prozac Survivors Support Group, "

and along with Dr , is calling for immediate federal action to

warn the public that this class of antidepressants not only can

induce suicide in adult patients, but can also cause psychosis and

acts of violence.

The FDA cannot continue to play dumb. Leitsch's group has 14-year-

old film footage of the 1991 FDA hearings, where dozens of family

members testified about relatives who had either killed themselves,

or loved ones, or who had attempted suicide which they directly

attributed to being on SSRIs.

The Prozac Survivors group points to Magdalena as an example

of violence caused by SSRIs. The 30-year-old Indiana mother recently

murdered her two young sons while on one of the drugs.

At least 80,000 women each year in this country are being prescribed

these drugs during pregnancy, according to researchers estimates.

SSRIs are still being prescribed to pregnant women even though a May

2005 study published in the Journal of the American Medical

Association reported that pregnant women who take SSRIs late in

pregnancy raise the risk that their babies will suffer jitteriness,

irritability and serious respiratory problems during their first

couple of weeks.

Leitsch finds it unacceptable that pregnant women and new mothers

are still being prescribed drugs that have been known to induce

violence and suicide for more than a decade. " In 1991, there was

evidence of 500 deaths associated with antidepressants presented to

an FDA Advisory Committee hearing investigating Prozac, " she said.

" The failure to issue the warning has led to more suicides,

homicides, school shooters and mothers killing their own children, "

she added. According to Lietsch, 36 million Americans are taking the

antidepressant drugs.

" These are extremely dangerous drugs that should have been banned,

as similar drugs were in the past. Federal investigations into the

violence-inducing effects of these drugs are long overdue, "

said. " The scientific evidence behind this has been out there for

decades. All anyone ever had to do was read it, " she says.

The group provided details of several other high profile cases where

mothers have killed their children:

• In October 2002, Annie Mae Haskew smothered her 10-week-old son

after being diagnosed with postpartum depression and placed on

antidepressants.

• Yates drowned her five children in the family bathtub in

November 2004, while taking the antidepressants Effexor and Remeron,

prescribed at maximum dose.

• Dena Schlosser killed her 10-month-old daughter in November 2004

by severing the baby's arms after being diagnosed with postpartum

depression, hospitalized and prescribed psychiatric medication for

depression.

• On July 26, 2004, Ellen Moffitt suffocated her 5-week-old

infant and herself. She had been diagnosed with postpartum

depression and was taking Paxil.

• Emiri Padron smothered her baby daughter on June 22, 2004 and then

stabbed herself twice in the chest. Emiri was receiving psychiatric

treatment and investigators found Zoloft in her apartment after the

incident.

Late last year FDA directed manufacturers to add a " black box "

warning to the health professional labeling of all SSRIs to describe

the risk of suicide in children, and emphasize the need for close

monitoring of patients when started on these drugs.

On July 1, 2005, the FDA advised health care providers and adult

patients to be aware of the following:

Adults being treated with antidepressant medicines, particularly

those being treated for depression, should be watched closely for

worsening of depression and for increased suicidal thinking or

behavior.

Close observation of adults may be especially important when

antidepressant medications are started for the first time or when

doses for the specific drugs prescribed have been changed.

Adults whose symptoms worsen while being treated with

antidepressants, including an increase in suicidal thinking or

behavior, should be evaluated by their health care professional.

Advocates say these warnings are not only far too late, they contain

far too little. Leitsch says the FDA has an obligation to do

more. " They must warn the public that not only can the drugs include

suicide -- but heinous acts of violence -- mothers killing their own

children, or children killing other children, " she said.

Another protest against SSRIs is already scheduled to take place on

September 26 through the 28th at the address of the drug company

GlaxKline, maker of Paxil, at lin Plaza at 200 N 16th

Street and 1600 Vine Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Last and probably least, yours truly, Evie Pringle shall also attend

the rally.

Pringle

epringle05@...

( Pringle is a columnist for Independent Media TV and is an

investigative journalist focused on exposing government and

corporate coruption)

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