How Big Pharma Makes Healthy People Sick | ENDEVR Documentary

ENDEVR57 minutes read

Dave's medication led to hospitalization after expressing suicidal thoughts, highlighting the risks of benzo diazepines. An individual's journey of overmedication, misdiagnosis, and lack of informed consent emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the use of psychiatric medications.

Insights

  • Lack of informed consent before prescribing benzo diazepines can lead to long-term risks and adverse effects, impacting individuals' mental and physical health significantly.
  • Gradual tapering off psychiatric medications is crucial to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively, highlighting the importance of support groups and understanding during this process to prevent severe outcomes like suicidal thoughts and ensure successful discontinuation.

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Recent questions

  • What are the risks of long-term benzo diazepine use?

    Long-term benzo diazepine use can lead to cognitive issues, emotional flatness, sexual dysfunction, and memory problems. It is crucial to be aware of these potential risks before considering prolonged use of these medications.

  • How can medication affect an individual's mental health?

    Medication use can lead to hallucinations, anxiety, anorexia, and even worsen symptoms like PTSD. It is essential to monitor the effects of medication on mental health closely and seek help if any concerning symptoms arise.

  • What are the potential consequences of overmedication in the military?

    Overmedication in the military can result in mental health deterioration, concerns about dependency on medication, and adverse effects on an individual's career. It is crucial to address these issues promptly to ensure the well-being of military personnel.

  • How can informed consent impact medication use?

    Informed consent is crucial before prescribing medications, especially those with long-term risks like benzo diazepines. It ensures that individuals are aware of potential side effects and can make informed decisions about their treatment.

  • What role do support groups play in managing medication discontinuation challenges?

    Support groups play a vital role in helping individuals cope with the challenges of discontinuing medication, especially psychiatric medications. They provide understanding, guidance, and a sense of community during the often difficult process of tapering off medications.

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Summary

00:00

Risks of Benzo Diazepine Medication Misuse

  • Dave's old medications were taken away when he expressed suicidal thoughts, leading to a hospital visit.
  • Lieutenant Commander David Cope, a Navy veteran, faced health issues due to benzo diazepine Ativan use.
  • Explicit informed consent is crucial before prescribing benzo diazepines due to long-term risks.
  • A waitress in New York sought help for sleep issues, leading to a lorazepam prescription.
  • A Navy officer's career was affected by benzo diazepine use, leading to cognitive issues.
  • Emotional flatness, sexual dysfunction, and memory problems arose from medication use.
  • A move to Wisconsin caused anxiety and anorexia in a young girl, leading to therapy and medication.
  • A woman experienced hallucinations while on medication, leading to concerns and seeking help.
  • Long-term use of lorazepam was highlighted as dangerous, despite its short-term intended use.
  • A soldier's mental health deteriorated after war trauma, leading to medication use and concerns about overmedication in the military.

17:00

Psychiatric Medication: A Journey of Recovery

  • The individual recalls visiting a Psychiatry office, expressing concerns about hearing gunshots when doors slam, leading to being prescribed medication.
  • Despite feeling worse with the medication, they were diagnosed with PTSD and informed about medical retirement proceedings due to being unable to be around soldiers or weapons.
  • The individual reflects on the losses incurred due to PTSD, feeling disabled at 25, and the cultural tendency to label normal suffering as mental illness.
  • Alan Francis, a psychiatrist, discusses the overdiagnosis of mental disorders and the blurred line between normal sadness/anxiety and mental disorders.
  • The history of Psychiatry's shift towards a disease model, focusing on chemical imbalances and the pharmaceutical industry's role in promoting medication as a solution.
  • The individual's experience of being prescribed multiple medications without being informed of potential side effects or the possibility of medications causing symptoms.
  • The individual's journey of being on a cocktail of 17 medications and the lack of thorough information provided during brief psychiatric appointments.
  • The individual's frustration with being labeled with multiple mental disorders and the lack of consideration given to the role of medications in their condition.
  • The individual's realization that their improvement came after gradually tapering off medications over a decade, leading to academic success and mental clarity.
  • The discussion on the necessity of informed decision-making regarding medication use, acknowledging that while some may benefit, caution and thorough consideration are crucial due to potential risks.

32:28

Navigating Medication Withdrawal in Mental Health Treatment

  • Informed consent is crucial in social work, similar to obtaining it for surgeries.
  • Labels can be uncomfortable, and changing them can be liberating.
  • ADHD diagnosis at 15 was a relief, leading to understanding struggles were not due to stupidity or laziness.
  • Medication, like dexadrin, significantly improved the ability to attend school and provided hope.
  • Anecdotes about medication effects vary, with about 20-25% reporting positive outcomes.
  • Some patients experience harm from psychiatric medications, leading to a change in practice.
  • Discontinuing medication can be excruciating for some patients, causing severe withdrawal symptoms.
  • Gradual tapering of medication is essential to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively.
  • Support groups play a vital role in helping individuals cope with medication discontinuation challenges.
  • Withdrawal from psychiatric medications can lead to severe symptoms, including suicidal thoughts, emphasizing the need for support and understanding.

49:25

Pharmaceutical Industry Manipulation and Overprescription

  • Pharmaceutical industry spends $80 billion annually on marketing and lobbying, focusing less on research.
  • Initial drug tested in the 1980s for panic disorder was Xanax (Alprazolam).
  • Study compared Xanax to a placebo group, showing fewer panic attacks with Xanax at four weeks, but no improvement at eight weeks and worsening at 14 weeks.
  • Pharmaceutical companies manipulate study results to highlight positive outcomes and hide negative ones.
  • Thought leaders at prestigious universities collaborate with drug companies to design, analyze, and publish studies favoring the drugs.
  • Prozac, despite adverse effects and inefficacy in trials, was marketed as a breakthrough drug.
  • Pharmaceutical companies manipulate data analysis to present favorable outcomes, concealing negative impacts.
  • Long-term stimulant use poses risks, with higher doses leading to diminishing benefits.
  • Gradual tapering off stimulants is recommended to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
  • Lack of unbiased information and influence from pharmaceutical companies lead to overprescription of drugs, causing harm to patients.

01:07:30

Family Saves Daughter's Life by Stopping Medication

  • The speaker's daughter experienced severe side effects from medication, leading to psychotic episodes, body ticks, and hallucinations, prompting the family to advocate for her to stop taking the medication.
  • Despite facing resistance from psychiatrists, the family persisted in their decision to discontinue the medication, ultimately saving their daughter's life and allowing her to return to a more stable state.
  • The daughter successfully tapered off the medication using an exponential taper method, leading to a gradual decline in dosage, which significantly improved her condition, allowing her to focus on addressing underlying issues like anxiety and an eating disorder.
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