IMPORTANT: FDA Reviewer Ssteos in to Defend Boy Who Shot Grandparents While on ZOLOFT

[Guest guest]

All I have to say is this: " Here is the truth right

from Dr. Ann-Blake , Dr. Kapit

(formerly with FDA) AND Andy Vickery, nationally

well-known attorney for SSRI side-effect lawsuit

cases.

The September 23 & 24 FDA investigation has resulted

in " black box " warnings being put on ALL SSRI anti-

depressants. Anyone that is NOT being force-drugged

through hospitals and mental institutions OR court-ordered

by Judges who know nothing about these drugs ... would

have to be give strong consideration before swallowing

one of these SSRI's !!!!

Sigh.......... Jan

======================================================

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 01:40:13 EDT atracyphd2@... writes:

My Groups | drugawareness Main Page

On August 23, 2004, Barry Meier of the New York Times wrote an article on

the Pittman case in South Carolina. Pittman is

the 12 year old boy who killed his grandparents and set the house on

fire. (It was his case that I did the four hour Coast to Coast program on

in December of 2001 if any of you happened to hear that show.) This New

York Times article on 's case is one I have not yet had a

chance to send out to you, but will so that you can read it after you

learn in this article what has just happened as a result of that New York

Times article.

You see, someone read that article who was in a position to help out in

's case. That man was Dr. Kapit.

And who is Dr. Kapit? I quote:

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late

1980s.

And what does Dr. Kapit have to say after reviewing this case?

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become

manic, which can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. " [ MY NOTE: But look at the tragedies that

were needed to " prove this " . Plus, if psychiatrists " have always thought

they caused manic episodes " , then WHY IN THE WORLD DID THEY CONTINUE TO

PRESCRIBE THESE ???!!!! ]

Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric evaluation reports and

medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says he believes PITTMAN'S

VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS LINKED TO HIS ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION. (Empasis

added)

And what does 's attorney, Andy Vickery, think of this new

expert?

Andy called Kapit a " front-line guy " at the FDA. And, " He says we're

right and he's going to testify. "

This is a big breakthrough, not only in 's case, but for so

many children behind bars in this country due of serious adverse

reactions they have had to these deadly antidepressants.

Ann Blake , Ph.D.,

Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug Awareness

Author: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare

& audio tape on safe withdrawal: " Help! I Can't Get

Off My Antidepressant! "

Order Number: 800-280-0730

Website: www.drugawareness.org

DEFINITELY READ " full " STORY BELOW.

There's more pertinent info.........

http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4109188p-3875531c.html

" As trial nears, defense team in Pittman case grows by three "

By Cato The Herald

(Published October 12‚ 2004)

With Pittman's trial likely to begin within the next two

months,

the boy's defense team is taking on yet more specialist experts from the

legal

and medical expert world.

Additions announced this week include a former Food and Drug

Administration

investigator, a suicide expert and an Irish psychiatrist who has

criticized the

use of antidepressant medication by children.

Pittman is charged with murdering his grandparents, Joe Pittman and

Joy

Pittman, in their Chester County home in November 2001, when he

was

12. He will be tried as an adult and could be sentenced to life in prison

if

convicted.

The centerpiece of Pittman's defense will be the argument that an adverse

reaction to antidepressants caused the boy's violent behavior. Pittman

had been

on a five-week regimen of Paxil and Zoloft, both antidepressants

classified as

selective reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

Former drug reviewer to help

Dr. Kapit, a retired FDA drug reviewer, read an article about

Pittman's case on the front page of The New York Times in late August,

then contacted

Andy Vickery, one of the boy's attorneys.

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a

drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I

felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when

the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late 1980s.

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult

patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become manic,

which

can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to

cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. "

Kapit was referring to three reviews of clinical trial data provided by

drug

companies presented at a FDA hearing in September that showed some

children

and adolescents taking antidepressants may develop suicidal thoughts or

actions

because of the drugs.

