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[rxreformer]

Black Box Drugs: Would Your Doctor Take These?

Presented by ConsumerSafety.org

Please be aware that this fact sheet is for reference only. It is not to be published in its current form, but rather used to provide evidence and resources for an original article. Should you be interested in a guest post on the subject matter, please contact Cal Cook at ccook@consumersafety.org for more information.

A “black box” warning is a boxed warning on a prescription drug label that it can have serious side effects. This is the most severe type of warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to prescription drug retailer Walgreen’s, this warning is only used “when there is reasonable evidence of an association of a serious hazard with the drug.” There are black box warnings for some of the most common drugs in various categories: __________________________________________

Pradaxa (Blood Clots)

Pradaxa is an anticoagulant that helps prevent the formation of blood clots. In patients over 75, there is a statistically significant trend toward internal bleeding when taking this drug. Its mechanism of action involves blocking a natural enzyme called “thrombin” which causes blood to clot.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Increases stroke + cardiovascular event risk when discontinued before completing course •  Increases epidural + spinal hematoma (swelling of clotted blood within body tissue)

Source: https://online.epocrates.com/u/10b5941/Pradaxa/Black+Box+Warnings

Adderall (ADHD)

Adderall is a stimulant, amphetamine drug usually used to treat ADHD but is also frequently used recreationally by college students and other young adults for its effects on concentration/focus.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Addictive/likely to be abused •  Increased risk of sudden death and cardiovascular events

Source: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/011522s040lbl.pdf

Xanax (Anxiety)

Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug used for anxiety. It can also be used to manage phobic behaviors and specific conditions like social anxiety. It’s a sedative. Xanax should never be used in patients with a history of drug abuse, due to its addictive potential. The drug is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Taking Xanax along with opioids may cause sedation and respiratory disorders •  It should only be taken along with other opioid drugs if absolutely necessary and all other options covered •  Minimum dosage is recommended •  Patient needs to be monitored for sedation while taking Xanax

Source: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/018276s052lbl.pdf

Ciprofloxacin (Bacterial Infection)

Cipro is a member of a class of antibiotics called “fluoroquinolones.” This class of drugs stop bacteria from reproducing by altering their DNA replication pathway. Cipro is used to treat bacterial infections of all different types like chronic bronchitis, infectious diarrhea, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and more. Cipro is not recommended in the pediatric (under 18 years) population due to adverse reactions compared to controls.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Increases potential for inflammatory conditions like tendinitis •  Increases potential to develop nervous system damage resulting in neuropathy or negative central nervous system (CNS) effects

Sources: https://www.rxlist.com/cipro-drug.htm https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2005/019537s057,020780s019lbl.pdf

Levothyroxine (Hypothyroidism)

Hypothyroidism is a disease commonly caused by autoimmune issues or radiation therapy. Levothyroxine has the same molecular structure as the hormone thyroxine, which the body produces. Thyroxine, or “T4” as it’s commonly known, is secreted by the thyroid gland and regulates activity of various organs in the body. Levothyroxine is taken in pill form to treat hypothyroidism, a condition that’s diagnosed by low levels of circulating thyroid hormone.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Consumers taking this drug off-label for weight loss may be at increased risk for a variety of ailments •  High doses may cause toxicity

Source: https://online.epocrates.com/u/10b43/levothyroxine/Black+Box+Warnings

Vicodin (Pain relief)

Vicodin is a synthetic drug formed by combining acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) and hydrocodone, which is an extremely powerful opioid. It’s commonly prescribed for pain relief after surgery, and even after less serious surgery like wisdom teeth removal.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Highly addictive •  Increased risk of respiratory depression •  Risk of fatalities from accidental consumption (especially in unaccompanied minors) •  Risk to fetus if taken during pregnancy •  Significantly increased risk of liver damage/failure

