Pet owners who are serious about pet-proofing their home should start with their own medicine cabinet. Pet Poison Helpline™ is a 24-hour service available throughout North America for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Nearly half of the calls received by Pet Poison Helpline involve human medications – both over-the-counter and prescription. Whether Fido accidentally chewed into a pill bottle or a well-intentioned pet owner accidentally switched medication (giving their pet a human medication), pet poisonings due to medication are common and can be very serious.

Pet Poison Helpline is the only animal poison control with board-certified internal medicine specialists, emergency critical care specialists, and human pharmacologists on staff. With expert staff in both animal and human medicine, Pet Poison Helpline provides a unique advantage since more than 50 percent of all pet poisonings involve human drugs.

Below is a list of the top 10 human medications most frequently ingested by pets, along with some tips from the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline on how to prevent pet poisoning from human medications.

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)
Topping our Top 10 list are common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals (ferrets, gerbils and hamsters) may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure.

2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)
When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is certainly popular. Even though this drug is very safe, even for children, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.

3. Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)
While these antidepressant drugs are occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulant effect leading to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. Unfortunately, just one pill can cause serious poisoning.

4. ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)
Medications used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contain potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.

5. Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)
These medications are designed to reduce anxiety and help people sleep better. However, in pets, they may have the opposite effect. About half of the dogs who ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including walking “drunk”), and slowed breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure when ingested.

6. Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)
Birth control pills often come in packages that dogs find irresistible. Thankfully, small ingestions of these medications typically do not cause trouble. However, large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, female pets that are intact (not spayed), are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.

7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (or “ACE”) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure in people and, occasionally, pets. Though overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness and weakness, this category of medication is typically quite safe. Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease. All heart medications should be kept out of reach of pets.

8. Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)
Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure but, unlike the ACE inhibitor, small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.

9. Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)
Pets — especially dogs — get underactive thyroids too. Interestingly, the dose of thyroid hormone needed to treat dogs is much higher than a person’s dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get into thyroid hormones at home, it rarely results in problems. However, large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.

10. Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)
These popular medications, often called “statins,” are commonly used in the United States. While pets do not typically get high cholesterol, they may still get into the pill bottle. Thankfully, most “statin” ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use, not one-time ingestions.

Wendt Worth Corgis...Keep kids and pets safe!

• Never leave loose pills in a plastic Ziploc® bag – the bags are too easy to chew into. Make sure visiting house guests do the same, keeping their medications high up or out of reach.
• If you place your medication in a weekly pill container, make sure to store the container in a cabinet out of reach of your pets. Unfortunately, if they get a hold of it, some pets might consider the pill container a plastic chew toy.
• Never store your medications near your pet’s medications – Pet Poison Helpline frequently receives calls from concerned pet owners who inadvertently give their own medication to their pet.
• Hang your purse up. Inquisitive pets will explore the contents of your bag and simply placing your purse up and out of reach can help to avoid exposure to any potentially dangerous medication(s).

It is also important to note that while a medication may be safe for children, it may not be safe for animals. Pets metabolize medications very differently from people. Even seemingly benign over-the-counter or herbal medications may cause serious poisoning in pets.

If your pet has ingested a human over-the-counter or prescription medication, please call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline’s 24-hour animal poison control center at (800) 213-6680 immediately.

Pet Poison Helpline

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com
——————————————————————–
Thanks for spreading the word on pet safety! I also wanted to make people aware of another animal poison control: Pet Poison Helpline based out of Minneapolis, MN. They are a 24/7 animal poison control and are more cost effective ($35/case vs. ASPCA’s $60).

I also wanted to inform you of their more frequent calls – 50% of their calls come from human medications – help spread the word on this too!

Thanks again,
Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC
Associate Director of Veterinary Services

Amphetamine drugs include crystal meth, crank, speed, and other nicknames for methamphetamines. They are commonly referred to as hard drugs because of their highly addictive properties and the associated unpleasant withdrawals. A recent study has shown that at least 10 million people in the United States have tried methamphetamines at least once. Over the years, there has been a steady incline in the number of individuals who become addicted to meth.