Two advisory panels have recommended the agency place strict warnings

about

use of the antidepressants in children on labels for doctors, parents and

patients. The FDA has yet to act.

Kapit traveled from his home in land to Columbia last week and met

with

Pittman for two days at the Department of Juvenile Justice detention

center

where he's being held. Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric

evaluation reports and medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says

he believes

Pittman's violent behavior is linked to his antidepressant medication.

Kapit declined to discuss what his testimony will be during the trial.

Vickery, the only attorney to win a jury decision against a drug company

in

an antidepressant case involving violence and suicide, called Kapit a

" front-line guy " at the FDA.

" He says we're right and he's going to testify, " said Vickery, whose law

firm is in Houston.

Suicide expert, psychiatrist

Other additions include Maris, a suicide expert and professor

emeritus at the University of South Carolina. Maris will argue the

biological link between SSRIs and violence. [ MY NOTE: BRAVO!!!!! ]

Also available to the defense team is Dr. Healy, the Irish

psychiatrist

who is the head of the North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine.

Healy has conducted clinical trials for antidepressants and has been a

part of many legal cases involving antidepressants and behavioral

problems. That has given him access to unpublished data from drug

companies, Vickery said.

Already retained for Pittman's defense is Dr. Breggin, a

psychiatrist

from Ithica, N.Y., who has raised questions about potential safety

problems

with antidepressants in books such as " Talking Back to Prozac " and " The

Antidepressant Factbook. "

Other members of Pittman's defense team include attorneys Henry Mims of

Greer

and Barth Menzies of Los Angeles. Menzies' law firm, Baum Hedlund,

represents hundreds of clients in civil lawsuits involving antidepressant

medication.

Richland County Solicitor Barney Giese will be prosecuting the case, and

Circuit Court Judge Pieper of North ton will preside over

the trial.

No date has been set for the trial to begin, but Pieper has said it could

come by the end of October or early November.

Cato • 329-4071

jcato@...

==========

==========

..

..

[Guest guest]

All I have to say is this: " Here is the truth right

from Dr. Ann-Blake , Dr. Kapit

(formerly with FDA) AND Andy Vickery, nationally

well-known attorney for SSRI side-effect lawsuit

cases.

The September 23 & 24 FDA investigation has resulted

in " black box " warnings being put on ALL SSRI anti-

depressants. Anyone that is NOT being force-drugged

through hospitals and mental institutions OR court-ordered

by Judges who know nothing about these drugs ... would

have to be give strong consideration before swallowing

one of these SSRI's !!!!

Sigh.......... Jan

======================================================

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 01:40:13 EDT atracyphd2@... writes:

My Groups | drugawareness Main Page

On August 23, 2004, Barry Meier of the New York Times wrote an article on

the Pittman case in South Carolina. Pittman is

the 12 year old boy who killed his grandparents and set the house on

fire. (It was his case that I did the four hour Coast to Coast program on

in December of 2001 if any of you happened to hear that show.) This New

York Times article on 's case is one I have not yet had a

chance to send out to you, but will so that you can read it after you

learn in this article what has just happened as a result of that New York

Times article.

You see, someone read that article who was in a position to help out in

's case. That man was Dr. Kapit.

And who is Dr. Kapit? I quote:

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late

1980s.

And what does Dr. Kapit have to say after reviewing this case?

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become

manic, which can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. " [ MY NOTE: But look at the tragedies that

were needed to " prove this " . Plus, if psychiatrists " have always thought

they caused manic episodes " , then WHY IN THE WORLD DID THEY CONTINUE TO

PRESCRIBE THESE ???!!!! ]

Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric evaluation reports and

medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says he believes PITTMAN'S

VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS LINKED TO HIS ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION. (Empasis

added)

And what does 's attorney, Andy Vickery, think of this new

expert?

Andy called Kapit a " front-line guy " at the FDA. And, " He says we're

right and he's going to testify. "

This is a big breakthrough, not only in 's case, but for so

many children behind bars in this country due of serious adverse

reactions they have had to these deadly antidepressants.

