Beverley Thomson

Author-"Antidepressed" A breakthrough examination of epidemic antidepressant harm and dependence

[Beverley Thomson @Antidepressed1]

“I wasn’t going to taper people off anymore. I was giving people a guarantee I could taper them safely and it really wasn’t true”. Dr Stuart Shipko.
https://t.co/sh3YwyIFtl

The 40 year history of SSRI antidepressants is littered with false marketing. This includes the unproven chemical imbalance theory, promoting drugs for unapproved uses and hiding clinical data showing ineffectiveness and suicidality. All these were used to help grow what is now a £15 billion
worldwide market.

Today it is all about “getting off” your drugs. A new SSRI market has emerged with a growing band of experts who claim to specialise in helping people “come off them safely”. But is hyperbolic SSRI tapering the latest in false SSRI marketing? Do the experts really have the scientific evidence to prove their “safety” claims or is it potentially another theoretical big money mental health industry?

This is a movement built on a hypothesis with “safely” this, “functional’ that, “coaches’” and “experts” all profiting under the guise of their work being “scientific” and “evidence-based”. They might have some evidence but it doesn’t mean it is very good.

During recent discussions on X regarding late onset withdrawal symptoms, I was somewhat intrigued to read the experts tying themselves in knots trying to explain the mechanism of action causing these late onset
symptoms. None of the experts deny late onset symptoms can occur, so how can they claim to be able to safely withdraw people if they cannot guarantee late onset withdrawal might occur? What percentage of their customers have serious problems with late onset withdrawal symptoms even akathisia? Does the expert’s responsibility end when they receive their final payment or with the last nanogram of drug hyperbolically taken by their client?

The experts will say that most people have no problems withdrawing from SSRIs because they taper slowly. Shouts of “Yes, keep going!! I was the same and I promise it does get better!” can be heard from the profiteering sidelines. They market their hyperbolic procedures as “safe” and you could argue that it is the most safe strategy for tapering, but there are still significant elements that are unsafe. The tapering “industry”claim
hyperbolic tapering is the answer to toxicity but no one knows whether the brain or Central Nervous System will heal or the extent of the damage caused by the drugs. It is perhaps fraudulent to claim otherwise. The damage done by the drugs is poorly understood and many people can’t stop or will be crippled by the attempt. It can be a long, painful and expensive process. People can be in a limbo state that lasts for years.

Where is the actual evidence patients neurologically damaged by taking psychotropic drugs will heal? The hyperbolic taper hypothesis was constructed before any applicable research had been done. Some people thankfully do heal but many will not. For some, after long term exposure, tapering to achieve total withdrawal can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

There are more questions than answers. I am the first to acknowledge that people deserve and need help but are they simply players in the next commercial chapter and exploitative experiment of the iatrogenically harmed? They might pay by the month and taper over countless years? It is definitely not for everyone and there should be no guarantees. Some people thankfully do heal but many will not. The burgeoning industry in taking people off SSRI drugs is sometimes helpful and sometimes dangerous.
The best outcome is if this results in greater awareness and prevents people from taking the drugs in the first place. The safest course of action is not to prescribe in the first instance.

As a wise medic recently told me, “Since Freud, mental health is where con men go to start a movement.” There are many lessons we can learn from the past.


[Harriet Vogt @harriet48293]

‘Once Aftab's premises are accepted, critics no longer need to explain why they reject psychiatric concepts; rather, psychiatry must explain why it should continue to exercise medical authority in the absence of the foundations that once justified that authority.’
Great piece, J.

[Prof. Peter C Gøtzsche @PGtzsche1]

The insanity of psychiatry is limitless. When Zachary Miron suddenly died at age 15 after combining a single Red Bull with ADHD medication, his father, many school organizations, and others wanted the Quebec government to restrict teenagers' access to energy drinks. https://t.co/7QqJS71D8y. They focus on the wrong target. You don’t die from a cup of coffee, but ADHD drugs can kill you.

[Dr Sanjoy Kumar @drsanjoykumar]

Dear Nick Timothy MP, we the families of victims have fought for justice ever since the Nottingham attacks where we lost our dear ones.
My life has certainly been on hold since I lost my beloved daughter.
I kindly ask for your help in bringing as many of your colleague members of parliament to support our quest to seek fair justice and get answers.
As the shadow secretary of state for justice & shadow lord chancellor you can help us with the momentum required for our fight for fair justice and answers with the DPP.
We really appreciate the help you have provided with your letter to the DPP. @NJ_Timothy @MoJGovUK @ShabanaMahmood @Fhamiltontimes @Alison1mackITV @EmilyMayTV @BBCNews @bbclaurak @SophyRidgeSky @nottslive @sophieraworth @10DowningStreet @jamesmurray_ldn @wesstreeting @KemiBadenoch @MPIainDS

[Dr Sanjoy Kumar @drsanjoykumar]

Huge scale of UK's mental health-related killings exposed in Nottingham Inquiry https://t.co/nTVzgQm9oT
An underestimate by a country mile Josh. @JoshHartley_
So much uncounted harm….
Is the organisation fit for real purpose?