In 1992, only 5 states reported high rates of treatment admission due to methamphetamine use. A high rate was considered anything at or above 24 per every 100,000 people. By 2002, more than a third of the states reported high use, suggesting that methampethamine addiction has become more than 21 times as prevalent. In 2004, methamphetamines accounted for more than 150,000 emergency room visits (8% of all drug related admissions) Some attribute the increase in meth use to the expansion of attention deficit disorder drugs such as Adderal or Ritalin. These are prescription amphetamines that may cause addictions, especially when used incorrectly. The likely hood of becoming addicted to meth is very high. Although age plays a factor on your odds of getting hooked, most addicts will tell you that you are very likely to become addicted after a single use.

Treatment for amphetamines such as crystal meth, crank, or speed generally involve residential care under the supervision of a medical doctor and his support staff. Nausea, vomiting, sweating, chills, extreme agitation, and anxiety are all common symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal. A supervising medical doctor is able to prescribe medications to reduce these symptoms, as well as the incredibly strong cravings for the drug. After the initial withdrawal, a team of psychologists work to treat the behavioral cycle of addiction. If you or someone you know has a problem with amphetamines, seek professional help immediately.

Max says that Mr. Jumpy comes and sneaks up behind him at school and tries to distract him in class. Max says to Mr. Jumpy “Go away! Not now! I am trying to work, it’s school!”. I asked what Mr. Jumpy looks like and Max says that he has crazy hair that sticks up all over, but it’s just normal brown not some crazy color. Mr. Jumpy wears a black suit with white pictures of people running all over it. At first Max told me that Mr. Jumpy doesn’t wear any shoes and then he changed his mind and said that Mr. Jumpy only wears running shoes. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Sometimes Max calls him “Mr. Jumpy Hairdo Man” on account of the crazy hair. I don’t know about you, but I am picturing that crazy “imaginary friend” that Phoebe Cates had in the movie Drop Dead Fred.

Max says Mr. Jumpy is okay when he asks him to go away, that he understands. And, it’s cool because Max can call him anytime he wants because his phone number is (847) 480- JUMPY.

I am a bit tossed between being so proud that my amazing kid can conceptualize his ADHD and “talk to it”, ask it to go away when he knows that he needs it to. But, slightly concerned my kid has an imaginary friend with a worse case of ADHD than he does and needs a stylist and a haircut. We went to Tae Kwon Do last night and Max asked Mr. Jumpy to stay in the car. I was watching class and Max was being slightly more hyper than usual. After class he whispered to me “Mr. Jumpy must have snuck out of the car when we weren’t looking”. Am I now the single parent of 2 kids?

Keith Olbermann interviews Dr. Claudia Jensen on treatingchildren with ADHD and ADD with the use of medical marijuana.

http://www.idkwtf.com/videos/latest-videos/marijuana-for-adhd

I promised updates about how it feels to be unmedicated with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.  I’m in a unique situation because I didn’t start taking it until I was in my thirties.  Then, almost by accident was diagnosed and subsequently medicated.  In the beginning I felt like I suddenly knew what it was like to be able to keep one thought in my mind.  Instead of ideas constantly bouncing all over my brain I could choose one and hold it.  I didn’t have to wait until I was “in the mood”.  I didn’t have to play music in the back while I was writing to train my brain to focus on my work.  In some ways life was better.  (TMI) Sex was better because I was just thinking about what we were doing.  I could track better on other’s thought processes.  I could go to sleep without dozens of thoughts dancing in my head.

And then I went off the drug.

All the ideas came back in full force.  The army of thoughts stomped through my mind usually.  About this time I started taking B-100, so that might have something to do with it.