Ann Blake , Ph.D.,

Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug Awareness

Author: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare

& audio tape on safe withdrawal: " Help! I Can't Get

Off My Antidepressant! "

Order Number: 800-280-0730

Website: www.drugawareness.org

DEFINITELY READ " full " STORY BELOW.

There's more pertinent info.........

http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4109188p-3875531c.html

" As trial nears, defense team in Pittman case grows by three "

By Cato The Herald

(Published October 12‚ 2004)

With Pittman's trial likely to begin within the next two

months,

the boy's defense team is taking on yet more specialist experts from the

legal

and medical expert world.

Additions announced this week include a former Food and Drug

Administration

investigator, a suicide expert and an Irish psychiatrist who has

criticized the

use of antidepressant medication by children.

Pittman is charged with murdering his grandparents, Joe Pittman and

Joy

Pittman, in their Chester County home in November 2001, when he

was

12. He will be tried as an adult and could be sentenced to life in prison

if

convicted.

The centerpiece of Pittman's defense will be the argument that an adverse

reaction to antidepressants caused the boy's violent behavior. Pittman

had been

on a five-week regimen of Paxil and Zoloft, both antidepressants

classified as

selective reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

Former drug reviewer to help

Dr. Kapit, a retired FDA drug reviewer, read an article about

Pittman's case on the front page of The New York Times in late August,

then contacted

Andy Vickery, one of the boy's attorneys.

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a

drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I

felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when

the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late 1980s.

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult

patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become manic,

which

can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to

cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. "

Kapit was referring to three reviews of clinical trial data provided by

drug

companies presented at a FDA hearing in September that showed some

children

and adolescents taking antidepressants may develop suicidal thoughts or

actions

because of the drugs.

Two advisory panels have recommended the agency place strict warnings

about

use of the antidepressants in children on labels for doctors, parents and

patients. The FDA has yet to act.

Kapit traveled from his home in land to Columbia last week and met

with

Pittman for two days at the Department of Juvenile Justice detention

center

where he's being held. Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric

evaluation reports and medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says

he believes

Pittman's violent behavior is linked to his antidepressant medication.

Kapit declined to discuss what his testimony will be during the trial.

Vickery, the only attorney to win a jury decision against a drug company

in

an antidepressant case involving violence and suicide, called Kapit a

" front-line guy " at the FDA.

" He says we're right and he's going to testify, " said Vickery, whose law

firm is in Houston.

Suicide expert, psychiatrist

Other additions include Maris, a suicide expert and professor

emeritus at the University of South Carolina. Maris will argue the

biological link between SSRIs and violence. [ MY NOTE: BRAVO!!!!! ]

Also available to the defense team is Dr. Healy, the Irish

psychiatrist

who is the head of the North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine.

Healy has conducted clinical trials for antidepressants and has been a

part of many legal cases involving antidepressants and behavioral

problems. That has given him access to unpublished data from drug

companies, Vickery said.

Already retained for Pittman's defense is Dr. Breggin, a

psychiatrist

from Ithica, N.Y., who has raised questions about potential safety

problems

with antidepressants in books such as " Talking Back to Prozac " and " The

Antidepressant Factbook. "

Other members of Pittman's defense team include attorneys Henry Mims of

Greer

and Barth Menzies of Los Angeles. Menzies' law firm, Baum Hedlund,

represents hundreds of clients in civil lawsuits involving antidepressant

medication.

Richland County Solicitor Barney Giese will be prosecuting the case, and

Circuit Court Judge Pieper of North ton will preside over

the trial.

No date has been set for the trial to begin, but Pieper has said it could

come by the end of October or early November.

Cato • 329-4071

jcato@...

==========

==========

..

..

[Guest guest]

All I have to say is this: " Here is the truth right

from Dr. Ann-Blake , Dr. Kapit

(formerly with FDA) AND Andy Vickery, nationally

well-known attorney for SSRI side-effect lawsuit

cases.