Source: https://online.epocrates.com/u/10b1391/Vicodin/Black+Box+Warnings

Zoloft (Depression) Zoloft is an antidepressant in the category of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by blocking the uptake of serotonin in the brain, increasing circulating levels.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Increased risk of suicide in several demographics (children, adolescents, young adults)

Source: https://online.epocrates.com/u/10b1444/Zoloft/Black+Box+Warnings

Atenolol (High Blood Pressure) Atenolol is a beta blocker drug. It works by blocking the release of epinephrine and other stimulatory chemicals in the body that raise blood pressure. Patients must avoid drinking alcohol when on atenolol and discontinue use after major surgery. Blood pressure needs to be monitored when using the drug.

Why It’s Black Boxed •  Patients who discontinue use of atenolol abruptly are likely to get increased angina (chest pain) and arrhythmias

Source: https://online.epocrates.com/drugs/15011/atenolol/Black-Box-Warnings

What to Do If You’re Concerned •   Use the FDA Access Data site to search the drugs you currently take for black box and other warnings. •  Use the Pubmed resource to search through clinical trial and other experimental data relating to drugs you’re taking. If you find something alarming, consider discussing it with your doctor. •  Talk with your pharmacist for second opinion. They are just as knowledgeable as your doctor about drug safety and interactions, and a pharmacist is often willing to spend more time to discuss the drug at length.

Things to Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist •  Can you explain what the medical terminology means on this label? •  Why do the benefits outweigh the risks in my specific case? •  What are my alternative options if I have a bad reaction to this drug? •  Does your practice allow drug representatives to pitch their products (which can often lead to bias)?

How to Report an Adverse Drug Interaction •  Detail your experience electronically on the FDA Medwatch site •  Mail the incident report to the FDA by printing and filling out their Report Form •  Call the FDA directly at 1-800-FDA-1088 and report the incident

The post Black Box Drugs: Would Your Doctor Take These? appeared first on Gwen Olsen.

[rxreformer]

Are Psychiatric Drugs Contributing to Mass Murder?

Nineteen year old Nickolas Cruz will go down in history as the heinous, young gunman who slaughtered seventeen of his former classmates and wounded numerous others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He will be remembered as the boy whose mayhem sparked one of the most vocal and vicious national debates ever, polarizing left-wing, gun activists and conservative, Second Amendment rights advocates. The result has been an unprecedented level of free-speech censorship across numerous social media platforms.

However, those of us who have studied the common denominator of such violence and mass murder, will be left shaking our heads, wondering how the most important issue needing to be catapulted into the national spotlight can, once again, be swept under the rug, becoming a mere footnote of this horrible event.

What exactly is that common denominator? It is the psychiatric drugs that are associated with dozens of mass murderers, and the well-documented tendency of these drugs to exacerbate violence and homicidal ideation in vulnerable populations, such as young adults and children.

Nickolas Cruz may have been a perpetrator of death and violence, but in many ways he was also a victim. He was the victim of a society that has discarded its communal responsibility for the welfare of our children; A victim of adults, too busy or too ignorant, to spot the warning signs of psychiatric drug effects; A victim of social services, too burdened and overwhelmed to follow or monitor children who are products of a broken system; A victim of federal law enforcement’s negligence in sharing pertinent information with local authorities needed to protect its citizens.

Nickolas and his younger brother, Zachary, were adopted very early in life by an older couple, Lynda and Roger Cruz. The boys shared the same biological mother but had different fathers. Roger Cruz died when Nickolas was only six years old, leaving Lynda, a single mom, to care for the boys on her own. After Lynda Cruz passed away from pneumonia November 1, 2017, the Cruz brothers were placed with a family in Palm Beach County. Reportedly unhappy in their new location, around Thanksgiving they moved in with the family of a friend in Pompano Beach.

