"I didn't just cross a line I tripped over an edge": Experiences of serious adverse effects with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use.

"The accounts we report cast a shadow of doubt on the rhetorically powerful, but ultimately un-testable, 'disease not the drug' claim."



Many thanks to one of my readers and close friends who sent me the following paper.

It's from the New Zealand Journal of Psychology Date: March 1, 2008 Author: Liebert, Rachel; Gavey, Nicola

Abstract:

Evidence that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may elicit suicidal and/or aggressive thoughts and behaviours has been circulating for nearly thirty years. Despite a growing body of knowledge around these serious adverse effects, however, they continue to be surrounded by controversy. In particular they are subject to (arguable) counter-arguments that any risks from using the drugs are outweighed by benefits and/or more attributable to a person's 'underlying disease'. Moreover assessments of risks often use rates of completed suicides as the ultimate measure. In this paper we draw on people's own accounts of their experiences of serious adverse effects associated with SSRI use. In depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with nine people who had either used SSRIs themselves or had witnessed the use of SSRIs by a close family member. We present four themes identified across the interviews relating to adverse effects from SSRIs: experiences of akathisia, aggression and suicidality; 'out of character' behaviour; harm to relationships; and accounts of responses from the medical profession. Participants reported that the experience of adverse effects had marked impacts on general wellbeing, identities and relationships. These accounts cast doubt on notions that serious adverse effects associated with SSRI use may stem from an underlying condition and/or be outweighed by benefits from SSRI use. In addition they offer a persuasive and poignant plea to further consider non-fatal adverse effects and their consequences in assessing the risks of these drugs.




The full paper can be downloaded here and provides further evidence to the medicine regulators that we have a huge problem here and the quicker they act upon it, the safer the public will be.

A copy has been sent to the MHRA.

Fid

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