The September 23 & 24 FDA investigation has resulted

in " black box " warnings being put on ALL SSRI anti-

depressants. Anyone that is NOT being force-drugged

through hospitals and mental institutions OR court-ordered

by Judges who know nothing about these drugs ... would

have to be give strong consideration before swallowing

one of these SSRI's !!!!

Sigh.......... Jan

======================================================

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 01:40:13 EDT atracyphd2@... writes:

My Groups | drugawareness Main Page

On August 23, 2004, Barry Meier of the New York Times wrote an article on

the Pittman case in South Carolina. Pittman is

the 12 year old boy who killed his grandparents and set the house on

fire. (It was his case that I did the four hour Coast to Coast program on

in December of 2001 if any of you happened to hear that show.) This New

York Times article on 's case is one I have not yet had a

chance to send out to you, but will so that you can read it after you

learn in this article what has just happened as a result of that New York

Times article.

You see, someone read that article who was in a position to help out in

's case. That man was Dr. Kapit.

And who is Dr. Kapit? I quote:

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late

1980s.

And what does Dr. Kapit have to say after reviewing this case?

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become

manic, which can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. " [ MY NOTE: But look at the tragedies that

were needed to " prove this " . Plus, if psychiatrists " have always thought

they caused manic episodes " , then WHY IN THE WORLD DID THEY CONTINUE TO

PRESCRIBE THESE ???!!!! ]

Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric evaluation reports and

medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says he believes PITTMAN'S

VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS LINKED TO HIS ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION. (Empasis

added)

And what does 's attorney, Andy Vickery, think of this new

expert?

Andy called Kapit a " front-line guy " at the FDA. And, " He says we're

right and he's going to testify. "

This is a big breakthrough, not only in 's case, but for so

many children behind bars in this country due of serious adverse

reactions they have had to these deadly antidepressants.

Ann Blake , Ph.D.,

Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug Awareness

Author: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare

& audio tape on safe withdrawal: " Help! I Can't Get

Off My Antidepressant! "

Order Number: 800-280-0730

Website: www.drugawareness.org

DEFINITELY READ " full " STORY BELOW.

There's more pertinent info.........

http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4109188p-3875531c.html

" As trial nears, defense team in Pittman case grows by three "

By Cato The Herald

(Published October 12‚ 2004)

With Pittman's trial likely to begin within the next two

months,

the boy's defense team is taking on yet more specialist experts from the

legal

and medical expert world.

Additions announced this week include a former Food and Drug

Administration

investigator, a suicide expert and an Irish psychiatrist who has

criticized the

use of antidepressant medication by children.

Pittman is charged with murdering his grandparents, Joe Pittman and

Joy

Pittman, in their Chester County home in November 2001, when he

was

12. He will be tried as an adult and could be sentenced to life in prison

if

convicted.

The centerpiece of Pittman's defense will be the argument that an adverse

reaction to antidepressants caused the boy's violent behavior. Pittman

had been

on a five-week regimen of Paxil and Zoloft, both antidepressants

classified as

selective reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

Former drug reviewer to help

Dr. Kapit, a retired FDA drug reviewer, read an article about

Pittman's case on the front page of The New York Times in late August,

then contacted

Andy Vickery, one of the boy's attorneys.

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a

drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I

felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when

the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late 1980s.

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult

patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become manic,

which

can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to

cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. "

Kapit was referring to three reviews of clinical trial data provided by

drug

companies presented at a FDA hearing in September that showed some

children

and adolescents taking antidepressants may develop suicidal thoughts or

actions

because of the drugs.

Two advisory panels have recommended the agency place strict warnings

about

use of the antidepressants in children on labels for doctors, parents and

patients. The FDA has yet to act.

Kapit traveled from his home in land to Columbia last week and met

with

Pittman for two days at the Department of Juvenile Justice detention

center

where he's being held. Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric

evaluation reports and medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says

he believes

Pittman's violent behavior is linked to his antidepressant medication.

Kapit declined to discuss what his testimony will be during the trial.

