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SSRIs

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

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Tag: Effexor

Question:

how hard is it to get off of effexor?..i am on 75 mg for about a year now, but everytime i stop itr i am dizzy for weeks..how do i quit? thanks

Response:

My experience was pretty much uneventful.  Went from 150 to 75 per day for a couple of weeks, then stopped cold two weeks ago.  Only thing I suffered was a major headache, which may have been attributed to Ritalin which I went on at about the same time.   If it makes any difference, I was on the SR not the regular Effexor. >how hard is it to get off of effexor?..i am on 75 mg for about a year >now, but everytime i stop itr i am dizzy for weeks..how do i quit?

You will need to go through it or you will never get off of it. YMWV ~Polly~ ~anna~

Response:

I was on Effexor then switched to Effexor XR…….my Pdoc weaned me off of it VERY slowly.  I did have a MAJOR headache for about 2 days after I stopped completely.   Check with your Pdoc about cutting the pills in half for a few weeks.  Good luck :)            Cin

> how hard is it to get off of effexor?..i am on 75 mg for about a year > now, but everytime i stop itr i am dizzy for weeks..how do i quit? > thanks

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Response:

>>how hard is it to get off of effexor?..i am on 75 mg for about a year >now, but everytime i stop itr i am dizzy for weeks..how do i quit? >You will need to go through it or you will never get off of it.

thank you,,i think your right..:( >~Polly~ >~anna~

funny..i was tortured with this nick name for years as a kid..:) some days it just don’t pay to chew thru the leather restraints.

Response:

Wish I saw this a month ago.  :-(

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Setting a schedule > http://www.walnet.org/llf/drugs/psychdrugs1.html#quitting > Remember, psychiatric drugs should never be stopped abruptly! The more > slowly you can withdraw, the less bad effects you will suffer. The > best plan is to work out a schedule with your doctor that best suits > your situation. > Standard practice is to reduce your dosage by 10 percent per week, > monitoring your progress at every step. The first week, you would > reduce your dosage by ten percent. Try that for the first week, and > then see how you are doing. If you feel OK, reduce the dosage by > another 10 percent. Try that for a week, and see if you feel OK. > If you reach a point where you don’t feel OK, don’t reduce your dosage > by another 10 percent. Stay at the same reduced level for another > week, or until you do feel fine. Then reduce by another 10 percent and > continue with the process. Some steps might be more difficult than > others; take your time. > For example, if you are taking 200mg of Chlorpromazine a day, reduce > by 10 percent — 20mg — to 180mg per day. Try that level for a week. > The next reduction would be to 160mg a day for a week (or longer), > then 140mg a day, and so on. > If you are taking more than one medication at a time, it’s best to > stop them one by one. If you are taking a neuroleptic (major > tranquilizer) and an anticonvulsive drug (anti-Parkinsonian) at the > same time, which is common, withdraw from the neuroleptic first. > However, if you are taking more than one medication, this is a > situation where it is definitely best to have a doctor working with > you. > Withdrawal effects by drug class > If you are working with a woman who wants to stop taking psychiatric > drugs, it’s important to be familiar with the typical reactions or > symptoms of withdrawal. These vary, depending on the person, how long > she’s been taking the drug, her dosage, and the type of drug. > Different classes of drugs bring on different withdrawal reactions. > Some of these reactions may be disturbing and hard to witness but not > really dangerous. Others may be life-threatening. > A familiarity with drug withdrawal reactions will help you in working > with any woman who is taking psychiatric medication. Many patients > don’t take their medications as prescribed; they will alter their > dosage, increasing or decreasing the amount they take. Or they will > miss a day’s medication, and then catch up by taking twice as much the > next day. By mistakenly taking too little medication, they may bring > on the early stages of withdrawal. Mysterious physical and emotional > complaints may actually be signs that they are not taking their > medication as prescribed. > Even when a woman is taking her medication as prescribed, she may > experience the beginnings of a withdrawal reaction as a dose begins to > wear off. For example, a woman who is taking a minor tranquilizer may > find herself feeling agitated and restless before she is to take her > next prescribed dose. > In both cases, these signs are the results of the early stages of > withdrawal. It may seem like the agitation, anxiety, or physical > discomfort are signs of a woman’s "mental illness" or a sign that she > really does need the medication she’s taking. However, her complaints > may actually be due to the physical effects of the beginning stages of > drug withdrawal. > Listed below are the main classes of psychiatric medication, along > with the withdrawal reactions that are most common with each of them. > Antidepressants and neuroleptics > flu-like syndrome with headache, muscle aches, chills, nausea, > vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite > muscular reactions such as uncontrollable rhythmic movements and > tremors (these are more severe with neuroleptics) > insomnia, emotional distress, feeling like one is "going crazy" > Lithium > less side effects generally than other classes > insomnia, anxiety, irritability > Minor tranquilizers, sedatives > sudden withdrawal can result in life-threatening seizures; withdrawal > must be very gradual > seizures common in early stages of withdrawal > other reactions can include flu-like syndrome (see above), muscle > tics, restlessness, and anxiety > withdrawal symptoms usually take a few days to develop, but can occur > immediately and get worse during the first week > What you can do to support a woman withdrawing from medication > Respect the woman’s right to make her own choices. > Be informed about the process of withdrawing from psychiatric drugs. > Be familiar with the withdrawal symptoms so that you can stay > clearheaded and not panic. > Help keep people who disapprove of what the woman is doing from > interfering in the process. > Remind the woman to get enough sleep. > Make sure she gets enough to eat. Help her prepare food, as she may be > too nervous to cook on her own. > Help her get in touch with other people who will support her. > Don’t be misled by the withdrawal symptoms, thinking that they are > signs of her "illness." Be patient; it takes time to withdraw from the >how hard is it to get off of effexor?..i am on 75 mg for about a year >now, but everytime i stop itr i am dizzy for weeks..how do i quit? >thanks

Response:

>>how hard is it to get off of effexor?..i am on 75 mg for about a year >now, but everytime i stop itr i am dizzy for weeks..how do i quit? >thanks

My grandmother habituated(?) me to drink coffee when I was about 4 years of age. Since then I’ve been drinking 2 to 6 cups coffee per day, with only a couple of breaks lasting maximally some months. In an attempt to reduce my level of anxiety I decided to change to decaf coffee. I’ve been on ("on"[?]) it for a couple of weeks now. Since then I’ve felt quite dizzy almost all the time. I also sweat like a n***er when I’m biking. It seems to me adding some instant regular coffee to the decaf might help but I’m not absolutely sure of that. But the positive side of drinking decaf is that I don’t wake up in the middle of the night with my heart racing like hell, anymore. Perhaps effexor is a bit stronger than caffeine as to withdrawal…

Response:

Well what can I say, here I find myself on AD. There are lots of things that might have brought me down this road but I am not sure. I have read lots about depression and what people think it is. I am not sure if am I am or if I am not but what I do know is there must be something wrong. The thoughts that processed through my mind and the ever feeling of guilt whether I deserve to feel it or not. I have always been compulsive I guess when I start a task I hafta finish it or it drives me nuts. Then after I finish I never like my own work. there for a while I really became obsessed about my job and climbing the ladder of success, only 2 find out its who you know…rather then what you know!! The thoughts were always there and I could handle them I think but they are getting the best of me these days and the anxiety I was feeling but made me feel lower and sadder. So then we tried effexor..37…..75 and now 150. Its been a hard road to stay on these pills and their nasty side effects. I think things are getten better but I got a taste of reality the other nite when I was drinking and got sad again when I thought of something that has gotten me down lately. I see many changes happening since I started these and I am not sure where I am going. I hope its a good journey? Till next time…..

Response:

Thx 4 the help. I have lots of questions since starting this med. I am not sure what I am suppose to be feeling since starting this. I am not sure just thinking of taking a med will help or if it really is. In college I took pharmacology so I know a little about meds and there side effects. At the beginning of this med I felt lots of nausea and headaches, hot flashes and some nights where I got only 4 hrs of sleep. Most of them have gone away. Last night after increasing another 37.5(x5) I woke to pounding my pillow!lol the wife thought I was out of my mind lol I was dreaming about a client attacking me at work and I was defending myself! nothing that I would really do with any of my clients! but what’s weird is before effexor I could never remember my dreams. Not that I wanted to since I could never remember them but often woke the house cuz of night terrors?? each day that goes by is a different feeling one day I wake to being so dragged out then the next to fully charged, I don’t feel the guilt I use to with everything that I do both at work and home. Being a boss that doesn’t like to discipline I always felt guilty for doing it. That feeling is starting to fade. Again not sure if its that I made some life changes regarding work or if its the meds? I guess what I am wondering from you and others is this how others feel? and do you think effexor is my answer? thx for interest!

Response:

Vajda.. I wrote you a long reply under the thread: "Re: dopamine reuptake effect"

Response:

>s. I think things are getten better but I >got a taste of reality the other nite when I was drinking and got sad again >when I thought of something that has gotten me down lately.

What in God’s name are you doing drinking on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs????  Do you know the danger of that?  Alcohol is a depressant.  When you mix the combo you are mixing, you have a pretty good chance of possibly shutting down your nervous system.  Didn’t your doctor warn you of this? If you have a drinking problem, STOP the booze before you start on the anti-depressants and other drugs.  I too, am an alcoholic.  I made certain I was DONE drinking before I started on meds.  Plus, I got my butt into therapy. If you don’t believe me, read up on the side effects.  Just type in Effexor or Lorazepam into any search engine and READ what is says about mixing booze with these drugs. You’re playing russian roulette. Luanne http://members.aol.com/luannep/adoption.htm http://members.aol.com/luannemarie/capage2.htm

Response:

> What in God’s name are you doing drinking on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety > drugs????  Do you know the danger of that?  Alcohol is a depressant.  When you > mix the combo you are mixing, you have a pretty good chance of possibly > shutting down your nervous system.  Didn’t your doctor warn you of this? >You’re playing russian roulette. > Luanne

Errr, Effexor and most (all?) of the SSRIs don’t interact with alcohol. I’ve been on Effexor and Zoloft for months and drink pretty often.  I’m NOT an alcoholic, but I have 1-2 drinks all the time, sometimes even more. You’re just spreading ignorance. There is a sticker on the bottle saying "May cause drowsiness.  Alcohol may intensify the effect.  Avoid operating heavy machinery."  The TRUTH is that there is _no_ evidence either way, which means, in effect, that they do not interact.  For legal reasons, just about every presciption medication out there advises against using alcohol, but this is nothing to take seriously. Jeez, can’t you tell when you’re running into "protect our asses from crack lawsuits" legalese? As for antianxiety drugs, like benzos & valium, no, it’s not a good idea because they are depressants too.  Antidepressants–the SSRIs, Effexor, and Wellbutrin at least–are surprisingly not depressants.  It’s FINE to drink while on them, but be sensible and test it out in moderation and when you don’t have to drive.

Response:

ok I agree that alcohol is a depressant and probably doesn’t help but yes when I checked the websites about this drug there is no interaction with it. I am sure in moderation its ok. really what’s the diff pop a lorazapam or have a drink or 2????? not condemning or condoning…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> What in God’s name are you doing drinking on anti-depressants and > anti-anxiety > drugs????  Do you know the danger of that?  Alcohol is a depressant. When > you > mix the combo you are mixing, you have a pretty good chance of possibly > shutting down your nervous system.  Didn’t your doctor warn you of this? >You’re playing russian roulette. > Luanne > Errr, Effexor and most (all?) of the SSRIs don’t interact with alcohol. > I’ve been on Effexor and Zoloft for months and drink pretty often.  I’m NOT > an alcoholic, but I have 1-2 drinks all the time, sometimes even more. > You’re just spreading ignorance. > There is a sticker on the bottle saying "May cause drowsiness.  Alcohol may > intensify the effect.  Avoid operating heavy machinery."  The TRUTH is that > there is _no_ evidence either way, which means, in effect, that they do not > interact.  For legal reasons, just about every presciption medication out > there advises against using alcohol, but this is nothing to take seriously. > Jeez, can’t you tell when you’re running into "protect our asses from crack > lawsuits" legalese? > As for antianxiety drugs, like benzos & valium, no, it’s not a good idea > because they are depressants too.  Antidepressants–the SSRIs, Effexor, and > Wellbutrin at least–are surprisingly not depressants.  It’s FINE to drink > while on them, but be sensible and test it out in moderation and when you > don’t have to drive.

Response:

I used to use a drug called Ambien to get to sleep.  I found that Risperdal worked better for me (Risperdal is an anti-psychotic).

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, >Interested in all people write about effexor or wellbutrin. >Terry M. > I have taken Welbutrin with Lithium for 7-8 years. It does not havesnip > Yes, I get down but it is real and I actually feel in > contact with myself.

I tried Welbutrin and Lithium and the Welbutrin put into a state of mile hysteria….I now use Paxil instead, but can’t tell if it works.  Prozac also put into hypomania, but that is not so unpleasant in my case. I read of other meds in this group ‘maneril’ ‘efexor’ and i have no info on them at all. kinda makes me think are each a walking lab….anyone know of the long term effects of this stiff, i don’t, but still take it….no other option. I am bp II/rapic cycling, just for the record. Does anyone use sleep medication on a regular basis?  if so what? Ernie

Response:

Hi, I used effexor for a year. It seemed to have no real side effects for me except constipation and I needed to take it with food. It seemed to take care of depression in a very clean way.  After about 9 months I started having a lot of trouble getting up in the morning and having really weird dreams that had very drugged,dazed feeling and were very hard to get out of. This did not feel like me at all. My practitioner told me a month ago that she would like me off effexor since she thinks it contributes to cycling in me and thinks that I have bipolar tendencies, I guess you could call it cyclothymic. I really think effexor is very hard to come off quickly if you have anything to do like go to a job or take care of kids. I experienced a dizzy, disorienting feeling, lack of concentration, and just general very unpleasant states of mind. So I took  75 mg of effexor and increasing amounts of wellbutrin at the same time and that was do-able. Now up to 150 mg wellbutrin and feeling ok although somewhat irritable and overemotinal. We’ll see. Interested in all people write about effexor or wellbutrin. Terry M.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->:Hi, >: >:I used effexor for a year. It seemed to have no real side effects for me >:except constipation and I needed to take it with food. It seemed to take >:care of depression in a very clean way.  After about 9 months I started >:having a lot of trouble getting up in the morning and having really >:weird dreams that had very drugged,dazed feeling and were very hard to >:get out of. This did not feel like me at all. >: >:My practitioner told me a month ago that she would like me off effexor >:since she thinks it contributes to cycling in me and thinks that I have >:bipolar tendencies, I guess you could call it cyclothymic. I really >:think effexor is very hard to come off quickly if you have anything to >:do like go to a job or take care of kids. I experienced a dizzy, >:disorienting feeling, lack of concentration, and just general very >:unpleasant states of mind. So I took  75 mg of effexor and increasing >:amounts of wellbutrin at the same time and that was do-able. >: >:Now up to 150 mg wellbutrin and feeling ok although somewhat irritable >:and overemotinal. We’ll see. >: >:Interested in all people write about effexor or wellbutrin. >: >:Terry M. >:

I have never been on effexor but had nightmarish experiences with Wellbutrin.  I was diagnosed as rapid-cycling Bipolar II and the first anti-depressant the doc tried me on was Wellbutrin, saying it was the least likely to make me flip into hypomania.  Wellbutrin didn’t do anything for my depression, but had me cycling so often that I was bouncing off walls.  I was crying all the time, getting really angry for no reason and losing my temper even in the office, couldn’t sleep, was constipated as all hell, etc. So, after many trials and tribulations, I’m on Depakote (mood stabilizer), Zoloft (anti-depressant), Klonopin (anti-anxiety, anti-manic), and Lorazepam (sedative for sleep).  Keep working with your doctor to find the best combination that works for you.  It is quite common for anti-depressants to throw bipolar patients to the other side of manic-depression. Good luck…….Barrie :)

Response:

>Hi,

>Interested in all people write about effexor or wellbutrin. >Terry M.