My memory came back.  I was losing my car every where I parked, no matter where I went.  Since I quit I have not lost my car even once.  I am able to remember stories I’ve told so I’m not telling them over and over again.  I used to go in to a room and not remember why I went there.  I’m sure you do that too, but I was doing it pretty much every time I went in to another room.

Did the Vyvanse do that to me?  Who knows?  But I’m not going on it to find out.

This sort of hyperconcentration is good for living in the moment – hence the example using sex.  But I was able to sit and read a few chapters of a book, set the book down and re-read the same chapters without being aware I was re-reading.  Now I’m able to comprehend a book.  I don’t know how Vyvanse would have helped me in school, but I don’t think it would have helped at all.  My brain was like a car stuck because of a train.  Running, but not going anywhere.  I wouldn’t be impulsive, but my impulsivity never really hurt me before.  Maybe it did and I don’t remember.

Charlie and his mom sing the theme song from Harold and Maude.

(MGM) Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Kat Dennings, Tyler Hilton, Mark Rendall, Dylan Taylor, Megan Park, Jeff Epstein. Directed by Jon Poll

One of the curses of humankind is our ability to forget as adults just how difficult it is to be a teenager. We forget what it means to be ignored. We forget what it is like to be unheard.

Charlie Bartlett (Yelchin) would seem to have an ideal teen life. He comes from money – a lot of it – and while his father is nowhere to be seen (his absence isn’t explained until near the end of the movie and giving you any detail about where he is would ruin the movie), his mother (Davis) is around, so to speak. She is popping pills and booze like there’s no tomorrow, so Charlie pretty much gets to do what he wants.

Predictably, what he wants is to rebel against authority and he gets kicked out of private school after private school until there are none left. The only alternative is (gulp) public school. Charlie approaches his new school with all the regard of a convict examining death row. His fears are soon realized. Charlie, hopelessly ill-equipped for public school survival, wears a tie and jacket to school and carries a briefcase. He might as well walk up to the school bully and announce “I’d like you to kick my ass at your earliest convenience.” Said bully, in the person of Murphy Bivens (Hilton), obliges him regularly.

Charlie’s mom, believing that her son could use a little guidance, sends him off to a battery of psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and counselors, who prescribe him a variety of drugs. Charlie hits upon the idea of distributing these to the student body through his new pal and business partner Bivens, who recognizes a good business deal when he sees it.

Charlie also soon realizes his contact with psychiatrists and such have given him a little knowledge of the subject, and his status as a teenager gives him further insight into the teen condition. Soon, he begins having therapy sessions in the school bathroom and the kids, eager to be listened to by anyone, are lining up to vent.

Charlie also develops an attraction for Susan Gardner (Dennings), a pretty and surprisingly well-adjusted girl who returns his affections. This doesn’t sit well with her dad (Downey), who is as crappy a father as you are likely to see in a movie – when he isn’t drowning his sorrows in the study. You see, Susan’s dad has a thankless, nearly impossible job – he’s the principal at the school attended by Susan and Charlie.

Naturally, Charlie’s little enterprise doesn’t sit well with the powers that be and soon things come to a head. Charlie’s struggles against authority and authority’s tendency to react poorly to a challenge to that authority may land Charlie in deeper trouble than he has ever been in before.

Most teen comedies these days seem to revolve around unpopular guys trying to score with girls way, way, way out of their league. The bulk of them are raunchy and sexy, so it is somewhat refreshing to encounter a comedy aimed at teens that actually treats them with some respect rather than as hormone-crazed infants. Charlie is a fleshed out character who, while sharing a great deal in common with Ferris Bueller, still manages to be one of the most memorable 17-year-olds I’ve seen onscreen in awhile.

It doesn’t hurt to have one of the best actors of his generation to play off of, and Downey as usual delivers. He has a fairly thankless role that doesn’t require very much of him until near the end of the movie, but when the time comes for Downey to shine, he does with a vengeance. Yelchin is not a bad actor in his own right when he gets a good role, and he has one here and he makes the most of it. Sure, sometimes Charlie is arrogant and foolish but what teenager isn’t?