Barbara Kumbatovich, the boys’ aunt, told Newsday Lynda was a good, devoted mother to her boys. However, Nickolas had a penchant for getting into trouble, and was no stranger to local law enforcement. Broward County police, and even the FBI, had been contacted by several parties reporting Nickolas’ activities. In fact, records indicate deputies had visited the Cruz home on more than 39 occasions in a span of seven years. Kubatovich also said Lynda Cruz had expressed concern that her boys were “not receiving the right treatment.”

Furthermore, the Sun Sentinel reported that Lynda “told investigators [Nickolas] had been diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He was being treated for depression, had a behavioral disorder and had been taking medication for ADHD, the report said.”

Exactly what treatment(s) Nickolas Cruz was receiving for his co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses remains yet to be uncovered. According to CDC datasets, fewer than half of the children diagnosed with ADHD receive any form of psychological services. More likely, the standard pharmacologic treatment for these disorders would have included amphetamine-like stimulants, antidepressants and/or antipsychotic drugs.

All three of these psychotropic drug categories contain some kind of black box warnings in their labels, which is the strongest alert that can be required by the FDA. All of these drug categories have disturbing psychiatric side effect profiles, including psychosis, suicide and homicidal ideation. Granted, homicidality is less prominent than suicidality in the data collected thus far, and, therefore, listed less often in prescribing information than associated traits like mania, psychosis, hallucinations, altered mental state, aggression, uncharacteristic violence, and self-harm.

Police sources quoted by ABC, said Cruz said he heard “demon voices” instructing him to carry out the massacre. This auditory hallucination phenomenon is not unique to Cruz. Numerous shooters in recent years have reported hearing voices in their head before committing their crimes: the Ft. Lauderdale Airport shooter (Esteban Santiago), the Aurora theater shooter (James Holmes), the Washington Naval Yard shooter (Aaron Alexis), the Florida State University shooter (Myron May), the Antioch TN church shooter (Emanuel Samson); even the Boston bombing suspect (Tamerlan Tsarnaev) feared voices in his head.

Conversely, APA past president, Renee Binder, M.D. recently summarized several studies that suggest serious mental illness is not a specific indicator for risk of violence. Binder notes that such studies have found that people with mental illness are three times more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violence. Which leaves one to question, if psychotropic drugs were not responsible, what else do all of these mass shooters have in common that could account for this violent predisposition?

Amid the finger pointing at mental illness and guns, and the character assassination of Nickolas Cruz, the covert culprits will take refuge in their corporate ivory towers virtually unscathed by negative publicity. As such, they will be free to continue pushing their dangerous but legal, mind-altering drugs on the most vulnerable among us—our children!

Resources

1. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

2. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6517e1.htm?s_cid=mm6517e1_w

3. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/011522s040lbl.pdf

4.http://www.drugenquirer.com/side_effects/methylphenidate/ritalin.html

5. https://crclips.com/lib/2006/03/21/adhd-psychosis-debate/

6. https://www.cchrint.org/florida-school-shooter-timeline/

7. https://www.davidwolfe.com/florida-school-shooter-medication/

8.http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-school-shooting-cruz-20180214-story.html

9. https://heavy.com/news/2018/02/zachary-cruz-nikolas-cruz-brother-rocxanne-deschamps-roxanne/

10. https://nypost.com/2018/02/16/deputies-called-to-suspected-shooters-home-39-times-over-seven-years/

11. http://alert.psychnews.org/2018/02/blaming-mass-shootings-on-serious.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PsychiatricNewsAlert+%28Psychiatric+News+Alert%29

12. https://www.quora.com/What-psychiatric-drugs-can-cause-homicidal-ideation

The post Are Psychiatric Drugs Contributing to Mass Murder? appeared first on Gwen Olsen.

[rxreformer]

A Pharma Insider’s Rant: Think for Yourself…It’s Not a Crime, Yet!

The debate is heating up about how badly we have been deceived regarding vaccines and other pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, statin drugs, opiod painkillers and chemotherapy. Every day I see more articles and videos scrambling to explain away the inconvenient truths that are slowly seeping into mainstream consciousness.