I have taken Welbutrin with Lithium for 7-8 years. It does not have the boost of Zooloft or Prozac (Prozac booted me into a manic state), but it has the uncany ability to keep me more on center than any other antidepressant. Yes, I get down but it is real and I actually feel in contact with myself. -Doug

Response:

Question:

Now that I am coming off effexor xr and it will take some time I think…..now its time to think of what med to change to….quickly my hang-ups…..worrier….anxiety….very high pressure job…..a mind that never stops thinking…..endless self analysis…always taken though responsibility for things that are out of my control….these are just to start with.. once I was on top of the world……now I look up…..

Response:

> Now that I am coming off effexor xr and it will take some time I > think…..now its time to think of what med to change to….quickly my > hang-ups…..worrier….anxiety….very high pressure job…..a mind that > never stops thinking…..endless self analysis…always taken though > responsibility for things that are out of my control….these are just to > start with.. > once I was on top of the world……now I look up…..

And a bird craps on your head, right?  LOL  Couldn’t resist.  Is it just human nature to experience what you’ve described above?  Or, is it all part of depression?  I’m kicking Wellbutrin.  I have nowhere to go now.  I’m so tired of the side effects, I’m just like an old, wet, rung out, worn out dish rag.  I’ve used Effexor XR 2 years ago and a number of others.  Have you tried Wellbutrin, Paxil or any others? Cheers, Carrie

Response:

I’m curious as to why we go off meds…..do they cease to stop the depression?    I just stopped effexor and went straight to Remeron…..I’ve never been advised of weaning off one to begin another, although my research into these things would suggest that I do wean off. The Remeron made me totally undepressed for two days, but the past two days I’m on edge…..much the same way I felt with Effexor and Celexa. I am going to post a new thread re xanax. Jeanne

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Now that I am coming off effexor xr and it will take some time I > think…..now its time to think of what med to change to….quickly my > hang-ups…..worrier….anxiety….very high pressure job…..a mind that > never stops thinking…..endless self analysis…always taken though > responsibility for things that are out of my control….these are just to > start with.. > once I was on top of the world……now I look up….. > And a bird craps on your head, right?  LOL  Couldn’t resist.  Is it just > human nature to experience what you’ve described above?  Or, is it all part > of depression?  I’m kicking Wellbutrin.  I have nowhere to go now.  I’m so > tired of the side effects, I’m just like an old, wet, rung out, worn out > dish rag.  I’ve used Effexor XR 2 years ago and a number of others.  Have > you tried Wellbutrin, Paxil or any others? > Cheers, Carrie

Response:

i have just gone back on meds, and started with the ZOLOFT sample pack of i am also VERY TIRED of this "on again, off again" — read and post daily! rosie http://www.geocities.com/barrettetc/rosie.html

Response:

I came over to this group today (have been at alt.support. depression.recovery for awhile) because I’m facing the possibility of accepting some anti-depressant prescription later this week.  I’ve been in something I’ve called an "anxiety crisis" since last Sept., more recently getting some of the anxiety under control, and being told, by therapist, that I’m now experiencing depression.  I keep telling myself that I "should" be able to overcome this problem… through therapy, altered self-talk, disphragmatic breathing, and other techniques. Strong resistance to going on medication (though I did accept and try some Xanax during part of this time period, but didn’t notice any success with it).  I think my docotor is ready to prescribe Paxil or something like that. I resist partly due to concerns about money (which helped trigger this "anxiety crisis"), and partly because I don’t want to have to rely on chemistry to affect my moods.  One option might be to accept prescription for some milder (?)[and cheaper?] medications.  Someone suggested Elavil?, and one of the drugs you’ve been discussing here.  Effexor, I think? I’m interested in some informed opinions.  My own depression doesn’t seem so severe as some of the people I encounter here. My mornings are usually "bad", waking up at five a.m., and not being able to get back to sleep.  But many days I manage to make myself DO things, and sometimes wind up later in the day with feeling O.K. (mostly, when I’m NOT "O.K.", I think I’m in "fight or flight" response.  Then.. due to some new thought, or a different activity?, etc.?, I can suddenly find myself feeling "relief".  It’s like the tension which has been strangling me is suddenly gone… and I can be relaxed for awhile.  I’m trying to learn some techniques… so that I can create that relaxation to some extent on demand.  Currently I feel like a victim of my moods.  I’d like to have some power over them. Do some of the drugs have this effect?  Could medication give me some control?  If so… what might you recommend? thanks for any suggestions… dennis

Response:

Actually it was very funny cuz my bird actually did do that! lol Yes all things I listed below could be just describing life but its life that has put the screws to me….see when you usually sit across the table(I am a social worker) and work out other people’s troubles you don’t always see it that way….every day I wake I never know what emotion or person I will be today. Since I have to where the painted face all day at work it makes it hard to do it at home. After my time as a work aholic for many years I now know that my time is deserved to my family. I just wish I could give then stability in my personality. Admitting that I needed help was the hardest thing I have ever done. See I know I have not been "right" ever since childhood. No blame to anyone Unfortunately there are no family dr’s around my area so I am stuck with the walk in clinic. The last dr recommended that I drop effexor xr and try Paxil. I am not sure what to think?????

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Now that I am coming off effexor xr and it will take some time I > think…..now its time to think of what med to change to….quickly my > hang-ups…..worrier….anxiety….very high pressure job…..a mind that > never stops thinking…..endless self analysis…always taken though > responsibility for things that are out of my control….these are just to > start with.. > once I was on top of the world……now I look up….. > And a bird craps on your head, right?  LOL  Couldn’t resist.  Is it just > human nature to experience what you’ve described above?  Or, is it all part > of depression?  I’m kicking Wellbutrin.  I have nowhere to go now.  I’m so > tired of the side effects, I’m just like an old, wet, rung out, worn out > dish rag.  I’ve used Effexor XR 2 years ago and a number of others.  Have > you tried Wellbutrin, Paxil or any others? > Cheers, Carrie

Response:

(snip). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Yes you dont sound that bad…this NG tends to attract people with more severe > mental illness problems, including a lot with whats known as "treatment > resistant" depression. >My mornings are usually "bad", waking up at five a.m., >and not > being able to get back to sleep.  But many days I manage to > make myself DO things, and sometimes wind up later in the day > with feeling O.K. (mostly, when I’m NOT "O.K.", I think I’m > in "fight or flight" response.  Then.. due to some new thought, > or a different activity?, etc.?, I can suddenly find myself > feeling "relief".  It’s like the tension which has been strangling > me is suddenly gone… and I can be relaxed for awhile.  I’m > trying to learn some techniques… so that I can create that > relaxation to some extent on demand.  Currently I feel like a > victim of my moods.  I’d like to have some power over them. > Do some of the drugs have this effect?  Could medication give me > some control?  If so… what might you recommend? > thanks for any suggestions… dennis > You sound like youd be a perfect candidate for drugs Dennis. Your attitudes > against meds are silly. The meds can help you. The modern class meds in > particular are very safe to take, they really are very safe. The older psych > meds tended to have a lot more side effects and people many times didnt like > taking them. But the modern ones like SSRIs,  Effexor, Buspar, etc. are > actually quite effective and very safe in most cases. > Eric > Eric – THANKS for your thoughts on this.  I’m seeing a doctor

tomorrow.. and will probably go on meds (much better informed than last time I checked on it). Dennis  (tried to email you directly… no luck) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Steroids caused my depression…prednisone should be used conservatively > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression > MIBS (Minimally Invasive Brain Stimulation) > http://www.musc.edu/psychiatry/fnrd/tms.htm

Response:

Question:

This is my medical history: back in 1994 to 1996, I was on and off Prozac three times. The first time was because I’d been depressed for a long time, from age 16 to about 25. It worked great, it really turned me around. The second and third time was to help me get through stressful situations I was in. It helped those times too, just not as quickly or as noticeably as the first. I was med-free for 1997, 1998, and 1999 and was doing OK. In May 2000 I crashed. It was anxiety more than depression though. I tried Prozac for the fourth time and it didn’t seem to help. During a brief hospital stay I switched to Effexor, and it helped alleviate the depression, but made me sleepy. My psychiatrist added Wellbutrin last winter, and I didn’t feel cured, but I was functioning OK. The Effexor was still making me sleepy, so I replaced it with Celexa. First 20mg/day, now 30mg/day. I’d been on Celexa for 11 weeks now along with 100mg/day wellbutrin. My depresion has gotten worse over the last few weeks. I use Clonazepam a few times a week when the anxiety gets rough, which seems to be getting worse. I’m anxious all the time, I feel kind of out of breath, I feel my heart pounding sometimes, I sleep a lot, feel sad, and cry more often. My psychiatrist doubts that Celexa is making me more depressed, but I’m not so sure. I’m looking for a little advice here. Should I withdraw from Celexa and Wellbutrin and cleanse my system and start over somehow? I really miss how Prozac helped me the first three times, and maybe I could go back to it, but I’m afraid my system has become immune to it somehow. Why isn’t the celexa helping at all? Should I try another SSRI or am I now immune to all SSRIs? Dammit dammit dammit I hate this. What should I do? Michael.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > This is my medical history: back in 1994 to 1996, I was on and off Prozac > three times. The first time was because I’d been depressed for a long time, > from age 16 to about 25. It worked great, it really turned me around. The > second and third time was to help me get through stressful situations I was > in. It helped those times too, just not as quickly or as noticeably as the > first. > I was med-free for 1997, 1998, and 1999 and was doing OK. > In May 2000 I crashed. It was anxiety more than depression though. I tried > Prozac for the fourth time and it didn’t seem to help. During a brief > hospital stay I switched to Effexor, and it helped alleviate the depression, > but made me sleepy. My psychiatrist added Wellbutrin last winter, and I > didn’t feel cured, but I was functioning OK. > The Effexor was still making me sleepy, so I replaced it with Celexa. First > 20mg/day, now 30mg/day. I’d been on Celexa for 11 weeks now along with > 100mg/day wellbutrin. My depresion has gotten worse over the last few weeks. > I use Clonazepam a few times a week when the anxiety gets rough, which seems > to be getting worse. > I’m anxious all the time, I feel kind of out of breath, I feel my heart > pounding sometimes, I sleep a lot, feel sad, and cry more often. My > psychiatrist doubts that Celexa is making me more depressed, but I’m not so > sure. > I’m looking for a little advice here. Should I withdraw from Celexa and > Wellbutrin and cleanse my system and start over somehow? I really miss how > Prozac helped me the first three times, and maybe I could go back to it, but > I’m afraid my system has become immune to it somehow. Why isn’t the celexa > helping at all? Should I try another SSRI or am I now immune to all SSRIs? > Dammit dammit dammit I hate this. What should I do? > Michael.

Hi Michael,  I’ve been on Prozac 4 different times, always coming back to it because it seemed to work the best. The way my pdoc explained it was that my brain became "bored" with the Prozac, and it didn’t work. It seem to give me a different "feel" each time I took it.  I’m not offering this as medical advice, only what *I* would do in your situation. Since the Celexa isn’t working after this long and the dose of Wellbutrin isn’t terribly high, I’d get an appointment ASAP and request another med, something "like prozac" (another SSRI like Zoloft or Paxil). When Prozac petered out on me, I started Wellbutrin and Zoloft, and feel excellant. I think it’s more or less trial and error, but don’t wait too long, your Celexa should have kicked in by now. I don’t know if your immune to SSRI’s, but Prozac died on me, and another worked fine. I’ve had many anti-depressants that may have well just been sugar pills because they did nothing, so don’t feel it’s just you. Good Luck, Dave —

Question:

 Umm..here I sit with a months supply of this rather spooky antidepressant in one hand and all my hopes and fears in another. Being a good net junkie, I decided to check the NG’s to see if there was anything being posted about this stuff. Boy, have I gotten an eyeful from this group. I’ve never been on any medication for depression before; however, I’ve also never been in the situation that I’m currently in before. For just about a year and a half, all that I have that energy to do is look at internet porn and doze off for hours a day. Needless to say, the wife and kiddies aren’t too pleased with this turn of events. I figure that it has cost me about 90 grand in lost salary and just about everything else in self esteem. I won’t go into particulars, but I brought all of this on myself and now I have to dig out somehow. There seems to be some good souls here, so I’ll just jump into the wind and ask my naive question. Will this stuff do me any good? Do the benefits outweigh the bugs or am I stepping onto a roller coaster that may not stop when I want to get off? I would appreciate any sincere comments. Thank You.                           Ward W

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Nothing spooky about good old Effexor Ward. Effexor is a great antidepressant > and it will probably change your life for the better, possibly back to normal > and back to working full time. Its probably the strongest modern class > antidepressant and has relatively few side effects. Expect to feel dizzy and > sedated the first week, then possibly really activated for a while and "weird" > feeling. But after its been in your system a few weeks WATCH OUT cause the odds > are its gonna make you feel really really good. You are gonna love Effexor I > bet, once you get over your fear of antidepressants. > Modern antidepressants are all extremely safe Ward. Nothing to be scared of > man. > take care, > Eric > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression > MIBS (Minimally Invasive Brain Stimulation) > http://www.musc.edu/psychiatry/fnrd/tms.htm > FIDO…Fuck It Drive On

Hey Eric, thanks much for the quick response. You know, part of the problem, as I see it, is that I WILL like the stuff. Too much, in fact, to want to get off of it. Also, your description about the first coupla weeks of side effects reminds me too much of all the bad acid that I used to gobble in my youth. May I ask you a personal question? Have you been off anti-depressants for any significant time since you were first prescribed them? If so, what has your experience been with "withdrawal" and subsequent coping in drug free periods? Looking forward to hearing from you again. Best, Ward W

Response:

> Umm..here I sit with a months supply of this rather spooky >antidepressant in one hand and all my hopes and fears in another. Being >a good net junkie, I decided to check the NG’s to see if there was >anything being posted about this stuff. Boy, have I gotten an eyeful >from this group.