[Dr Sanjoy Kumar @drsanjoykumar]

Much to come about conduct of psychiatrists at Nottingham. Let’s start by a consultant recognising that they are in charge of a patient and not AMHPs. If you have this ignorant dillusion swap salaries with your AMHP

[Alyne Duthie @DuthieAlyne]

Psychiatry isn't ready to hear about severe, long-lasting withdrawal symptoms, or about enduring sexual dysfunction. Anyone within psychiatry who departs from the narrative can suffer dire consequences to their career progression.
"Independence has lost its way." Charles Medawar

[Alyne Duthie @DuthieAlyne]

https://t.co/HkxhWvsEun
The author of this article describes antidepressant withdrawal as "a trapdoor opening to plunge me into a bottomless pit of despair" - a situation that many patients have to endure for month after month with no end in sight. No wonder some don't make it.

[Emma @MrsEmmaWebber]

Well done Josh and @nottslive
Another great piece on hugely significant findings. 👏
⬇️
Huge scale of UK's mental health-related killings exposed in Nottingham Inquiry https://t.co/K7EvdnO4O3

[sami timimi @stimimi]

We continue to expose our young to dangerous and ineffective psychiatric drugs. A stain on my profession and medicine in general https://t.co/mKaYfmVFtN

[Dr Sanjoy Kumar @drsanjoykumar]

James I would like to take the term ‘world class’ out of the horizon scanning aspiration of the NHS. Let’s just be fit for our country and our people.
Let’s just get psychiatrists who get paid a wage to do their jobs. Let’s get hem to be accountable for patients they manage who are known to do harm to others.
Let’s get them to use legislation we have already properly and make no excuses. Let’s hold them accountable when they don’t. Let’s make a start from the Nottingham Inquiry got a list who didn’t do their job….thank you. @jamesmurray_ldn @wesstreeting @EmilyMayTV @bbclaurak @BBCNews @itvnews @Channel4News

[Alyne Duthie @DuthieAlyne]

Patients were turning to antidepressant support groups even in the pre-internet era. Prozac Support Groups existed in the 1990s. A Dutch group, founded by Frank van Meerdank, existed in the mid-90s. The 2000s saw the founding of Paxil Progress (2004), and the SA forum (2011).

[Emma @MrsEmmaWebber]

❗️My direct response to Dr Manjeet Shermar and the Nottingham University Hospital CEO and Board.

Following conclusion of your investigation into staff breaches and misconduct we will insist upon the following.

For ALL 150 staff who accessed Barney’s records.
1. What role did they hold.
2. What exactly did they look at.
3. When did they look at it.
4. Why did they access it.
5. The time and date of access.
6. What action they took after access (with records of relevant).
ADDITIONALLY (for staff who have faced any action).
7. What action was taken.
8. How was the decision made.
9. What was the outcome.
10. What other bodies have they been referred to.

You state the panel hearings will be complete within a couple of weeks.
Please ensure this information as stated is made available in full to our legal team no later than 31st July.

#nottinghaminquiry 💚💛

[davidtuller @davidtuller1]

I wrote a letter to a journal asking for a correction to a categorical statement about functional neurological symptoms. An FND expert demanded I apologize to the journal and the authors. I responded. Here's our exchange. https://t.co/uwFYMctoQA

[Chinook Justice @ChinookJustice]

A reminder of all the associations backing our calls for a new review.

https://t.co/xrj2vcI4rG

[Chinook Justice @ChinookJustice]

https://t.co/USMvL3HKtc

[Alyne Duthie @DuthieAlyne]

@JDaviesPhD @Cooperdavis There are interconnected interests that cannot concede that a "pattern of error" has been established over many years.
They "keep making the same mistakes, mainly because they have been allowed to deny how badly things have gone wrong." - Charles Medawar, "Power And Dependence"

[MISSD @MISSDFoundation]

Real people. Real harm. Real loss.
Pharmaceuticals seem to be the only products that allow consumers' adverse effects to be systematically dismissed as mere anecdotes.

[Harriet Vogt @harriet48293]

Perhaps clinicians who comfort THEMSEVLES with the idea that #PSSD is ‘rare’, might have their minds opened by the intense personal & social realities of #PSSD expressed so powerfully in this video made by Andy Wilson:

https://t.co/84T7sUZOWX

[Chinook Justice @ChinookJustice]

If you want to read more about the FOI files which prove the MoD knew about the lack of airworthiness of the helicopter - and sought to shut down alternative views.... check out our website. And use our tool to write to your MP to demand a full inquiry.

https://t.co/USMvL3HKtc

[Beverley Thomson @Antidepressed1]

Do you believe him @MrsEmmaWebber ?

“Dr Adrian James said: "I’m pleased to be joining CQC as interim Chief Inspector for Mental Health. Regulation has such an important role to play in ensuring that people receive safe and effective care. I’m looking forward to leading this work at CQC and playing my role in ensuring good quality care is provided to everyone."”