One recent AARP article declared that Baby Boomers are defying medical directives and refusing to get their shots and take their medication, further lamenting that the cost to society via the healthcare system will be astronomical. Oh my! Will anarchy ensue because Grandma won’t swallow her bitter pills? Or, could the real concern of the medical mafia be that the Baby Boomer generation is the last to critically think for themselves, and not wince at the thought of questioning authority?

The logic and numbers don’t add up, people. The data doesn’t support the advertising. The dead bodies of friends, family and acquaintances keep piling up! Are we the only ones who regularly take notice, or use our experiential knowledge to question what’s happening with deductive reasoning? It will be the “walking wounded” that bankrupt the country–the hundreds of thousands disabled by drugs and addiction–who will crash the system, NOT the defiant, unvaccinated Baby Boomers!

Authority figures cajole us into submission. News pundits shame us into silence. Online trolls harass and annoy us. Neighbors imply we are “crazy conspiracy theorists.” But the truth is, WE ARE ON TO SOMETHING. We have lived long enough now to know that things didn’t use to be this way; especially those of us who have a history in health care.

We still remember when flu shots weren’t recommended for pregnant women and children because of the associated risks. In fact, they were discouraged! We grew up when parents were instructed that part of developing a healthy immune system meant being exposed to childhood illnesses, such a measles, chicken pox and seasonal flu strains. We only got 3 vaccinations as children–not 79!

We remember the direct-to-consumer advertising of cigarettes and alcohol on TV, endorsed by doctors, just like drugs are today. And, we have witnessed the fall out from lifetimes of cigarette smoking and heavy drinking ever since. We were there in the early 70’s when the War on Drugs was launched to teach us the evils of marijuana use. But we have yet to bury even one of our friends or icons, who has died directly from using pot. We cannot say the same for prescription drugs!

Two recently released, CDC-sponsored studies found evidence that vaccinated children have more health problems than unvaccinated children. Moreover, among unvaccinated premature infants, no link to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) was found. However, a significant link between vaccinations and NDD was detected, regardless of whether the child was premature or full-term. Also, the combination of preterm birth with vaccination was associated with a 660 percent increased odds of NDD, suggesting a synergistic effect. But in the same breath of reporting this news, some medical correspondent cow tow’s to Pharma’s meme stating, “there is no causal effect”. Are you kidding me? How can anyone dismiss this data, even if there is only a minute chance that it has potentially uncovered something important? I assume they weren’t concerned either when the CDC whistleblower, Dr. William Thompson, admitted that researchers had omitted data from publication suggesting that African American males given the MMR vaccine before 36 months, were at an increased risk of developing autism. No causal effect…How smug!

Then, there are the psychiatric drugging statistics. I won’t even mention the numbers in the general population. Let’s just talk about kids. Over one million children in the U.S., under the age of six, are on mind-altering psychiatric drugs. Incredibly, over 250,000 of these kids aren’t even one year old. The most popular psych meds are anti-anxiety agents such as Xanax, Valium and Ativan. Over 227,100 babies, and nearly 248,00 toddlers aged 4-5, take these toxic, addictive anxiolytics. If you are not outraged, then you aren’t paying attention! Psychiatric drugs are linked to suicide, mania, psychosis, homicidal ideation, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and sudden death. Still, the numbers keep rising year-to-year of both users and victims.

The number one cause of accidental death, in the U.S., is now overdose. Opiod addiction is at an all time high. There is even a re-surgence of heroin use, more problematic than at any point in history. Why? Because people who get addicted to prescription painkillers are left to find new sources and cheaper products, when their “white coat dealers” stop supplying their needs.