I am about to start Effexor too.  I ordered my pills from Canada. I had been taking Wellbutrin but it wasn’t working.  Effexor gets good reviews.  Stay away from the SSRIs. Diablo

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Effexor gets >good reviews.  Stay away from the SSRIs. > Diablo, keep your incorrect opinions about SSRIs to yourself please. I have > news for you dude. There is very little difference between low dose Effexor > (37.5 mg-150 mg ) and the SSRIs. Low dose Effexor is basically nothing more > than an extra strength SSRI Diablo. So if you dislike SSRIs Id stay away from > Effexor. > Be careful Diablo, that Effexor is VERY similar to the SSRIs and it might turn > you into a psycho/lunatic/killer/psychopath. I hope you have your guns locked > up when you take the Effexor Diablo. LOL Sheeesh man you are ridiculous.

No Eric you are ridiculous with your lack of knowledge….  trying by aggression ….foul language and pure force of will  to deny others experience, freedom of speech and the free flow of information. You are not a psychiatrist… You have no business telling people they must be drugged for life. If you like it it is your choice.. Not everyone feels that way. Similarly you have no business telling people what drugs  they should or shouldnt take. Diablos opinion is as valid as yours I repeat you are not a psychiatrist. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Ward, If you want an _intelligent_ critical look at antidepressants, I recommend reading _Listening to Prozac_.  It should, at the very least, convince you that depression is very much a real medical (biological) condition that REQUIRES treatment, and it will also give you a good idea of the pros & cons of these drugs.  You just have to accept that you are biologically ill and need medice to treat your neurons.  You wouldn’t wonder if you should take medications if you had heart problems, etc.

Response:

Welp, I have made my decision and have chosen to try to combat my depression with a regimen of both therapy and medication. As a matter of fact, I write this only two hours after having taken my first dose of Effexor. So far, no bad effects, or for that matter, good effects noted. I guess for me, it makes the most sense to utilize every weapon in the arsenal to fight this life-sucking enemy. In no way, do I negate any thing that anyone who has responded to this thread may have intended. I believe that each of us ultimately finds the answer that is needed. I would like to thank all for their time and concern. Best wishes, Ward W

Response:

> Welp, I have made my decision and have chosen to try to combat my > depression with a regimen of both therapy and medication. As a matter of > fact, I write this only two hours after having taken my first dose of > Effexor. So far, no bad effects, or for that matter, good effects noted. > I guess for me, it makes the most sense to utilize every weapon in the > arsenal to fight this life-sucking enemy. In no way, do I negate any > thing that anyone who has responded to this thread may have intended. I > believe that each of us ultimately finds the answer that is needed. I > would like to thank all for their time and concern. > Best wishes, > Ward W

Best of luck Ward.. Of course it makes sense to use whatever is available and come out the other side.. lots and lots of people do… Theres no reason at all to think you wont be one Bob

Response:

>Be careful Diablo, that Effexor is VERY similar to the SSRIs and it might turn >you into a psycho/lunatic/killer/psychopath. I hope you have your guns locked >up when you take the Effexor Diablo. LOL Sheeesh man you are ridiculous.

I need to clean my guns.  They are already disassembled and I should lock the trigger mechanisms up before I start the Effexor.  Did you hear about yesterday’s school stabbings in Japan?  The perpetrator had been taking psychiatric medication. I wonder if he was on an SSRI. Diablo

Response:

>Be careful Diablo, that Effexor is VERY similar to the SSRIs and it might turn >you into a psycho/lunatic/killer/psychopath. I hope you have your guns locked >up when you take the Effexor Diablo. LOL Sheeesh man you are ridiculous. > I need to clean my guns.  They are already disassembled and I should lock the > trigger mechanisms up before I start the Effexor.  Did you hear about yesterday’s > school stabbings in Japan?  The perpetrator had been taking psychiatric medication. > I wonder if he was on an SSRI.

A quantity of tranquillisers the Japanese press said… Bob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Diablo

Response:

>LOL Diablo, you are whacked dude. Seriously Effexor is not much different than >SSRIs. Soon as you take that 75 mg Effexor tab, you are taking an extra strong >serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Thats all it is dude. As you go up in dosage you >get not only serotonin reuptake but also norephinephrine reuptake and at the >highest dosages even a little dopamine reuptake. GAD!!! Dopamine reuptake? That >means you are gonna be increasing dopamine Diablo. Yes, you better lock up >those guns dude, might go postal on us if you take that Effexor man. >Whoops, or it might be the other way around? Taking Effexor…or an >SSRI…might do the exact opposite. Making you a calmer, nicer, less irritable, >more focused human being. Wow, sounds like the profile for someone going postal >huh Diablo?

I know I’m whacked.  And I’m going to be taking 150mg of Effexor.  I’m not sure if I’m even depressed, I just feel so apathetic.  And I moved to a hick town, I’m in the ethnic minority (anglo), and wrecked my truck so I lost my job. No one wants to hire me because I don’t speak Spanish.  I am so bummed out and I am hoping that drugs will get me back on track. Diablo

Response:

My husband takes it, for ADHD and anxiety. It has helped him immensely. If he has to keep taking it long-term, so be it….the benefits have far outweighed the drawbacks. It doesn’t work for everyone though.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Nothing spooky about good old Effexor Ward. Effexor is a great antidepressant > and it will probably change your life for the better, possibly back to normal > and back to working full time. Its probably the strongest modern class > antidepressant and has relatively few side effects. Expect to feel dizzy and > sedated the first week, then possibly really activated for a while and "weird" > feeling. But after its been in your system a few weeks WATCH OUT cause the odds > are its gonna make you feel really really good. You are gonna love Effexor I > bet, once you get over your fear of antidepressants. > Modern antidepressants are all extremely safe Ward. Nothing to be scared of > man. > take care, > Eric > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression > MIBS (Minimally Invasive Brain Stimulation) > http://www.musc.edu/psychiatry/fnrd/tms.htm > FIDO…Fuck It Drive On > Hey Eric, thanks much for the quick response. You know, part of the > problem, as I see it, is that I WILL like the stuff. Too much, in fact, > to want to get off of it. Also, your description about the first coupla > weeks of side effects reminds me too much of all the bad acid that I > used to gobble in my youth. May I ask you a personal question? Have you > been off anti-depressants for any significant time since you were first > prescribed them? If so, what has your experience been with "withdrawal" > and subsequent coping in drug free periods? Looking forward to hearing > from you again. > Best, > Ward W

Response:

hya yeah, i think we’ve all been there actually.  I have been on a few drugs over the years – stopped them also through my own "behavioural problems" and i never seemed to get any better. I am on 300mg of efexor (due to go up to 375mg a day) and 2 mg of flupenthixol.  Efexor has allowed me to get back to some kinda life; i am back at work and i am socialising again.  I also dont self-harm any more :) I still have very bad days where getting out of bed is a real effort, but on the whole I am beginning the long road of recovery.  I ahve stopped taking the efexor a few times, taken too many, etc, but that’s more to do with my state of mind rather than the meds. My advice to you would be to take the efexor and see how it goes.  you will probably experience some nausea or sickness in the first week, but it does get better – honestly! I wouldnt stop taking the efexor now as it has given me so much of my life back.. and I am willing to take the meds as long as it helps.  I reckon (as far as my shrink says anyway) that I will be on them long term.  I’ve been on my current meds combo now for about a year. Have you had any kinda diagnosis?  I have major depression with borderline personality disorder (although I dont believe I have the bpd – it’s just that I am female, self-harmed with an opinion of my own). Anyway, dont worry about taking the efexor.  try it out for yourself and see how it goes. good luck and keep us posted! lisa xxx

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Umm..here I sit with a months supply of this rather spooky > antidepressant in one hand and all my hopes and fears in another. Being > a good net junkie, I decided to check the NG’s to see if there was > anything being posted about this stuff. Boy, have I gotten an eyeful > from this group. > I’ve never been on any medication for depression before; however, I’ve > also never been in the situation that I’m currently in before. For just > about a year and a half, all that I have that energy to do is look at > internet porn and doze off for hours a day. Needless to say, the wife > and kiddies aren’t too pleased with this turn of events. I figure that > it has cost me about 90 grand in lost salary and just about everything > else in self esteem. I won’t go into particulars, but I brought all of > this on myself and now I have to dig out somehow. > There seems to be some good souls here, so I’ll just jump into the wind > and ask my naive question. Will this stuff do me any good? Do the > benefits outweigh the bugs or am I stepping onto a roller coaster that > may not stop when I want to get off? I would appreciate any sincere > comments. Thank You.                           Ward W

Response:

Question:

anyone else had a nauseating response to sustained release effexor? i have only just had my first dose today, and about 4 hours after i took it i became nauseated to the point where nothing helps.  i just feel ILL! my usual antiD is a tricyclic but the doc decided this time she wanted me to try something different …dont worry i havent been switched, as it were…i had been holding it together OK for about 4 years :-/ anyone else had a similar response? — http://www.hamarana.com —

Response:

<snip> >The nausea goes away if you keep taking the Effexor. Severe nausea is a common >side effect of both SSRIs and Effexor. My advice is to just keep on taking that >Effexor and expect some nausea and other side effects for the first couple >weeks til your body adjusts to it. Its a great antidepressant once it kicks in. >If you still have this nausea after a few weeks to a month then yeah >discontinue it. But the odds are the nausea is just an early adjustment side >effect. Its very common with that drug. >Eric >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression >FIDO…Fuck It Drive On

thanks Eric.  I called my doc and she wondered if it was an interaction between the effexor and the antibiotics she started me on a couple of days ago (absolutely necessary, had a low grade infection for weeks and weeks).  so she told me to stop taking it until ive finished the antibiotics (8 days to go).  i can hang on til then.   but crikey, i never had anything like this with the tricyclics.  :(( — http://www.hamarana.com —

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ><snip> >The nausea goes away if you keep taking the Effexor. Severe nausea is a common >side effect of both SSRIs and Effexor. My advice is to just keep on taking that >Effexor and expect some nausea and other side effects for the first couple >weeks til your body adjusts to it. Its a great antidepressant once it kicks in. >If you still have this nausea after a few weeks to a month then yeah >discontinue it. But the odds are the nausea is just an early adjustment side >effect. Its very common with that drug. >Eric >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression >FIDO…Fuck It Drive On >thanks Eric.  I called my doc and she wondered if it was an >interaction between the effexor and the antibiotics she started me on >a couple of days ago (absolutely necessary, had a low grade infection >for weeks and weeks).  so she told me to stop taking it until ive >finished the antibiotics (8 days to go).  i can hang on til then.   >but crikey, i never had anything like this with the tricyclics.  :(( >– >http://www.hamarana.com

there is a drug called maxalon ( metoclopramide) which is a fantastic anti-nausea drug.  if u take it each time u take the effexor it will greatly improve things.

Response:

<snip> >there is a drug called maxalon ( metoclopramide) which is a fantastic >anti-nausea drug.  if u take it each time u take the effexor it will >greatly improve things.

good thinking, James, thanks. dunno why i didnt think of it myself. i’ll ask the doc to write me a script.  im on such a cocktail of meds at the moment i feel like a walking pharmacy. — http://www.hamarana.com —

Response:

Or if you don’t want to go through that trouble, Peptol Bismol does a fine job at supressing nausea. Makes your poops black but hey that’s kind of cool anyway. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > <snip> >there is a drug called maxalon ( metoclopramide) which is a fantastic >anti-nausea drug.  if u take it each time u take the effexor it will >greatly improve things. > good thinking, James, thanks. dunno why i didnt think of it myself. > i’ll ask the doc to write me a script.  im on such a cocktail of meds > at the moment i feel like a walking pharmacy. > — > http://www.hamarana.com > —

Response:

Question:

Hello cross-poster. Don’t you find it a strange coincidence that the correlation could be interpreted the other way around. That is, troubled kids would be more likely to be on medication in the first place? How does that sound? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned >parents >demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic >drugs be >made public. >In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, >teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March >1998 >with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and >ending >with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El >Cajon, >Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on >prescribed mind-altering drugs. >       San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last >week >that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the >shooting >of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been >prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor >intends to >use this medical information as part of his clients defense is >unclear, >though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help >explain his >actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were >prescribed >are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side >effects. >      According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the >University of >California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin >reuptake >inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same >drug >prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >      It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the >drugs >and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information >about >his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there >are >many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those >drugs >may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the >history >of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone >goes off >while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. >Im >starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. >What is >the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public >right to be >safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >      Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the >possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role >in >much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public >the issue >of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The >privacy >of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected >by law. >The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused >perpetrator >is only made public when the information is released by the family, >school >officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and >attorneys. >      And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the >public >only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult >even >to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause >of >otherwise senseless violence. >       In fact, so little information has been made public about these >mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school >violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking >at the >possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged >shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a >spokesman for >the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised >medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These >records are >sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between >psychotropic >drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are >other >priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety >officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >       But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the >U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing >number of >school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to >look >into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last >year >called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The >41-page >report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the >Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators >and >law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school >shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, >mental >health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting >cases were >reviewed for the report. >      Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, >social >problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in >schools and >the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the >report >of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >       Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology >Department at >the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment >conference >last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation >between >psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be >made >public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 >[school >shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an >observation, he said. >      A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of >children >on medication and those not on medication and then making the >comparison. >There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit >violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you >have to >do scientific studies. >       Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue >with that >criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as >suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on >prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, >even when >such information is made available for study, it appears that little >use is >made of it. >      Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration >with the >U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice >last year >produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim >Report on >the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in >October >2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, >educational >and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >     Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as >investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted >supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made >in the >report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has >collected. >Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why >that issue >was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >     Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had >the >opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, >important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was >ignored. This >has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos >public >defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >      Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this >article >expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was >concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are >beginning >to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are >sent >while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >      JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the >Prevention of >School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and >secure, >tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education >community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier >to >drug them into appropriate behavior. >      It is important to recognize that the schools today have >children that >are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We >shouldnt be >too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is >an >important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a >general >sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this >information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and >wants to >know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such >numbers >available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I >think >as long as the information is not individualized it should be >information a >principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to >explain how >the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication >to >control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share >that >information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school >community and >part of the schools fabric. >       The message, concludes McDaniels, is that we need to develop >youngsters without stimulants and other foreign substances. Too often >we are >opting for a way of treatment that is a lot easier to implement than >sitting >down and working out the problems. This is a public-health issue and >it seems >reasonable to look at it. >       James E. Copple is vice president of the National Crime >Prevention >Council, a nonprofit organization that focuses on creating safer >communities >by addressing