Vickery, the only attorney to win a jury decision against a drug company

in

an antidepressant case involving violence and suicide, called Kapit a

" front-line guy " at the FDA.

" He says we're right and he's going to testify, " said Vickery, whose law

firm is in Houston.

Suicide expert, psychiatrist

Other additions include Maris, a suicide expert and professor

emeritus at the University of South Carolina. Maris will argue the

biological link between SSRIs and violence. [ MY NOTE: BRAVO!!!!! ]

Also available to the defense team is Dr. Healy, the Irish

psychiatrist

who is the head of the North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine.

Healy has conducted clinical trials for antidepressants and has been a

part of many legal cases involving antidepressants and behavioral

problems. That has given him access to unpublished data from drug

companies, Vickery said.

Already retained for Pittman's defense is Dr. Breggin, a

psychiatrist

from Ithica, N.Y., who has raised questions about potential safety

problems

with antidepressants in books such as " Talking Back to Prozac " and " The

Antidepressant Factbook. "

Other members of Pittman's defense team include attorneys Henry Mims of

Greer

and Barth Menzies of Los Angeles. Menzies' law firm, Baum Hedlund,

represents hundreds of clients in civil lawsuits involving antidepressant

medication.

Richland County Solicitor Barney Giese will be prosecuting the case, and

Circuit Court Judge Pieper of North ton will preside over

the trial.

No date has been set for the trial to begin, but Pieper has said it could

come by the end of October or early November.

Cato • 329-4071

jcato@...

==========

==========

..

..

[Guest guest]

All I have to say is this: " Here is the truth right

from Dr. Ann-Blake , Dr. Kapit

(formerly with FDA) AND Andy Vickery, nationally

well-known attorney for SSRI side-effect lawsuit

cases.

The September 23 & 24 FDA investigation has resulted

in " black box " warnings being put on ALL SSRI anti-

depressants. Anyone that is NOT being force-drugged

through hospitals and mental institutions OR court-ordered

by Judges who know nothing about these drugs ... would

have to be give strong consideration before swallowing

one of these SSRI's !!!!

Sigh.......... Jan

======================================================

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 01:40:13 EDT atracyphd2@... writes:

My Groups | drugawareness Main Page

On August 23, 2004, Barry Meier of the New York Times wrote an article on

the Pittman case in South Carolina. Pittman is

the 12 year old boy who killed his grandparents and set the house on

fire. (It was his case that I did the four hour Coast to Coast program on

in December of 2001 if any of you happened to hear that show.) This New

York Times article on 's case is one I have not yet had a

chance to send out to you, but will so that you can read it after you

learn in this article what has just happened as a result of that New York

Times article.

You see, someone read that article who was in a position to help out in

's case. That man was Dr. Kapit.

And who is Dr. Kapit? I quote:

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late

1980s.

And what does Dr. Kapit have to say after reviewing this case?

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become

manic, which can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. " [ MY NOTE: But look at the tragedies that

were needed to " prove this " . Plus, if psychiatrists " have always thought

they caused manic episodes " , then WHY IN THE WORLD DID THEY CONTINUE TO

PRESCRIBE THESE ???!!!! ]

Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric evaluation reports and

medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says he believes PITTMAN'S

VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS LINKED TO HIS ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION. (Empasis

added)

And what does 's attorney, Andy Vickery, think of this new

expert?

Andy called Kapit a " front-line guy " at the FDA. And, " He says we're

right and he's going to testify. "

This is a big breakthrough, not only in 's case, but for so

many children behind bars in this country due of serious adverse

reactions they have had to these deadly antidepressants.

Ann Blake , Ph.D.,

Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug Awareness

Author: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare

& audio tape on safe withdrawal: " Help! I Can't Get

Off My Antidepressant! "

Order Number: 800-280-0730

Website: www.drugawareness.org

DEFINITELY READ " full " STORY BELOW.