If I sound jaded and perturbed, you’re damn right I am. In fact, I’m feeling quite “compissionate” (compassionate and pissed off) today that parents aren’t making it their priority to protect their children from these profiteering corporations! I should be preparing to retire and spend my days putzing around in the garden and walking my dogs. I shouldn’t have to spend countless hours on social media and email trying to support thousands of people with shattered lives, who have bought into this blatant deception. I shouldn’t have to traverse the globe to address audiences via media, in the hope that someone who needs the information will hear me on TV or radio. I shouldn’t have to try to convince people they have been lied to, only to be attacked by intellectual zombies, who literally regurgitate paid programming, rather than facts uncovered by their own due diligence!

I can clearly see the writing on the wall. This is all coming to a head soon. Talk of mandatory vaccinations, in both adults and children, is on the table. Technology that tracks prescription drug use, in the body, will be used to determine patient compliance. Will you be the voice in the wilderness that calls out to reason? Or, will you be one of the minions of deceit, afraid to rock the boat and make waves that might contradict your superior’s narrative? Either way, you will not be watching from the sidelines for long. If you don’t speak up and educate yourself, and as many other people as you possibly can, soon you will lose the ability to make any healthcare choices at all! Remember, it isn’t a crime to think for yourself, at least, not yet.

  RESOURCES

AARP Publication, August-September, 2017, Boomers Skipping Vaccinations

Joe Mercola M.D.

Mike Adams, NaturalNews.com

Health Impact News

WebMD.com

[rxreformer]

Why I Left the Country and Home that I Love: Insights from an American Health Activist

People always ask me… “Why did you move to Costa Rica? Were you a TI (targeted individual) in the U.S.? Were you escaping/running for your life?”

The truth is I should probably answer “yes” to both of the latter questions, as my family’s health was deteriorating from the heavily fluoridated water supply, the grid pattern of chemtrails seen daily over our house, the GMO food supply, the “Round Up” contaminating yards and fields all around, the electromagnetic pollution emitted by WiFi and cell towers everywhere…etc. However, I usually sugar-coat my answer by saying that my husband retired for health reasons, my son loves the ocean and nature, and that I wanted to embrace a simpler and more relaxed lifestyle. After all, these things are also true.

But if I really dig deep down into the essence of my being for a response to the first question, it would be that I was “called” to come here. I don’t know how or why, but I do know that eventually, the purpose will be revealed to me in the end. It always is. And, I know that because I answered that call, I will be alright.

The journey of my work as a psychiatric drug survivor and Pharma whistleblower has been a remarkable one. Through this work, I have discovered my personal truth which is, I am a magnificent spiritual being here having a human experience. Moreover, I am the creator of that experience. Most psychiatric survivors don’t sit well with that idea. How or why on earth would they “choose” or “create” such malevolence and trauma in their lives? Surely, this was perpetrated upon them by evil forces and profiteering corporations without a human conscience? Indeed! That is, in truth, a part of it. Again, there are multiple truths.

That perspective is just a limited myopic view of the bigger truth: the person who chooses/creates this experience is a true spiritual warrior. They have been initiated by subjecting themselves to the most sacred of sacrifices in order to walk the path of the wounded healer, otherwise known as the hero’s journey. It is a life drama when played out that will separate the wheat from the chaff and only the strong will survive. It is only when we can take our power back that we begin to heal and then, to thrive. We must first acknowledge our own humanity, and then fully embrace our divinity, in order to find salvation on this path.

For years I have resisted working with individuals one-on-one. Survivors can be difficult for me to deal with. The situation is much too close to my heart, and I am too empathetic to detach myself emotionally. So, I have insisted on being on the front lines of this battle leading the charge, in the media, testifying before Congress and the FDA, speaking to large audiences, appearing on TV and in documentaries, rather than tending to the wounded in the trenches. I can take the ugly attacks online and in person by the ignorant public masses. What I could not endure was to be attacked by the very people I was trying to help and represent!