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Response:

Hey maybe I misread your post, it was so long and it was hard to see your point but in my humble opinion, the two main reasons for school shootings are: 1) The wide availlability of guns in your fascist country 2) Bullies SSRI’s would make you MORE indifferent to bullying (I’m speaking from experience) and Ritalin would make you less susceptible to it since it’s the weird AD/HD kids that get picked on. (Not that they all are but I certainly was: innatentive, a spazz, completely dopey and not on drugs) I  am sure had I been diagnosed then, my life would be much better now. Whatever. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned >parents >demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic >drugs be >made public. >In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, >teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March >1998 >with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and >ending >with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El >Cajon, >Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on >prescribed mind-altering drugs. >       San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last >week >that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the >shooting >of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been >prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor >intends to >use this medical information as part of his clients defense is >unclear, >though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help >explain his >actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were >prescribed >are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side >effects. >      According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the >University of >California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin >reuptake >inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same >drug >prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >      It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the >drugs >and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information >about >his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there >are >many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those >drugs >may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the >history >of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone >goes off >while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. >Im >starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. >What is >the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public >right to be >safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >      Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the >possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role >in >much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public >the issue >of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The >privacy >of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected >by law. >The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused >perpetrator >is only made public when the information is released by the family, >school >officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and >attorneys. >      And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the >public >only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult >even >to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause >of >otherwise senseless violence. >       In fact, so little information has been made public about these >mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school >violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking >at the >possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged >shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a >spokesman for >the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised >medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These >records are >sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between >psychotropic >drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are >other >priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety >officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >       But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the >U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing >number of >school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to >look >into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last >year >called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The >41-page >report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the >Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators >and >law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school >shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, >mental >health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting >cases were >reviewed for the report. >      Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, >social >problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in >schools and >the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the >report >of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >       Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology >Department at >the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment >conference >last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation >between >psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be >made >public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 >[school >shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an >observation, he said. >      A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of >children >on medication and those not on medication and then making the >comparison. >There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit >violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you >have to >do scientific studies. >       Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue >with that >criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as >suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on >prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, >even when >such information is made available for study, it appears that little >use is >made of it. >      Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration >with the >U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice >last year >produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim >Report on >the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in >October >2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, >educational >and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >     Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as >investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted >supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made >in the >report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has >collected. >Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why >that issue >was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >     Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had >the >opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, >important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was >ignored. This >has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos >public >defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >      Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this >article >expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was >concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are >beginning >to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are >sent >while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >      JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the >Prevention of >School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and >secure, >tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education >community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier >to >drug them into appropriate behavior. >      It is important to recognize that the schools today have >children that >are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We >shouldnt be >too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is >an >important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a >general >sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this >information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and >wants to >know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such >numbers >available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I >think >as long as the information is not individualized it should be >information a >principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to >explain how >the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication >to >control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share >that >information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school >community and >part of the schools fabric. >       The message, concludes McDaniels, is that we need to develop >youngsters without stimulants and other foreign substances. Too often >we

… read more »

Response:

And wont you agree that these reactions are highly atypical and that your stupid doctor should have given you an anti-psychotic instead since you appeared to be psychotic at the time (no offence). You can’t blame inadequate medical services on drugs. I was on Zoloft for two years and short of anihilating my sex-drive (which really wasn’t such a big deal for me) the only effect it had was the one I was seeking (treating anxiety). I live in Canada, I don’t know about HMOs but I have heard horror stories about them. A lot of people take Paxil and benefit from it. While I was hospitalized (I WAS, after a SUICIDE attempt that had nothing to do with drugs, so here goes your "miss knows nothing" theory), I saw a severely depressed man who had tried to shoot himself in the head, turn into a relatively friendly and most definitely non-suicidal mild mannered and even chatty person on 40mg of Paxil. He told me it was working for him and it showed. Maybe I jump to conclusions but you do to.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hello cross-poster. Don’t you find it a strange coincidence that the >correlation could be interpreted the other way around. That is, troubled >kids would be more likely to be on medication in the first place? How does >that sound? >Well miss never been there but knows it all how does this sound? >I was very depressed (not homicidal) so I went to my GP and he >prescribed me Paxil.  Six weeks later I started stalking and having >homicidal fantasies and was truly afraid that I was going to murder a >certain person.  I went back to my GP told him I was not depressed but >was stalking someone and was afraid I was going to murder them.  My GP >responded by doubling my Paxil and said it would take two weeks to >take effect.  Two weeks later I started mutilating my arms with a >safety pin and I became so afraid that I was going to kill that I >begged for a referral to a pdoc.  I was not give one of course since I >go to an HMO so instead  I had myself checked into a hospital (that >really saved the HMO a lot of money).  But in order to get checked in >with my crappy HMO’s blessing I first had to hide in the attic at the >HMO and call the consulting nurse on the phone in the attic and tell >her that I was afraid that I was losing my mind and that I was going >to follow my General Practitioner home.  When I turned my problem into >my Doctor’s problem they suddenly took notice. >It was all caused by the Paxil.  SSRI’s can be very dangerous.  Sure I >had a problem that caused me to start taking a SSRI the problem was >depression but the problem that the SSRI gave me (homicidal fantasies >and self mutilation) were not the problems that I was taking the SSRI >for. > In the past I had taken tricyclics for years at a time with no such >problems.

Response:

I know Elavil is what I ODd on. But I tend to disagree on the psychosis stuff.  I sounds like you had a mixed state which is even more severe than mania and severe depression. Anyway. I don’t want to argue with you about that. I just want you to admit some people do well on SSRI’s. I was not one of them. So far, Wellbutrin seems to be doing the trick but when my doctor increases my dose I get these annoying twitches and several days of insomnia. BTW Kitty and Catherine Hebert are the same person. I just have two browsers that are both fucked up in some way and since I was lazy when I was configuring the second one I just wrote kitty which is my dog’s name and now I can’t change it but remember kitty=Catherine. Not that you would care since you seem to think I’m evil.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->And wont you agree that these reactions are highly atypical and that your >stupid doctor should have given you an anti-psychotic instead since you >appeared to be psychotic at the time >No, I would not agree.  These newspaper articles are pointing out that >violent reactions are not uncommon on SSRI’s and respected psychiatric >journals are now saying that SSRI’s cause people to self injure. >No I was not psychotic at the time.  I do know what psychosis is and >that was not psychosis, that was mania.  Yes people can become >psychotic when manic but I was not psychotic. >I was taken off the paxil and put on Depakote a mood stabilizer. > They are now wondering if patients are safer not taking tri-cyclics. >They like to prescribe SSRI’s over tri-cyclics because it is very easy >to overdose on tri cyclic but not on SSRI’s.  But now that they are >discovering that SSRI’s can cause people to self injury they are >re-thinking the safety issue.

Response:

On top. Got any numbers on this?  I’d like to see the rate of these reactions, not some /post hoc ergo propter hoc/ anecdote. :>And wont you agree that these reactions are highly atypical and that your :>stupid doctor should have given you an anti-psychotic instead since you :>appeared to be psychotic at the time : No, I would not agree.  These newspaper articles are pointing out that : violent reactions are not uncommon on SSRI’s and respected psychiatric : journals are now saying that SSRI’s cause people to self injure. : No I was not psychotic at the time.  I do know what psychosis is and : that was not psychosis, that was mania.  Yes people can become : psychotic when manic but I was not psychotic. : I was taken off the paxil and put on Depakote a mood stabilizer. :  They are now wondering if patients are safer not taking tri-cyclics. : They like to prescribe SSRI’s over tri-cyclics because it is very easy : to overdose on tri cyclic but not on SSRI’s.  But now that they are : discovering that SSRI’s can cause people to self injury they are : re-thinking the safety issue. — Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!   Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 "We need to get away form the idea of curing and into the idea of healing the mind, body, and soul," he declared.  "We need to be able to use, without feeling guilty, all the tools for treating patients, including biofeedback, meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis, relaxation training, homeopathic remedies, and prayer.  We need to come back to the concept that spirituality is probably more important than prescription."  Appropriately, Cox was followed by a massage therapist who, to prove the effectiveness of her treatment, showed an ultrasound picture of a developed fetus ’smiling’ after an in utero massage.           – In Watters & Ofshe (1999) _Therapy’s Delusions_, p32              Cox is Richard Cox, Forest Institute of Professional              Psychology, President of the Graduate School, at the              1997 APsychologicalA Convention.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hey maybe I misread your post, it was so long and it was hard to see your >point but in my humble opinion, the two main reasons for school shootings >are: >1) The wide availlability of guns in your fascist country > Bullshit. Guns are part of American freedom. Its part of our U.S. Constitution. > You know, that same document that gives American citizens those unique rights > of freedom of speech and freedom of the press that most of you overseas dont > really have? Well guns are an integral part of it…goes back to the > revolutionary war when every individual citizen was armed to defend themselves > against all enemies, foreign and domestic. > The real problem is unfortunately morality has declined in this country, > especially in urban or highly populated areas.   This is due to multiple > factors in my personal opinion. Its a combination of things that has > contributed to school shootings. Availability of guns is NOT one of them. If > they didnt have guns, heck they would probably use homemade bombs or who knows > what. Guns dont kill people, people do. It takes a PERSON to pull the > trigger!!!! > Lack of childhood discipline is one of the main reasons in my opinion and this > lies with the parent’s responsibility. > Im for maintaining the current U.S. Constitution. That would mean maintaining > the average individual citizen’s right to own a firearm. I believe in > maintaining maximum freedoms and individual rights in the USA. Just as I think > mentally ill people need more enforcement of their rights and freedoms. > Banning guns in the USA amounts to nothing else but fascism and naziism. Its no > different than the old time practices of housing away the mentally ill and > doing things to them against their will. Its wrong, its against freedom and > individual rights. That is unAmerican. > Your attitude towards guns in America is based upon an emotionalistic > perspective, based heavily upon irrational fear, as well as the fact you are a > female uneducated about firearms. > Every person in the USA, male or female should have basic firearms training in > order to dispel these irrational fears that guns are bad and guns are "evil." > What a crock. >2) Bullies >SSRI’s would make you MORE indifferent to bullying (I’m speaking from >experience) and Ritalin would make you less susceptible to it since it’s the >weird AD/HD kids that get picked on. (Not that they all are but I certainly >was: innatentive, a spazz, completely dopey and not on drugs) I  am sure had >I been diagnosed then, my life would be much better now. Whatever. > The purpose of SSRIs is not to give you artificially inflated self esteem so > you can fight off bullies. SSRIs are used to treat MEDICAL conditions such as > major depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, etc. Giving them out like candy to > every Tom Dick and Harry who complains of "low self esteem" is wrong! There are > other non drug methods of building self esteem in a more solid way that lasts > longterm without drugs. Certain kinds of talk therapy can help increase it. But > what can increase teenage self esteem the most is good old fashioned HARD WORK! > Thats right! Simple hard work increases self esteem in the teenager. When the > teenager works hard in school, in sports, etc. they develop self esteem. And > their teenage peers gradually begin to notice. This develops respect amongst > teens. The reason so many teens have low self esteem is due to the fact many of > them are extremely lazy and underachievers. They do poorly in school. Much of > this is due to lack of parental support and lack of parental discipline. Giving > them psych drugs is NOT the answer! Psych drugs need to be reserved for true > bonified psychiatric illnesses such as major depression, bipolar manic > depression, schizophrenia, etc. > Your views about the school shootings are simple minded and reveal a lack of > insight into basic American tenets of hard work, personal freedoms, individual > rights and responsibilities. Unfortunately the hard work part is not popular > here anymore like it used to be and this is in my opinion the main reason for > the school shootings. > Lack of hard work equals being a loser. Being a loser equals being susceptible > to bullying in school. The solution to the school shootings is NOT to ban guns, > it is to restore the American work ethic in our youth. When youth work hard on > a consistent basis, it is impossible for their self esteem to be all that low. > Eric > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression > FIDO…Fuck It Drive On

Response:

John Travolta, Kirsty Alley, Jenna Elfman, Tom Cruise and his former wife and probably that quack Peter Breggin. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Where can I find a scientologist? > Working in tv, press, news, journalism, popular media. They’ve kind of > targeted those fields. >I keep hearing about these >scientologists but I have never met one.  Do they really exist? > Go to the clambake and find out: > http://www.xenu.net/

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->       Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology >Department atthe University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment >conference last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation >between psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be >made public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 >[school shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an >observation, he said. > Does that give you clue? >     Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as >investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted >supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made >in the report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has >collected. > Does that give you another? >Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why >that issue was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. > Of course not, it’s not relevant. Check your clues. >       That is of course the question, and with 6 million to 8 million >children already taking Ritalin, and unknown millions being prescribed >the much stronger mind-altering SSRIs, many are starting to ask it. > Why don’t you just leave the $cientologist news articles where you > found them? > No one with a clue wants to read any of them anyway. Well, other than > fraud investigators, that is.

YOU DELETED THE "HU-MAN" GROUPS FROM THIS, HAVEN’T YOU – BORG BRAIN? EAT YOUR DRUGZ! MAKE KIDS EAT DRUGZ! ASSHOLE! WAZZAMATTER? DON’T LIKE ANYONE "HURTING" THE SACRED DRUGZ? IF ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING "BAD" ABOUT DRUGZ THEY ARE "SCIENTOLOGISTS!!!!!" And so I say unto you, in the immortal words of Gene Ward Smith: "Fuck your ass with broken glass!" (Copyright 1995 by Gene Ward Smith)

Response:

>"Fuck your ass with broken glass!"

Oh, are you in flight with the other fool? I see you both share the same sorts of sexual fantasies. Have fun with your anuses, boys. they’re they only toys you’ll ever get to play with. Might find you marbles while you’re looking in there too.