There's more pertinent info.........

http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4109188p-3875531c.html

" As trial nears, defense team in Pittman case grows by three "

By Cato The Herald

(Published October 12‚ 2004)

With Pittman's trial likely to begin within the next two

months,

the boy's defense team is taking on yet more specialist experts from the

legal

and medical expert world.

Additions announced this week include a former Food and Drug

Administration

investigator, a suicide expert and an Irish psychiatrist who has

criticized the

use of antidepressant medication by children.

Pittman is charged with murdering his grandparents, Joe Pittman and

Joy

Pittman, in their Chester County home in November 2001, when he

was

12. He will be tried as an adult and could be sentenced to life in prison

if

convicted.

The centerpiece of Pittman's defense will be the argument that an adverse

reaction to antidepressants caused the boy's violent behavior. Pittman

had been

on a five-week regimen of Paxil and Zoloft, both antidepressants

classified as

selective reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

Former drug reviewer to help

Dr. Kapit, a retired FDA drug reviewer, read an article about

Pittman's case on the front page of The New York Times in late August,

then contacted

Andy Vickery, one of the boy's attorneys.

" I thought I was in a position to help out, and I was concerned if it was

a

drug-induced event, the kid could be put away for life, " Kapit said

Friday. " I

felt like I was in a good position to evaluate this issue. "

Kapit, who retired from the FDA in 2002 after 16 years with the agency,

worked on reviewing safety and efficacy issues for Prozac, Paxil and

Zoloft when

the three SSRIs were being brought to market in the late 1980s.

He has said the benefit for the drugs outweighed any potential risk to

adult

patients but believes the drugs can cause some patients to become manic,

which

can lead to suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behavior.

" In the psychiatric profession, antidepressants have always been thought

to

cause manic episodes, " Kapit said. " Now, we have hard data to back up

what

everyone sort of believed. "

Kapit was referring to three reviews of clinical trial data provided by

drug

companies presented at a FDA hearing in September that showed some

children

and adolescents taking antidepressants may develop suicidal thoughts or

actions

because of the drugs.

Two advisory panels have recommended the agency place strict warnings

about

use of the antidepressants in children on labels for doctors, parents and

patients. The FDA has yet to act.

Kapit traveled from his home in land to Columbia last week and met

with

Pittman for two days at the Department of Juvenile Justice detention

center

where he's being held. Kapit said he also went over the boy's psychiatric

evaluation reports and medical records " with a fine-tooth comb " and says

he believes

Pittman's violent behavior is linked to his antidepressant medication.

Kapit declined to discuss what his testimony will be during the trial.

Vickery, the only attorney to win a jury decision against a drug company

in

an antidepressant case involving violence and suicide, called Kapit a

" front-line guy " at the FDA.

" He says we're right and he's going to testify, " said Vickery, whose law

firm is in Houston.

Suicide expert, psychiatrist

Other additions include Maris, a suicide expert and professor

emeritus at the University of South Carolina. Maris will argue the

biological link between SSRIs and violence. [ MY NOTE: BRAVO!!!!! ]

Also available to the defense team is Dr. Healy, the Irish

psychiatrist

who is the head of the North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine.

Healy has conducted clinical trials for antidepressants and has been a

part of many legal cases involving antidepressants and behavioral

problems. That has given him access to unpublished data from drug

companies, Vickery said.

Already retained for Pittman's defense is Dr. Breggin, a

psychiatrist

from Ithica, N.Y., who has raised questions about potential safety

problems

with antidepressants in books such as " Talking Back to Prozac " and " The

Antidepressant Factbook. "

Other members of Pittman's defense team include attorneys Henry Mims of

Greer

and Barth Menzies of Los Angeles. Menzies' law firm, Baum Hedlund,

represents hundreds of clients in civil lawsuits involving antidepressant

medication.

Richland County Solicitor Barney Giese will be prosecuting the case, and

Circuit Court Judge Pieper of North ton will preside over

the trial.

No date has been set for the trial to begin, but Pieper has said it could

come by the end of October or early November.

Cato • 329-4071

jcato@...

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