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Great Blog Find - Furious Seasons

Furious Seasons is a great blog about mental health issues, especially the effects of Big Pharma on psychiatric practices.  The author is a journalist who is not only fighting for his own mental health, but providing valuable information for others battling the same issues.  His coverage of the pharmaceutical companies and prescription medications is especially well-documented and worth your time. 

Enjoy.

FDA Warns that Some "Mood Stabilizers" May Cause Suicidal Ideation

The FDA now requires eight "mood stabilizers" used for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder to carry warning labels saying that they may cause suicidal ideation.  What does this mean and what are these medications?

Newer Bipolar Medications May Cause Sudden Cardiac Death

CNN Health reports on new research showing that the atypical antipsychotics (i.e. Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Geodon, Abilify and Clozaril) may cause sudden cardiac death. Research shows that these medications can double the chance of sudden cardiac death possibly by causing "disturbances in heart rhythms".  This is in addition to all of the other warnings that have come out recently about this class of drugs.  Yet doctors still continue to diagnose everyone who complains of "mood swings" with Bipolar Disorder and prescribing this class of drugs to them. 

FDA to Investigate Cymbalta and Seroquel

The FDA has put Cymbalta and Seroquel on its list of drugs to be investigated.  You can see the official list at the FDA's site.

Psychiatry Sells Out to Big Pharma?

A conflict of interest, not to mention ethics, is brewing.  The influence of pharmaceutical companies on the science of psychiatry is being discussed on two of my favorite blogs, Furious Seasons and Mind Hacks. 

Mood Swings, Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics - Oh My!

In a recent lecture by a local psychiatrist he confirmed what I had long suspected - that antipsychotics were being inappropriately prescribed for mood disorders, specifically Bipolar Disorder. I have been very concerned about this for some time. Antipsychotics are a very serious class of drugs with serious, often permanent side effects when they occur. To take them for "mood swings" seems somewhat reckless. I've also noticed that clients are rarely made aware of these risks when prescribed these medications. Several forms of this class of drug are now having warning labels put on them, Zyprexa being the most well known at the moment. You can read more about the warnings involving Zyprexa here and here. The FDA has taken an additional step and ordered a diabetes warning to be placed on all antipsychotics. You can read more about that here. Some of the dangers of antipsychotics are discussed below.

Seroquel Lawsuit - Injuries and Warnings

The number of lawsuits involving psychiatric medications continues to escalate.  Recently, a spate of articles have been written regarding the mood stabilizer/antipsychotic Seroquel.