Response:

If all kids carried guns to school, bad kids would be afraid to shoot anybody.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned > parents > demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic > drugs be > made public. > In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, > teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March > 1998 > with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and > ending > with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El > Cajon, > Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on > prescribed mind-altering drugs. >        San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last > week > that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the > shooting > of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been > prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor > intends to > use this medical information as part of his clients defense is > unclear, > though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help > explain his > actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were > prescribed > are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side > effects. >       According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the > University of > California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin > reuptake > inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same > drug > prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >       It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the > drugs > and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information > about > his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there > are > many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those > drugs > may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the > history > of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone > goes off > while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. > Im > starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. > What is > the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public > right to be > safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >       Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the > possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role > in > much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public > the issue > of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The > privacy > of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected > by law. > The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused > perpetrator > is only made public when the information is released by the family, > school > officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and > attorneys. >       And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the > public > only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult > even > to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause > of > otherwise senseless violence. >        In fact, so little information has been made public about these > mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school > violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking > at the > possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged > shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a > spokesman for > the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised > medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These > records are > sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between > psychotropic > drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are > other > priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety > officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >        But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the > U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing > number of > school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to > look > into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last > year > called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The > 41-page > report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the > Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators > and > law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school > shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, > mental > health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting > cases were > reviewed for the report. >       Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, > social > problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in > schools and > the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the > report > of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >        Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology > Department at > the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment > conference > last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation > between > psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be > made > public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 > [school > shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an > observation, he said. >       A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of > children > on medication and those not on medication and then making the > comparison. > There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit > violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you > have to > do scientific studies. >        Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue > with that > criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as > suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on > prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, > even when > such information is made available for study, it appears that little > use is > made of it. >       Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration > with the > U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice > last year > produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim > Report on > the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in > October > 2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, > educational > and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >      Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as > investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted > supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made > in the > report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has > collected. > Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why > that issue > was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >      Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had > the > opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, > important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was > ignored. This > has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos > public > defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >       Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this > article > expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was > concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are > beginning > to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are > sent > while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >       JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the > Prevention of > School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and > secure, > tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education > community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier > to > drug them into appropriate behavior. >       It is important to recognize that the schools today have > children that > are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We > shouldnt be > too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is > an > important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a > general > sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this > information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and > wants to > know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such > numbers > available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I > think > as long as the information is not individualized it should be > information a > principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to > explain how > the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication > to > control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share > that > information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school > community and > part of the schools fabric. >        The message, concludes McDaniels, is that we need to develop > youngsters without stimulants and other foreign substances. Too often > we are > opting for a way of treatment that is a lot easier to implement than > sitting > down and working out the problems. This is a public-health issue and > it seems > reasonable to look at it. >        James E. Copple is vice president

… read more »

Response:

:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a : scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will : believe you. My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while ago. — Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!   Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.         – H. L. Mencken

Response:

Aren’t these kids and others who shoot up their workplace or whatever, when they find out they have medications, also find out that they weren’t taking them properly? That is – kid goes off meds for week, whatever, concocts plan to get even with everybody. Guy goes off meds, thinks lithium will kill him and decides to go kill other people instead. That makes more sense to me…. And I’ve read that about one of the fellows who "went postal" once – he decided by himself that his meds weren’t helping him, so he turned into a worse pyschotic… — Kathy

Response:

>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >: believe you. >My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >ago.

I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post.

Response:

:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article

:> :>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a :>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will :>: believe you. :> :>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while :>ago. : I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. Could be.  Could indeed be. — Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!   Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.        - Tacitus, Roman historian, 50-120 A

Response:

Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.         – H. L. Mencken That’s a pretty good quote, I must say. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >: believe you. >My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >ago. >– >Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP! >  Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. >Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 >Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness >to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. >        - H. L. Mencken

Response:

All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a fact.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:> >:>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >:>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >:>: believe you. >:> >:>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >:>ago. >: I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. >Could be.  Could indeed be. >I was confused to, the original article was from insight magazine is >an offshoot of the Washington TIMES…. >So this is a mooney publication now?  Well I guess that is a >refreshing change from being called a scientologist.  This is a >conservative rag, are Mooneys conservative?  I don’t know much about >mooneys they were a little before my time.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:> >:>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >:>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >:>: believe you. >:> >:>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >:>ago. >: I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. >Could be.  Could indeed be. >I was confused to, the original article was from insight magazine is >an offshoot of the Washington TIMES…. >So this is a mooney publication now?  Well I guess that is a >refreshing change from being called a scientologist.  This is a >conservative rag, are Mooneys conservative?  I don’t know much about >mooneys they were a little before my time.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/moon4.html

Response:

: Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness : to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. :         – H. L. Mencken : That’s a pretty good quote, I must say. Thanks.  All the quotes I’ve scarfed up over the years are available publicly at: ftp://ftp.calweb.com/users/j/jmprice/quotes/ Tin, my newsreader, chooses one randomly per post.  At times I think tin has better insight in its selection than I do. — Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!   Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul.  What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning.        - Max Planck

Response:

I filtered you you troll, how can you be back? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Why don’t you just leave the $scientologist news articles where you >found them? >No one with a clue wants to read any of them anyway. Well, other than >fraud investigators, that is. > > Where can I find a scientologist?  I keep hearing about these > scientologists but I have never met one.  Do they really exist?

Response:

Give me until tomorrow, this requires reflection but it does involve a large group of low IQ depressed people who need something to believe in and an oligarchy of rich and/or power-hungry megalomanic leader who will tell them what they want to hear and make lots of money doing it. The catholic church could qualify but they don’t hold their believers on a tight enough leash. Just let me think about it ok and thanks to you I wont sleep. How would you define it? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >fact. >Please define fascist.

Response:

That’s an  easy way out .Words evolve.  I agree people throw the word fascist around a bit much these days I would say that in very general terms, when people use the word fascist TODAY (and not in 1935) they mean totalitarian-ish . You know, words depend on the context in which they are used. You knew perfectly what I meant. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>>All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >>>fact. >>Please define fascist. >Give me until tomorrow, this requires reflection but it does involve a large >group of low IQ depressed people who need something to believe in and an >oligarchy of rich and/or power-hungry megalomanic leader who will tell them >what they want to hear and make lots of money doing it. The catholic church >could qualify but they don’t hold their believers on a tight enough leash. >Just let me think about it ok and thanks to you I wont sleep. How would you >define it? >Fascist: a word that is thrown around so much that it has totally lost >it’s original meaning but is generally considered to be a bad thing. >That’s how I define it. >According to The Random House Dictionary of the English Language >Unabridged Edition 1983 >Fascist n. 1.anyone who believes in or sympathizes with fascism.  2. a >member of a fascist movement or party, esp. in Italy. 3. anyone who is >dictatorial. adj. >(can you believe my dad told me I was wasting my money by buying a >dictionary when I was 19?)

Response:

looking at the wrong browser so all the people I had killfiled were coming back like the plague. I didn’t mean you if it’s the impression I gave you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I filtered you you troll, how can you be back? >> >Why don’t you just leave the $scientologist news articles where you >> >found them? >> >No one with a clue wants to read any of them anyway. Well, other than >> >fraud investigators, that is. >> >> Where can I find a scientologist?  I keep hearing about these >> scientologists but I have never met one.  Do they really exist? >Killfilters don’t work when you are a top poster

Response:

I didn’t mean you, I don’t think you’re a troll BTW – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I filtered you troll, how can you be back? >Sorry, I change my nick everyday because I have several cyberstalkers >from RL who followed me to usenet.

Response:

ABUSING SCUMBAG "Gene Douglas" >If all kids carried guns to school, bad kids would be afraid to shoot >anybody.

WHAT A *STUPID* THING TO SAY… DOUGLAS… I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE, NOR YOUR OTHER UNITARIAN SHIT HEAD CHILD ABUSING SCUMBAG BUDDIES…. > I don’t know about that, kids are too good at controlling their > emotions.  Neither are people with bipolar disorder after their > general practitioners overdose them on Paxil ;)

THE ABOVE SCUMBAG WOULD PROBABLY KNOW ABOUT THAT TOO… HAS A PRIVATE HOSPITAL ROOM WITH INTERENET ACCESS…. ABUSES KIDS AND PARENT’S OF ABUSED KIDS…. HOW HE GET’S OFF ON THEM SHAWNEE…  EVIDENTLY, HIS PARENTS/FAMILY CAN AFFORD IT…

Response:

> Give me until tomorrow, this requires reflection but it does involve a large > group of low IQ depressed people who need something to believe in and an > oligarchy of rich and/or power-hungry megalomanic leader who will tell them > what they want to hear and make lots of money doing it. The catholic church > could qualify but they don’t hold their believers on a tight enough leash. > Just let me think about it ok and thanks to you I wont sleep. How would you > define it?

Simplest would be (ignoring an XYZ chart of various historical personages as "illustrations") would be how AUTHORITARIAN VS LIBERTARIAN. Role of government, economy, Child rearing… etc.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >>fact. >Please define fascist.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>>All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >>>fact. >>Please define fascist. >Give me until tomorrow, this requires reflection but it does involve a large >group of low IQ depressed people who need something to believe in and an >oligarchy of rich and/or power-hungry megalomanic leader who will tell them >what they want to hear and make lots of money doing it. The catholic church >could qualify but they don’t hold their believers on a tight enough leash. >Just let me think about it ok and thanks to you I wont sleep. How would you >define it? > Fascist: a word that is thrown around so much that it has totally lost > it’s original meaning but is generally considered to be a bad thing. > That’s how I define it. > According to The Random House Dictionary of the English Language > Unabridged Edition 1983 > Fascist n. 1.anyone who believes in or sympathizes with fascism.  2. a > member of a fascist movement or party, esp. in Italy. 3. anyone who is > dictatorial. adj. > (can you believe my dad told me I was wasting my money by buying a > dictionary when I was 19?)

Authoritarian fucker… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

> All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a > fact.

Tell that to Reform Jews and Unitarians…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >>:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >>:> >>:>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >>:>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >>:>: believe you. >>:> >>:>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >>:>ago. >>: I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. >>Could be.  Could indeed be. >I was confused to, the original article was from insight magazine is >an offshoot of the Washington TIMES…. >So this is a mooney publication now?  Well I guess that is a >refreshing change from being called a scientologist.  This is a >conservative rag, are Mooneys conservative?  I don’t know much about >mooneys they were a little before my time.

Response:

>http://www.ritalinfraud.com/ >now go stalk and harass them.

A bogus suit where its clone was tossed out of court on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. IOW,the judge almost died laughing.

Response:

>>> All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >> fact. >Tell that to Reform Jews and Unitarians…. >uh oh, I got married in a Unitarian church, does that make me a >fascist?

Unitarians are cool.

Response:

>> >http://www.ritalinfraud.com/ > >now go stalk and harass them. > A bogus suit where its clone was tossed out of court on a motion to > dismiss for failure to state a claim. IOW,the judge almost died > laughing. >Ritalin is speed and as a medical doctor, I refuse to turn innocent little >lovable (and seksy) children into speed addicts.

Sure….you are also quite clueless…

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> >http://www.ritalinfraud.com/ >> >now go stalk and harass them. >> A bogus suit where its clone was tossed out of court on a motion to >> dismiss for failure to state a claim. IOW,the judge almost died >> laughing. >Ritalin is speed and as a medical doctor, I refuse to turn innocent little >lovable (and seksy) children into speed addicts. >Sure….you are also quite clueless…

Clueful enough to know that Ritalin is Bad Medicine and that you’ve knocked up and subsequently murdered Eve Brown and are now fucking and sucking your mentally retarded son Josh. — "You shall not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is an abomination" Leviticus 18:22  "And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall be put to death" Leviticus 20:13 "And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error." Romans 1:27 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, not adulteres, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9,10

Response:

LYING MENTAL CASE, PSYCH. DRUG PUSHER ON KIDS, Mark Probert

>http://www.ritalinfraud.com/ >now go stalk and harass them. > A bogus suit where its clone was tossed out of court on a motion to > dismiss for failure to state a claim. IOW,the judge almost died > laughing.

You have the transcript? OR you just flapping your mentally defective lying tounge? BTW, WAS THAT ALL YOU FOUND ON THAT SITE?? ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM DRUGGING KIDS? EH MENTAL – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

>> All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >> fact. >Tell that to Reform Jews and Unitarians…. > uh oh, I got married in a Unitarian church, does that make me a > fascist?

Got it wrong Shawnie – the above, Reform Jews and Unitarians are most definitely not conservative nor fascist :) Besides, I got married in a Unitarian service …. to Ingrid Eve Runden, MD :) Unitarians, at least the ones I’ve communicated with by e-mail or in one of their groups and others in "real life", are Child abusive.

Response:

>http://www.ritalinfraud.com/ >now go stalk and harass them.

A bogus suit where its clone was tossed out of court on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. IOW,the judge almost died laughing.

Response:

>>> All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >> fact. >Tell that to Reform Jews and Unitarians…. >uh oh, I got married in a Unitarian church, does that make me a >fascist?

Unitarians are cool.

Response:

>> >http://www.ritalinfraud.com/ > >now go stalk and harass them. > A bogus suit where its clone was tossed out of court on a motion to > dismiss for failure to state a claim. IOW,the judge almost died > laughing. >Ritalin is speed and as a medical doctor, I refuse to turn innocent little >lovable (and seksy) children into speed addicts.

Sure….you are also quite clueless…

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> >http://www.ritalinfraud.com/ >> >now go stalk and harass them. >> A bogus suit where its clone was tossed out of court on a motion to >> dismiss for failure to state a claim. IOW,the judge almost died >> laughing. >Ritalin is speed and as a medical doctor, I refuse to turn innocent little >lovable (and seksy) children into speed addicts. >Sure….you are also quite clueless…

Clueful enough to know that Ritalin is Bad Medicine and that you’ve knocked up and subsequently murdered Eve Brown and are now fucking and sucking your mentally retarded son Josh. — "You shall not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is an abomination" Leviticus 18:22  "And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall be put to death" Leviticus 20:13 "And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error." Romans 1:27 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, not adulteres, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9,10

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >: Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness >: to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. >:         – H. L. Mencken >: That’s a pretty good quote, I must say. >Thanks.  All the quotes I’ve scarfed up over the years are available >publicly at: >ftp://ftp.calweb.com/users/j/jmprice/quotes/ >Tin, my newsreader, chooses one randomly per post.  At times I think tin >has better insight in its selection than I do. >– >Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP! >  Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. >Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 >An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually >winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul >becomes Paul.  What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out >and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the >beginning. >       – Max Planck

It’s a bit ironic that both of these quotes appeared on the same page. Planck’s insinuates Mencken’s is sometimes incorrect. Hey, thanks for the ftp quote site!      Zero1

Response:

> All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a > fact.

Tell that to Reform Jews and Unitarians…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >>:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >>:> >>:>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >>:>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >>:>: believe you. >>:> >>:>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >>:>ago. >>: I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. >>Could be.  Could indeed be. >I was confused to, the original article was from insight magazine is >an offshoot of the Washington TIMES…. >So this is a mooney publication now?  Well I guess that is a >refreshing change from being called a scientologist.  This is a >conservative rag, are Mooneys conservative?  I don’t know much about >mooneys they were a little before my time.

Response:

> Give me until tomorrow, this requires reflection but it does involve a large > group of low IQ depressed people who need something to believe in and an > oligarchy of rich and/or power-hungry megalomanic leader who will tell them > what they want to hear and make lots of money doing it. The catholic church > could qualify but they don’t hold their believers on a tight enough leash. > Just let me think about it ok and thanks to you I wont sleep. How would you > define it?

Simplest would be (ignoring an XYZ chart of various historical personages as "illustrations") would be how AUTHORITARIAN VS LIBERTARIAN. Role of government, economy, Child rearing… etc.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >>fact. >Please define fascist.