Moving to Costa Rica has now coaxed me back into the trenches. Unable to legally work here, I have been forced to earn a living via the internet as a health coach. Since I don’t sell anything other that a paperback book, I am limited in my retail income opportunities. Logically, I have attracted a clientele of psychiatric survivors who are attempting to recover their health and alleviate their symptoms.

So, as I sit here introspecting, surrounded by the jungle, with the knowledge I have garnered in over 57 years of life, 18 years of formal education, 20 years of employment with Pharma and the natural foods industry, and over 10 years as a researcher, writer and health activist, it all comes down to this: I have been called to serve humanity, and the human race is comprised of individuals. No one is better or more special than another. We are all one family. We must be willing as individuals to heal ourselves. Then, when we are able, we must use love, compassion and knowledge to help others. It begins with self-empowerment and taking responsibility for your spirit, mind and body temple. You are the steward of your lighthouse. It is you who must guide yourself home!

Foremost, we must not be attached to our persona, or the image we have of ourselves in relation to others. If life has taught me anything, it is that this self image morphs and radically changes with time.

Be willing to meet yourself where you are at present with compassion. Forgive any past transgressions by self or others. Beating yourself up doesn’t serve anyone. And, picking a fight with your fellow man may leave you bloody and bruised. As trite as you may think it sounds, we must learn to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

When we focus on the blessings in our lives they expand. Our perspective is based on our belief systems, and it is necessary to change our minds before we can change our physical realities. After all, one doesn’t change a bad movie by throwing rocks at the screen. You simply change the channel, and switch to another program!

I may not know exactly why I moved to Costa Rica for awhile. Yet, I am at peace knowing that as long as I embrace the adventure by following my inner compass, and care for myself and others, I will be just fine. I am loved and supported. When that occasional fear does rear its ugly head, I just remember my ultimate truth: that which is in me is greater than that which is of this world, and someday, it will lead me home.

Gwen Olsen, is the author of Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher, an inspirational speaker, health coach and activist who lives in a permaculture community in Costa Rica. If you would like to change your mind, renew your health, rejuvenate spiritually, book a health coaching session today by contacting her here

Footnotes:

Wounded healer is a term created by psychologist Carl Jung. The idea states that an analyst is compelled to treat patients because the analyst himself is “wounded”. The idea may have Greek mythology origins. Research has shown that 73.9% of counselors and psychotherapists have experienced one or more wounding experiences leading to their career choice.

As an example, of the “wounded healer phenomenon” between an analyst and his/her analyzed:

The analyst is consciously aware of his own personal wounds. These wounds may be activated in certain situations especially if the analyzed wounds are similar to his own.[1]

The analyzed wounds affect the wounds of the analyst. The analyst either consciously or unconsciously passes this awareness back to his analyzed, causing an unconscious relationship to take place between analyst and analyzed.[2]

The Hero’s Journey is an archetypal story pattern, common in ancient myths as well as modern day adventures. The concept of the Hero’s Journey was described by mythologist Joseph Campbell in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces and refined by Christopher Vogler in his book The Writer’s Journey. It can be boiled down to three stages:

Departure: the Hero leaves the familiar world behind.

Initiation: the Hero learns to navigate the unfamiliar world of adventure.

Return: the Hero returns to the familiar world.

Separating the wheat from the chaff — In the process of winnowing, as it has been carried on in the East for thousands of years, the grain is tossed into the air so that the wind may cause a separation of chaff and straw. The light husks from the wheat and fine particles of straw are dispersed by the wind in the form of a fine dust; the heavier straw which has been broken into short pieces by the threshing process falls near at hand on the edge of the threshing-floor, while the grain falls back upon the pile… This straw is ordinarily saved and fed as “roughage” to the animals. It could easily be gathered and burned, as indicated in [many Biblical] verses, while the chaff is blown away beyond recovery, a strong figure to depict complete annihilation.

JAMES A. Patch, Bible Dictionary from BibleStudiesTools.com, Public Domain

[rxreformer]

Gwen Olsen - RX Refomer

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