Response:

looking at the wrong browser so all the people I had killfiled were coming back like the plague. I didn’t mean you if it’s the impression I gave you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I filtered you you troll, how can you be back? >> >Why don’t you just leave the $scientologist news articles where you >> >found them? >> >No one with a clue wants to read any of them anyway. Well, other than >> >fraud investigators, that is. >> >> Where can I find a scientologist?  I keep hearing about these >> scientologists but I have never met one.  Do they really exist? >Killfilters don’t work when you are a top poster

Response:

ABUSING SCUMBAG "Gene Douglas" >If all kids carried guns to school, bad kids would be afraid to shoot >anybody.

WHAT A *STUPID* THING TO SAY… DOUGLAS… I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE, NOR YOUR OTHER UNITARIAN SHIT HEAD CHILD ABUSING SCUMBAG BUDDIES…. > I don’t know about that, kids are too good at controlling their > emotions.  Neither are people with bipolar disorder after their > general practitioners overdose them on Paxil ;)

THE ABOVE SCUMBAG WOULD PROBABLY KNOW ABOUT THAT TOO… HAS A PRIVATE HOSPITAL ROOM WITH INTERENET ACCESS…. ABUSES KIDS AND PARENT’S OF ABUSED KIDS…. HOW HE GET’S OFF ON THEM SHAWNEE…  EVIDENTLY, HIS PARENTS/FAMILY CAN AFFORD IT…

Response:

: Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness : to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. :         – H. L. Mencken : That’s a pretty good quote, I must say. Thanks.  All the quotes I’ve scarfed up over the years are available publicly at: ftp://ftp.calweb.com/users/j/jmprice/quotes/ Tin, my newsreader, chooses one randomly per post.  At times I think tin has better insight in its selection than I do. — Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!   Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul.  What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning.        - Max Planck

Response:

I filtered you you troll, how can you be back? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Why don’t you just leave the $scientologist news articles where you >found them? >No one with a clue wants to read any of them anyway. Well, other than >fraud investigators, that is. > > Where can I find a scientologist?  I keep hearing about these > scientologists but I have never met one.  Do they really exist?

Response:

Give me until tomorrow, this requires reflection but it does involve a large group of low IQ depressed people who need something to believe in and an oligarchy of rich and/or power-hungry megalomanic leader who will tell them what they want to hear and make lots of money doing it. The catholic church could qualify but they don’t hold their believers on a tight enough leash. Just let me think about it ok and thanks to you I wont sleep. How would you define it? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a >fact. >Please define fascist.

Response:

Aren’t these kids and others who shoot up their workplace or whatever, when they find out they have medications, also find out that they weren’t taking them properly? That is – kid goes off meds for week, whatever, concocts plan to get even with everybody. Guy goes off meds, thinks lithium will kill him and decides to go kill other people instead. That makes more sense to me…. And I’ve read that about one of the fellows who "went postal" once – he decided by himself that his meds weren’t helping him, so he turned into a worse pyschotic… — Kathy

Response:

>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >: believe you. >My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >ago.

I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post.

Response:

:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article

:> :>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a :>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will :>: believe you. :> :>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while :>ago. : I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. Could be.  Could indeed be. — Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!   Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.        - Tacitus, Roman historian, 50-120 A

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:> >:>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >:>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >:>: believe you. >:> >:>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >:>ago. >: I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. >Could be.  Could indeed be. >I was confused to, the original article was from insight magazine is >an offshoot of the Washington TIMES…. >So this is a mooney publication now?  Well I guess that is a >refreshing change from being called a scientologist.  This is a >conservative rag, are Mooneys conservative?  I don’t know much about >mooneys they were a little before my time.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/moon4.html

Response:

All fascist groups, including religious sects, are conservative. It’s a fact.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:>In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:> >:>:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >:>: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >:>: believe you. >:> >:>My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >:>ago. >: I believe you are thinking of the Washington Times, not the Post. >Could be.  Could indeed be. >I was confused to, the original article was from insight magazine is >an offshoot of the Washington TIMES…. >So this is a mooney publication now?  Well I guess that is a >refreshing change from being called a scientologist.  This is a >conservative rag, are Mooneys conservative?  I don’t know much about >mooneys they were a little before my time.

Response:

Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.         – H. L. Mencken That’s a pretty good quote, I must say. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In sci.psychology.psychotherapy article >:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a >: scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will >: believe you. >My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while >ago. >– >Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP! >  Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. >Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 >Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness >to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. >        - H. L. Mencken

Response:

:  I want to know exactly why you say that The Washington Post is a : scientologist publication.  Provide convincing evidence and I will : believe you. My recollection is it is a Mooney pub.  At least they owned it a while ago. — Life: Chemistry, but with feeling!      |      PGP Key on request or FTP!   Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion. Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated          Atheist# 683 Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.         – H. L. Mencken

Response:

John Travolta, Kirsty Alley, Jenna Elfman, Tom Cruise and his former wife and probably that quack Peter Breggin. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Where can I find a scientologist? > Working in tv, press, news, journalism, popular media. They’ve kind of > targeted those fields. >I keep hearing about these >scientologists but I have never met one.  Do they really exist? > Go to the clambake and find out: > http://www.xenu.net/

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->       Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology >Department atthe University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment >conference last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation >between psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be >made public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 >[school shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an >observation, he said. > Does that give you clue? >     Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as >investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted >supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made >in the report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has >collected. > Does that give you another? >Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why >that issue was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. > Of course not, it’s not relevant. Check your clues. >       That is of course the question, and with 6 million to 8 million >children already taking Ritalin, and unknown millions being prescribed >the much stronger mind-altering SSRIs, many are starting to ask it. > Why don’t you just leave the $cientologist news articles where you > found them? > No one with a clue wants to read any of them anyway. Well, other than > fraud investigators, that is.

YOU DELETED THE "HU-MAN" GROUPS FROM THIS, HAVEN’T YOU – BORG BRAIN? EAT YOUR DRUGZ! MAKE KIDS EAT DRUGZ! ASSHOLE! WAZZAMATTER? DON’T LIKE ANYONE "HURTING" THE SACRED DRUGZ? IF ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING "BAD" ABOUT DRUGZ THEY ARE "SCIENTOLOGISTS!!!!!" And so I say unto you, in the immortal words of Gene Ward Smith: "Fuck your ass with broken glass!" (Copyright 1995 by Gene Ward Smith)

Response:

>"Fuck your ass with broken glass!"

Oh, are you in flight with the other fool? I see you both share the same sorts of sexual fantasies. Have fun with your anuses, boys. they’re they only toys you’ll ever get to play with. Might find you marbles while you’re looking in there too.

Response:

If all kids carried guns to school, bad kids would be afraid to shoot anybody.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned > parents > demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic > drugs be > made public. > In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, > teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March > 1998 > with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and > ending > with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El > Cajon, > Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on > prescribed mind-altering drugs. >        San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last > week > that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the > shooting > of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been > prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor > intends to > use this medical information as part of his clients defense is > unclear, > though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help > explain his > actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were > prescribed > are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side > effects. >       According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the > University of > California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin > reuptake > inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same > drug > prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >       It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the > drugs > and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information > about > his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there > are > many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those > drugs > may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the > history > of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone > goes off > while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. > Im > starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. > What is > the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public > right to be > safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >       Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the > possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role > in > much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public > the issue > of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The > privacy > of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected > by law. > The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused > perpetrator > is only made public when the information is released by the family, > school > officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and > attorneys. >       And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the > public > only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult > even > to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause > of > otherwise senseless violence. >        In fact, so little information has been made public about these > mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school > violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking > at the > possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged > shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a > spokesman for > the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised > medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These > records are > sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between > psychotropic > drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are > other > priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety > officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >        But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the > U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing > number of > school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to > look > into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last > year > called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The > 41-page > report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the > Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators > and > law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school > shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, > mental > health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting > cases were > reviewed for the report. >       Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, > social > problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in > schools and > the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the > report > of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >        Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology > Department at > the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment > conference > last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation > between > psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be > made > public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 > [school > shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an > observation, he said. >       A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of > children > on medication and those not on medication and then making the > comparison. > There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit > violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you > have to > do scientific studies. >        Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue > with that > criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as > suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on > prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, > even when > such information is made available for study, it appears that little > use is > made of it. >       Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration > with the > U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice > last year > produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim > Report on > the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in > October > 2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, > educational > and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >      Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as > investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted > supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made > in the > report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has > collected. > Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why > that issue > was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >      Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had > the > opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, > important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was > ignored. This > has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos > public > defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >       Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this > article > expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was > concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are > beginning > to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are > sent > while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >       JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the > Prevention of > School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and > secure, > tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education > community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier > to > drug them into appropriate behavior. >       It is important to recognize that the schools today have > children that > are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We > shouldnt be > too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is > an > important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a > general > sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this > information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and > wants to > know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such > numbers > available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I > think > as long as the information is not individualized it should be > information a > principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to > explain how > the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication > to > control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share > that > information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school > community and > part of the schools fabric. >        The message, concludes McDaniels, is that we need to develop > youngsters without stimulants and other foreign substances. Too often > we are > opting for a way of treatment that is a lot easier to implement than > sitting > down and working out the problems. This is a public-health issue and > it seems > reasonable to look at it. >        James E. Copple is vice president

… read more »

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hey maybe I misread your post, it was so long and it was hard to see your >point but in my humble opinion, the two main reasons for school shootings >are: >1) The wide availlability of guns in your fascist country > Bullshit. Guns are part of American freedom. Its part of our U.S. Constitution. > You know, that same document that gives American citizens those unique rights > of freedom of speech and freedom of the press that most of you overseas dont > really have? Well guns are an integral part of it…goes back to the > revolutionary war when every individual citizen was armed to defend themselves > against all enemies, foreign and domestic. > The real problem is unfortunately morality has declined in this country, > especially in urban or highly populated areas.   This is due to multiple > factors in my personal opinion. Its a combination of things that has > contributed to school shootings. Availability of guns is NOT one of them. If > they didnt have guns, heck they would probably use homemade bombs or who knows > what. Guns dont kill people, people do. It takes a PERSON to pull the > trigger!!!! > Lack of childhood discipline is one of the main reasons in my opinion and this > lies with the parent’s responsibility. > Im for maintaining the current U.S. Constitution. That would mean maintaining > the average individual citizen’s right to own a firearm. I believe in > maintaining maximum freedoms and individual rights in the USA. Just as I think > mentally ill people need more enforcement of their rights and freedoms. > Banning guns in the USA amounts to nothing else but fascism and naziism. Its no > different than the old time practices of housing away the mentally ill and > doing things to them against their will. Its wrong, its against freedom and > individual rights. That is unAmerican. > Your attitude towards guns in America is based upon an emotionalistic > perspective, based heavily upon irrational fear, as well as the fact you are a > female uneducated about firearms. > Every person in the USA, male or female should have basic firearms training in > order to dispel these irrational fears that guns are bad and guns are "evil." > What a crock. >2) Bullies >SSRI’s would make you MORE indifferent to bullying (I’m speaking from >experience) and Ritalin would make you less susceptible to it since it’s the >weird AD/HD kids that get picked on. (Not that they all are but I certainly >was: innatentive, a spazz, completely dopey and not on drugs) I  am sure had >I been diagnosed then, my life would be much better now. Whatever. > The purpose of SSRIs is not to give you artificially inflated self esteem so > you can fight off bullies. SSRIs are used to treat MEDICAL conditions such as > major depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, etc. Giving them out like candy to > every Tom Dick and Harry who complains of "low self esteem" is wrong! There are > other non drug methods of building self esteem in a more solid way that lasts > longterm without drugs. Certain kinds of talk therapy can help increase it. But > what can increase teenage self esteem the most is good old fashioned HARD WORK! > Thats right! Simple hard work increases self esteem in the teenager. When the > teenager works hard in school, in sports, etc. they develop self esteem. And > their teenage peers gradually begin to notice. This develops respect amongst > teens. The reason so many teens have low self esteem is due to the fact many of > them are extremely lazy and underachievers. They do poorly in school. Much of > this is due to lack of parental support and lack of parental discipline. Giving > them psych drugs is NOT the answer! Psych drugs need to be reserved for true > bonified psychiatric illnesses such as major depression, bipolar manic > depression, schizophrenia, etc. > Your views about the school shootings are simple minded and reveal a lack of > insight into basic American tenets of hard work, personal freedoms, individual > rights and responsibilities. Unfortunately the hard work part is not popular > here anymore like it used to be and this is in my opinion the main reason for > the school shootings. > Lack of hard work equals being a loser. Being a loser equals being susceptible > to bullying in school. The solution to the school shootings is NOT to ban guns, > it is to restore the American work ethic in our youth. When youth work hard on > a consistent basis, it is impossible for their self esteem to be all that low. > Eric > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression > FIDO…Fuck It Drive On

Response:

Hey maybe I misread your post, it was so long and it was hard to see your point but in my humble opinion, the two main reasons for school shootings are: 1) The wide availlability of guns in your fascist country 2) Bullies SSRI’s would make you MORE indifferent to bullying (I’m speaking from experience) and Ritalin would make you less susceptible to it since it’s the weird AD/HD kids that get picked on. (Not that they all are but I certainly was: innatentive, a spazz, completely dopey and not on drugs) I  am sure had I been diagnosed then, my life would be much better now. Whatever. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned >parents >demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic >drugs be >made public. >In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, >teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March >1998 >with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and >ending >with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El >Cajon, >Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on >prescribed mind-altering drugs. >       San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last >week >that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the >shooting >of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been >prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor >intends to >use this medical information as part of his clients defense is >unclear, >though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help >explain his >actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were >prescribed >are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side >effects. >      According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the >University of >California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin >reuptake >inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same >drug >prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >      It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the >drugs >and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information >about >his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there >are >many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those >drugs >may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the >history >of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone >goes off >while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. >Im >starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. >What is >the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public >right to be >safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >      Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the >possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role >in >much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public >the issue >of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The >privacy >of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected >by law. >The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused >perpetrator >is only made public when the information is released by the family, >school >officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and >attorneys. >      And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the >public >only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult >even >to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause >of >otherwise senseless violence. >       In fact, so little information has been made public about these >mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school >violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking >at the >possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged >shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a >spokesman for >the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised >medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These >records are >sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between >psychotropic >drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are >other >priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety >officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >       But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the >U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing >number of >school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to >look >into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last >year >called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The >41-page >report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the >Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators >and >law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school >shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, >mental >health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting >cases were >reviewed for the report. >      Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, >social >problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in >schools and >the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the >report >of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >       Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology >Department at >the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment >conference >last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation >between >psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be >made >public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 >[school >shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an >observation, he said. >      A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of >children >on medication and those not on medication and then making the >comparison. >There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit >violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you >have to >do scientific studies. >       Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue >with that >criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as >suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on >prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, >even when >such information is made available for study, it appears that little >use is >made of it. >      Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration >with the >U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice >last year >produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim >Report on >the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in >October >2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, >educational >and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >     Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as >investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted >supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made >in the >report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has >collected. >Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why >that issue >was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >     Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had >the >opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, >important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was >ignored. This >has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos >public >defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >      Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this >article >expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was >concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are >beginning >to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are >sent >while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >      JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the >Prevention of >School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and >secure, >tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education >community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier >to >drug them into appropriate behavior. >      It is important to recognize that the schools today have >children that >are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We >shouldnt be >too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is >an >important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a >general >sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this >information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and >wants to >know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such >numbers >available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I >think >as long as the information is not individualized it should be >information a >principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to >explain how >the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication >to >control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share >that >information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school >community and >part of the schools fabric. >       The message, concludes McDaniels, is that we need to develop >youngsters without stimulants and other foreign substances. Too often >we

… read more »

Response:

Hello cross-poster. Don’t you find it a strange coincidence that the correlation could be interpreted the other way around. That is, troubled kids would be more likely to be on medication in the first place? How does that sound? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned >parents >demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic >drugs be >made public. >In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, >teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March >1998 >with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and >ending >with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El >Cajon, >Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on >prescribed mind-altering drugs. >       San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last >week >that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the >shooting >of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been >prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor >intends to >use this medical information as part of his clients defense is >unclear, >though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help >explain his >actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were >prescribed >are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side >effects. >      According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the >University of >California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin >reuptake >inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same >drug >prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >      It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the >drugs >and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information >about >his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there >are >many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those >drugs >may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the >history >of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone >goes off >while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. >Im >starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. >What is >the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public >right to be >safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >      Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the >possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role >in >much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public >the issue >of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The >privacy >of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected >by law. >The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused >perpetrator >is only made public when the information is released by the family, >school >officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and >attorneys. >      And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the >public >only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult >even >to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause >of >otherwise senseless violence. >       In fact, so little information has been made public about these >mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school >violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking >at the >possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged >shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a >spokesman for >the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised >medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These >records are >sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between >psychotropic >drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are >other >priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety >officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >       But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the >U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing >number of >school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to >look >into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last >year >called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The >41-page >report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the >Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators >and >law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school >shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, >mental >health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting >cases were >reviewed for the report. >      Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, >social >problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in >schools and >the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the >report >of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >       Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology >Department at >the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment >conference >last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation >between >psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be >made >public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 >[school >shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an >observation, he said. >      A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of >children >on medication and those not on medication and then making the >comparison. >There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit >violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you >have to >do scientific studies. >       Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue >with that >criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as >suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on >prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, >even when >such information is made available for study, it appears that little >use is >made of it. >      Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration >with the >U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice >last year >produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim >Report on >the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in >October >2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, >educational >and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >     Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as >investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted >supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made >in the >report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has >collected. >Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why >that issue >was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >     Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had >the >opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, >important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was >ignored. This >has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos >public >defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >      Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this >article >expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was >concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are >beginning >to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are >sent >while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >      JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the >Prevention of >School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and >secure, >tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education >community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier >to >drug them into appropriate behavior. >      It is important to recognize that the schools today have >children that >are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We >shouldnt be >too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is >an >important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a >general >sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this >information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and >wants to >know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such >numbers >available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I >think >as long as the information is not individualized it should be >information a >principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to >explain how >the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication >to >control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share >that >information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school >community and >part of the schools fabric. >       The message, concludes McDaniels, is that we need to develop >youngsters without stimulants and other foreign substances. Too often >we are >opting for a way of treatment that is a lot easier to implement than >sitting >down and working out the problems. This is a public-health issue and >it seems >reasonable to look at it. >       James E. Copple is vice president of the National Crime >Prevention >Council, a nonprofit organization that focuses on creating safer >communities >by addressing

… read more »

Response:

Question:

Good article. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned > parents > demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic > drugs be > made public. > In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, > teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March > 1998 > with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and > ending > with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El > Cajon, > Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on > prescribed mind-altering drugs. >        San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last > week > that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the > shooting > of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been > prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor > intends to > use this medical information as part of his clients defense is > unclear, > though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help > explain his > actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were > prescribed > are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side > effects. >       According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the > University of > California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin > reuptake > inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same > drug > prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >       It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the > drugs > and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information > about > his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there > are > many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those > drugs > may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the > history > of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone > goes off > while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. > Im > starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. > What is > the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public > right to be > safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >       Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the > possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role > in > much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public > the issue > of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The > privacy > of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected > by law. > The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused > perpetrator > is only made public when the information is released by the family, > school > officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and > attorneys. >       And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the > public > only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult > even > to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause > of > otherwise senseless violence. >        In fact, so little information has been made public about these > mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school > violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking > at the > possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged > shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a > spokesman for > the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised > medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These > records are > sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between > psychotropic > drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are > other > priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety > officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >        But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the > U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing > number of > school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to > look > into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last > year > called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The > 41-page > report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the > Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators > and > law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school > shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, > mental > health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting > cases were > reviewed for the report. >       Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, > social > problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in > schools and > the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the > report > of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >        Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology > Department at > the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment > conference > last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation > between > psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be > made > public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 > [school > shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an > observation, he said. >       A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of > children > on medication and those not on medication and then making the > comparison. > There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit > violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you > have to > do scientific studies. >        Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue > with that > criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as > suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on > prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, > even when > such information is made available for study, it appears that little > use is > made of it. >       Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration > with the > U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice > last year > produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim > Report on > the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in > October > 2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, > educational > and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >      Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as > investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted > supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made > in the > report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has > collected. > Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why > that issue > was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >      Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had > the > opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, > important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was > ignored. This > has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos > public > defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >       Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this > article > expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was > concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are > beginning > to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are > sent > while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >       JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the > Prevention of > School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and > secure, > tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education > community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier > to > drug them into appropriate behavior. >       It is important to recognize that the schools today have > children that > are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We > shouldnt be > too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is > an > important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a > general > sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this > information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and > wants to > know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such > numbers > available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I > think > as long as the information is not individualized it should be > information a > principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to > explain how > the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication > to > control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share > that > information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school

… read more »

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The recent wave of school-shooting incidents has some concerned > parents > demanding that the medical records of students taking psychotropic > drugs be > made public. > In the last 10 shooting incidents at schools, a total of 105 students, > teachers and administrators were killed or wounded. Beginning in March > 1998 > with the shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and > ending > with the March 22, 2001, shootings at Granite Hills High School in El > Cajon, > Calif., six of the 12 juvenile shooters are reported to have been on > prescribed mind-altering drugs. >        San Diego Deputy Public Defender William Trainor announced last > week > that his client, 18-year-old Jason Hoffman, who is charged with the > shooting > of five students and teachers at Granite Hills High School, had been > prescribed the antidepressants Celexa and Effexor. Whether Trainor > intends to > use this medical information as part of his clients defense is > unclear, > though he said that the drugs [Hoffman] was prescribed may help > explain his > actions. He adds that research indicates that the drugs that were > prescribed > are extremely powerful antidepressants with the most dangerous side > effects. >       According to Loren Mosher, professor of psychiatry at the > University of > California at San Diego, Celexa and Effexor are selective serotonin > reuptake > inhibitors [SSRIs] in a class with Prozac, Paxil and Luvox  the same > drug > prescribed to Columbine shooter Eric Harris. >       It appears Trainor believes there is a correlation between the > drugs > and the shootings. Although he could not provide specific information > about > his client, he tells Insight that this is a hot-button issue and there > are > many people who dont want to look at the connection. If you say those > drugs > may be involved, says Trainor, youll be labeled a kook. But with the > history > of these drugs there is a huge unpredictability factor. When someone > goes off > while on these drugs it should raise some eyebrows in the community. > Im > starting to wonder when the public has the right to this information. > What is > the balance of rights? Its his medical rec-ords versus the public > right to be > safe. Which one has the trump card? It is a legitimate question. >       Although Trainor is not the only public official to consider the > possibility that widely prescribed mind-altering drugs may play a role > in > much-publicized school violence, he is among the few to make public > the issue > of medical records generally being protected and put off-limits. The > privacy > of medical records, including mental-health information, is protected > by law. > The information about the prescription-drug history of an accused > perpetrator > is only made public when the information is released by the family, > school > officials, friends and, sometimes, law-enforcement officers and > attorneys. >       And, of course, such information seems to be of interest to the > public > only in the wave of concern after a violent event, making it difficult > even > to consider whether prescribed psychotropic drugs are a chronic cause > of > otherwise senseless violence. >        In fact, so little information has been made public about these > mind-altering drugs and their connection to shootings and other school > violence that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isnt even looking > at the > possibility. When asked about a communitys right to know if an alleged > shooter has been prescribed a psychotropic drug, Reagan Dunn, a > spokesman for > the DOJ, tells Insight: There are two issues that youve raised > medical-record privacy and criminal records of juveniles. These > records are > sealed by statute in all states. It [the connection between > psychotropic > drugs and school shooters] isnt an issue were looking at  there are > other > priorities were focusing on, such as school-resource officers [safety > officers] and other programs to reduce school violence. >        But two other federal law-enforcement agencies, the FBI and the > U.S. Secret Service, appear to be concerned about the increasing > number of > school shootings and have invested a great deal of time and effort to > look > into the possible reasons for them. The FBI published a report last > year > called The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective. The > 41-page > report was the result of a joint effort by the National Center for the > Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and teachers, school administrators > and > law-enforcement officers involved in investigating each of the school > shootings. They were assisted by experts in adolescent violence, > mental > health, suicidology and school dynamics. Eighteen school-shooting > cases were > reviewed for the report. >       Although topics such as family relationships, school dynamics, > social > problems, personality traits and behavior, threat management in > schools and > the role of law enforcement are discussed, there is no mention in the > report > of increased prescription-drug use by juveniles. >        Dewey Carroll of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology > Department at > the University of Virginia participated in a threat-assessment > conference > last year during which he was asked if, based on the correlation > between > psychotropic drugs and the school shooters, this information should be > made > public. Carroll argued that there was no correlation. Six out of 12 > [school > shooters] being on psychotropic drugs is not a correlation, it is an > observation, he said. >       A correlation, explained Carroll, would be taking a sample of > children > on medication and those not on medication and then making the > comparison. > There are a lot of kids who take these medications who do not commit > violence. If you want to look at people that have risk factors, you > have to > do scientific studies. >        Few professionals who are familiar with the data would argue > with that > criticism, but one may question how such a study can be conducted, as > suggested by Carroll, if the information about whether a student is on > prescribed mind-altering drugs is regarded as a state secret. And, > even when > such information is made available for study, it appears that little > use is > made of it. >       Take, for instance, the Secret Service, which in collaboration > with the > U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Justice > last year > produced a report on how to prevent school violence. The Interim > Report on > the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools was made public in > October > 2000, involving systematic analysis of investigative, judicial, > educational > and other files and interviews with 10 school shooters. >      Although researchers reviewed primary-source materials such as > investigative, school, court and mental-health records and conducted > supplemental interviews with 10 of the attackers, no mention was made > in the > report about prescription medications of the kind that Insight has > collected. > Nor did the Secret Service respond to Insights questions about why > that issue > was not addressed at the conference or made part of the report. >      Despite the fact that two federal law-enforcement agencies had > the > opportunity to view the personal files of many of the school shooters, > important medical data gleaned from those files apparently was > ignored. This > has caused many interested in this issue to wonder, like San Diegos > public > defender, when the public has the right to know such information. >       Not surprisingly, while every professional interviewed for this > article > expressed concern about the privacy rights of children, there also was > concern about the use of mind-altering prescription drugs. Most are > beginning > to wonder at what point communities into which disturbed children are > sent > while on psychotropic drugs should be alerted to a potential problem. >       JoAnne McDaniels, acting director for the Center for the > Prevention of > School Violence, an organization focusing on keeping schools safe and > secure, > tells Insight, There is concern on the part of some in the education > community that we are overmedicating our youngsters  that it is easier > to > drug them into appropriate behavior. >       It is important to recognize that the schools today have > children that > are being medicated in ways that children were not years ago. We > shouldnt be > too quick to isolate psychotropic drugs as a causal factor, but it is > an > important factor in trying to understand what is taking place. In a > general > sense, in a school population, parents should be able to see this > information, McDaniels says. If a parent moves to a community and > wants to > know the numbers of children who are on these drugs, making such > numbers > available would not necessarily violate confidentiality of children. I > think > as long as the information is not individualized it should be > information a > principal is comfortable providing. It may force the principal to > explain how > the school handles the entire violence issue and the use of medication > to > control behavior in the school. Its reasonable for a school to share > that > information and a parent to ask for it. Its part of the school > community and > part of the schools fabric. >        The message, concludes McDaniels, is that we need to develop > youngsters without stimulants and other foreign substances. Too often > we are > opting for a way of treatment that is a lot easier to implement than > sitting > down and working out the problems. This is a public-health issue and > it seems > reasonable to look at it. >        James E. Copple is vice president of the National Crime > Prevention > Council, a nonprofit organization that

… read more »

Response:

Question:

effexor worked better for me than anything else I’ve tried. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I just got effexor xr today I have depression and anxiety. Does anyone > take this and how is working out . Helping, side affects and so on. > Thank you for any info.

Response:

> I started effexor about a week and a half ago – 75 mlg (is that right? — well > 75 somethings)  I’m feeling some improvement – but Don’t seem to sleep very

Some BrooksObservations I started effexor XR about 4-5 years ago, and it helped me out the longest (maybe not the best, but it didn’t poop out like SSRIs did). Then I moved out of state about 2.5 years ago, ran out of it, and didn’t notice any side effects, and I was probably less depressed than ever. Then the ‘ol depression started creeping up on me about 6 mos ago, so I went back on effexor (non-XR) which made me very nausous (sp?), but I guess it helped with the black-hole depression. I switched p-docs due to an insurance change with my employer, and he got me back on the good ‘ol XR version. It doesn’t make me 100%, but certainly keeps me from going too far down. THIS round, however, I notice SEVERE effects if I miss a dose or two. Feels like lightning in every vein and artery in my body, I get all amped up like I’m on a mega-dose of ritalin or d-amphetamine, start getting psychotic symptoms.. Wierd. What’s especially wierd, is that I get all amped up – you’d think if the NE-reuptake-blockage was wearing off, that I would get tired, but instead I get wired. ? I don’t know what has changed in my wee brain that allowed me to stray from my doses 3-4 years ago with no problems, but now can’t miss a single one without starting to get agitated. Ahhh, yeah. I don’t know if that answered any of your questions, but it might help you or someone else anyway. FWIW, I’m taking a single 150mg XR capsule in the am. Brooks

Response:

I found effexor to be very flattening.  I didn’t want to do anything.   I just got effexor xr today I have depression and anxiety. Does anyone   take this and how is working out . Helping, side affects and so on.   Thank you for any info.

Response:

I started effexor about a week and a half ago – 75 mlg (is that right? — well 75 somethings)  I’m feeling some improvement – but Don’t seem to sleep very well.  Id be interested in the experience of others on this drug – I was changed to this because Celexa I was on – stopped working.  thanks James

Response:

I just went thru my first 24 hours on effexor and was unable to sleep yet. Hope this won’t last long ,I’m tired but very calm which is a nice feeling. I was previously on paxil which did not help at all and the side effects never went away. So far I would say this drug looks good to me. Thanks for your responses they are appreciated.  

Response:

Hi Rob (& others), I’ve often used Paxil for short periods of minor depression. It’s supposed to be working against anxiety as well. Beside the sexual side effects it worked fine for me until I used it for a longer period of time. At first I felt really new, free of anxiety, as the way you describe your feelings now. Then, unfortunatly, it drove me into a manic episode (never expeirienced before) and psychosis. It took me more then a year in mental hospital to overcome this and the following major, deep depression. After that period it’s getting better, slowly. I had a lot of AD’s combined with a mood stabilizer. I’ve noticed that people with depression caused by or combined with (social) anxiety seem to be sensitive for a manic reaction on meds, especially Paxil. So, as I said, it’s getting better, slowly. I never felt that good anymore as on the Paxil though. I didn’t try the Effexor XR though, It sounds as a good med, but you can  understand my caution with trying new med’s. Does anyone know Effexor XR may cause mania? hoping for some answers, Eric MD. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I found Effexor XR to be quite effective, although my original dosage had to > be increased to combat some anxiety. > I responded really quickly; within 2 weeks, and I literally woke up a > different person. > I think that the key is to ride the wave of well-being that you’ll > experience when it finally kicks in. > After feeling like a new, better, faster, smarter person, that sensation > kind of wavered (probably because I was off of work on a disability plan… > and just sat around my apartment with little to do and few friends), and was > then supplemented with Welbutrin. > I’d say: take it… wait for it to kick in, and then explode out of your > shell.  If you’re anything like me, you would be relatively withdrawn prior > to having taken the meds. > Side effects were minimal, but I was pulled off of Paxil and put directly on > the Effexor, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. > Hope this helps. > Rob > I just got effexor xr today I have depression and anxiety. Does anyone > take this and how is working out . Helping, side affects and so on. > Thank you for any info.

Response:

I would agree.  Effexor is a great AD.  It took about 3 weeks for it to start working with me, but when it did it made me feel totally different from my previous state of mind.  Stay with it. John

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I found Effexor XR to be quite effective, although my original dosage had to > be increased to combat some anxiety. > I responded really quickly; within 2 weeks, and I literally woke up a > different person. > I think that the key is to ride the wave of well-being that you’ll > experience when it finally kicks in. > After feeling like a new, better, faster, smarter person, that sensation > kind of wavered (probably because I was off of work on a disability plan… > and just sat around my apartment with little to do and few friends), and was > then supplemented with Welbutrin. > I’d say: take it… wait for it to kick in, and then explode out of your > shell.  If you’re anything like me, you would be relatively withdrawn prior > to having taken the meds. > Side effects were minimal, but I was pulled off of Paxil and put directly on > the Effexor, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. > Hope this helps. > Rob > I just got effexor xr today I have depression and anxiety. Does anyone > take this and how is working out . Helping, side affects and so on. > Thank you for any info.

Response:

I just got effexor xr today I have depression and anxiety. Does anyone take this and how is working out . Helping, side affects and so on. Thank you for any info.

Response:

I found Effexor XR to be quite effective, although my original dosage had to be increased to combat some anxiety. I responded really quickly; within 2 weeks, and I literally woke up a different person. I think that the key is to ride the wave of well-being that you’ll experience when it finally kicks in. After feeling like a new, better, faster, smarter person, that sensation kind of wavered (probably because I was off of work on a disability plan… and just sat around my apartment with little to do and few friends), and was then supplemented with Welbutrin. I’d say: take it… wait for it to kick in, and then explode out of your shell.  If you’re anything like me, you would be relatively withdrawn prior to having taken the meds. Side effects were minimal, but I was pulled off of Paxil and put directly on the Effexor, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. Hope this helps. Rob

I just got effexor xr today I have depression and anxiety. Does anyone take this and how is working out . Helping, side affects and so on. Thank you for any info.

Response:

>any one taking this med ?

Yes. >if so has it helped you?  

Definitely. It seems (subjectively) to have a steadier blood level than the straight Effexor. Before, I’d note sometimes that the Effexor (non-XR) was starting to wear off between doses (kind of a strange sensation), but not with the XR version. — IMPORTANT: Remove the edible part of the E-mail address before replying.

Response:

any one taking this med ? if so has it helped you?   thanks for your input

Response:

I have been taking effexor for 1.25 years now, gradually working my way off of it.  I am bipolar 1 and have had only manic episodes until 3.5 years ago when I had three major stresses at the same time (coming out of hospital after manic episode, husband announcing divorce, and doctoral comprehensive exams) within 7 days.  Suddenly I plunged into my first depression.  After 2 years of unremitting depression I confronted my pdoc, and he agreed to try an antidepressant.  We had tried everything short of an antidepressant, because my manias are acute (very sudden), severe (psychotic for long periods) and destructive ($, relationships, etc.) Effexor was his best guess as the safest bet, because its short half-life (3 days) meant that if it precipitated mania we could get it out of my system quickly.  We started with very low dose and took 6 months to work up to therapeutic dosage. Excruciatingly slow when you can’t work, go to school, pay bills etc.  And as we built up to the therapeutic dosage it didn’t help me at all.  But once we got into the therapeutic range it was like someone hit a light switch, and suddenly my life began to return to me. -Gandalf There is a silence where hath been no sound There is a silence where no sound may be In the cold grave, under the deep deep sea. Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

Response:

Question:

Anybody tried sibutramine (Meridia, the so-called weight loss drug) as an antidepressant? How did it fare in comparison to other ADs (Effexor and Effexor XR in particular)? I heard some peculiar claims about it recently, is why I was asking. -elizabeth

Response:

 > Meridia doesnt specifically increase neurotransmitters in the  > brain like ADs do. Rather they increase them everywhere  > in the body Not so, all ADs do whatever they do everywhere in the body.  For example, platelets (in blood) have a serotonin transporter, and all of the SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin into platelets.  In fact, platelets are often used in the lab to measure things involving the serotonin transporter. Meridia

Question:

Hi all…  I have been on the oxycontin (30mgs 3xday) for over a week now. They seem to be doing ok with the pain.. doc has given me a duragestic patch (50mg) to try tomorrow (while hubby is home) so will give that a shot. Previously, i had been on 25 mg of Zoloft to help sleep.  The doc upped it to 50 and gave me 75 mgs of effexor to up the seretonin..  when on them, i had NO sex drive or sensation at all so i immediately stopped the effexor and went back down to the 25 mgs of zoloft at nite because i had never had a problem like this with that dosage.  The oxy is not letting me sleep tho and am not sure what to do.  I am now wondering if the oxy is also causing the sexual side effects?? i don’t like that at all…  am wondering what else could work without those side effects..  any ideas?? has anyone tried this patch? it has fentanyl i guess… am curious as to what to expect…  thanks for any information! Donna in NH

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi all…  I have been on the oxycontin (30mgs 3xday) for over a week now. > They seem to be doing ok with the pain.. doc has given me a duragestic patch > (50mg) to try tomorrow (while hubby is home) so will give that a shot. > Previously, i had been on 25 mg of Zoloft to help sleep.  The doc upped it to > 50 and gave me 75 mgs of effexor to up the seretonin..  when on them, i had NO > sex drive or sensation at all so i immediately stopped the effexor and went > back down to the 25 mgs of zoloft at nite because i had never had a problem > like this with that dosage.  The oxy is not letting me sleep tho and am not > sure what to do.  I am now wondering if the oxy is also causing the sexual side > effects?? i don’t like that at all…  am wondering what else could work > without those side effects..  any ideas?? has anyone tried this patch? it has > fentanyl i guess… am curious as to what to expect…  thanks for any > information!

Donna, I am a male, but the Oxy caused me a lack of sex drive .. went off of it, and I was A-OK!  :) Now on Methadone and sex drive is good! Skippy

Response:

You mentioned that you were/are on Effexor or Zoloft? These drugs are known to cause sexual side effects such as no libido, so I would think it’s these medications causing that. Even small doses of meds like Zoloft can cause the libido to decrease. I have heard of Oxycontin causing lower sexual drive though in some people. I guess you just have to experiment to see what is causing it. >doc has given me a duragestic patch >(50mg) to try tomorrow (while hubby is home) so will give that a shot.

The patch is 50mcg or 50ug/hr..not 50mg :) Now, will you be taking the Oxycontin WITH the patch? I would think that you would be trying the patch without the Oxycontin to see  how it works for you. Good luck with it! Nikki "… lost in the darkness of my own circumstance, criticizing echoes leaving me awake in the night… the barrier and blockades that keep me safe and in control while I pretend that I am okay… "

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Donna: This has been discussed many times before and many different responses have emerged. I am on Oxy and MS-C currently.  I was prescribed Celexa to "boost" the effectiveness of the opioids, but I frequently forget to take it. I am on moderate doses of Oxy and MS-C. I had posted on here about my loss of sex drive about 6 months ago.  I pointed out that the equipment worked but the mental side was not really there. Well, had some first-hand experience with all this recently.  [NO, that is not a pun or referring to a solitary activity for all you sex crazed minded folks (:o)  ] Met a wonderful woman on a trip to Iceland last month.  We hit it off and…..well, it got really physical.  All equipment was working fine for me and I was able to perform multiple times each night.  NO ejaculation problems.  NO erection problems. Just for the record, I am 41, suffer from fibro, and have been on long term opioid therapy for about 4 years. My personal feeling is that the SSRIs are the culprit.  Why do I say this?  Well, in 1997, I was with another woman who I eventually became engaged to.  I had a tremendous problem with an inability to ejaculate.  While it was great for long intercourse, after awhile both individuals begin to ache.  For the first time in my life, I actually began to fake orgasm (I was using a condom so it made it harder for the woman to detect).  At that time, I was on Zoloft (100 mg).  This relationship eventually ended, not due to the sex, however. Now last month, I had no problems with erection or ejaculation.  And I was NOT TAKING the Celexa (20mg when I take it). I’ve told my doctors about my intermittent use of Celexa and they don’t seem concerned.  I am not clinically depressed so that is not an issue.  And my docs have said that Celexa is a SSRI that acts much faster than the others (I remember with Zoloft the effects normally took 2 weeks to kick in; with the Celexa, it seems like 3 days). It sounds like we are having similar experiences…..you cut back on the effexor and the zoloft and the sex problems went away.  In my case, I was switched to Celexa and was not taking it last month. There are, however, numerous sexual problems that opioids can cause, so I don’t mean to say there is NO effect.  I’m just saying in my case, the opioids did not impede my sexual ability over a 10 day period. – Jon  (:o)}<: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi all…  I have been on the oxycontin (30mgs 3xday) for over a week now. >They seem to be doing ok with the pain.. doc has given me a duragestic patch >(50mg) to try tomorrow (while hubby is home) so will give that a shot. >Previously, i had been on 25 mg of Zoloft to help sleep.  The doc upped it to >50 and gave me 75 mgs of effexor to up the seretonin..  when on them, i had NO >sex drive or sensation at all so i immediately stopped the effexor and went >back down to the 25 mgs of zoloft at nite because i had never had a problem >like this with that dosage.  The oxy is not letting me sleep tho and am not >sure what to do.  I am now wondering if the oxy is also causing the sexual side >effects?? i don’t like that at all…  am wondering what else could work >without those side effects..  any ideas?? has anyone tried this patch? it has >fentanyl i guess… am curious as to what to expect…  thanks for any >information! >Donna in NH

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I forget the exact name of it, but there is a medical diagnosis of SSRI (class of antidepressants that include Prozac, Zoloft, etc.) Induced Sexual Dysfunction.  It’s very real and been documented & studied.  Unfortunately, no good answers.  Many people try Wellbutrin instead (myself included), which is a different class of anti-depressant (and has been well discussed in this ng) or the older anti-depressants or a combo. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Donna: >This has been discussed many times before and many different responses >have emerged. >I am on Oxy and MS-C currently.  I was prescribed Celexa to "boost" >the effectiveness of the opioids, but I frequently forget to take it. >I am on moderate doses of Oxy and MS-C. >I had posted on here about my loss of sex drive about 6 months ago.  I >pointed out that the equipment worked but the mental side was not >really there. >Well, had some first-hand experience with all this recently.  [NO, >that is not a pun or referring to a solitary activity for all you sex >crazed minded folks (:o)  ] >Met a wonderful woman on a trip to Iceland last month.  We hit it off >and…..well, it got really physical.  All equipment was working fine >for me and I was able to perform multiple times each night.  NO >ejaculation problems.  NO erection problems. >Just for the record, I am 41, suffer from fibro, and have been on long >term opioid therapy for about 4 years. >My personal feeling is that the SSRIs are the culprit.  Why do I say >this?  Well, in 1997, I was with another woman who I eventually became >engaged to.  I had a tremendous problem with an inability to >ejaculate.  While it was great for long intercourse, after awhile both >individuals begin to ache.  For the first time in my life, I actually >began to fake orgasm (I was using a condom so it made it harder for >the woman to detect).  At that time, I was on Zoloft (100 mg).  This >relationship eventually ended, not due to the sex, however. >Now last month, I had no problems with erection or ejaculation.  And I >was NOT TAKING the Celexa (20mg when I take it). >I’ve told my doctors about my intermittent use of Celexa and they >don’t seem concerned.  I am not clinically depressed so that is not an >issue.  And my docs have said that Celexa is a SSRI that acts much >faster than the others (I remember with Zoloft the effects normally >took 2 weeks to kick in; with the Celexa, it seems like 3 days). >It sounds like we are having similar experiences…..you cut back on >the effexor and the zoloft and the sex problems went away.  In my >case, I was switched to Celexa and was not taking it last month. >There are, however, numerous sexual problems that opioids can cause, >so I don’t mean to say there is NO effect.  I’m just saying in my >case, the opioids did not impede my sexual ability over a 10 day >period. >- Jon  (:o)}<:

Debbie Life is a test. It is only a test. If this were real life, we would have been given better instructions.

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