Yeah, there are some definite flaws here. For one thing, the adults are entirely unsympathetic on a nearly universal level; I understand the need to reinforce that kids feel un-listened to but I think that if you’re going to give kids credit to be smarter onscreen, give them the credit offscreen to be able to understand that not all adults are insensitive to their needs.

Still, this is a movie that has some ideas to share and while they aren’t always successful, director Poll and his team are successful enough to allow me to recommend this to teenagers unreservedly and to adults somewhat less so – certainly adults aren’t the target audience here, but those seeking out some insight into the teen psyche could benefit from a viewing.

WHY RENT THIS: An insightful theme that hits the mark from time to time. Terrific performances from Yelchin and Downey.

WHY RENT SOMETHING ELSE: Like many movies meant to appeal to teens, adults are seen nearly uniformly as unsympathetic and/or flat-out stupid. Script is uneven despite the best intentions of the writers.

FAMILY VALUES: A good deal of rough language, some drug usage and brief nudity make this unsuitable for children.

TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Hope Davis, who plays Anton Yelchin’s mom here, also played his mom in the 2001 film Hearts in Atlantis.

NOTABLE DVD EXTRAS: The bathroom confessional scenes are re-created by the cast and crew.

FINAL RATING: 5/10

TOMORROW: Race to Witch Mountain

Dear Max,

Hi. It’s Mommy. At this moment I am sitting in the waiting room of your Occupational Therapists office.  You and Lisa are most likely playing with shaving cream or jumping up and down on a variety of crazy equipment, so I thought I’d take the time to tell you a few things. I don’t know if you’ll ever read this, who knows if this “blog” stuff will last as long as the written word, but let’s be honest here. I am writing this for ME, not really for you. I am writing this for purely selfish reasons and I am woman enough to admit that. So, let’s get on with it shall we?

First of all, I want you to know how well you are doing. The improvements we have seen in you (me, your teachers, therapists, family and friends) is remarkable. Your school work is so much better, your behavior in class is like night and day and you are making more and more friends every day. I know that it’s hard for you, I can see that at times. “Mr. Jumpy” comes and throws you off course and sometimes ruins things like play dates and parties. But, together, we are getting a better handle on when he comes and what to do with him when he does. We have been taught the skills and we’ve got the tools to hunt him down and  “take him out”.

And then, of course, there is the issue of the medicine. There is something really important I want you to know about all this: It took hours and hours of thought, prayer and finally submission before I decided to listen to the doctors and try this stuff we’ve got you on. This was not an easy decision. And I still lose sleep over it, as we try drug after drug to find the right one. But the thing is, they are working. They really are. I’ve got proof from your teachers and doctors that they are working. Now, we have to decide which of these side effects are ones that you can live with. If it was up to me I wouldn’t have you live with any side effects. But, unfortunately, the medicines that work the best for you also come with some side effect to them.

Focalin makes you over-emotional and weepy to the point of you dropping to the floor in a heap of sobs. I’d rather not see that happen again. Brian calls it the “Mary Tyler Moore” syndrome, which made me laugh. You really collapsed into a heap of dramatic emotional weeping that it was almost funny if it wasn’t so sad.  Ritalin LA works great on the ADHD but you have the appetite of a Hummingbird. Metedate CD also worked great but you got that crazy rash (but maybe that wasn’t from the medicine). And then there was the Daytrana patch, which like a band aid you just couldn’t stop picking at and ripping the thing of the first chance you got. You couldn’t swallow the Concerta, but bravo for giving it a really good try that one time. So we are back to square one: Ritalin LA vs. Metedate. Who will win this showdown of the ADHD drugs? What are the Vegas odds? If it’s Ritalin than I will force feed you milkshakes if I have to, you will NOT lose weight on my watch. And if it’s Metedate and the crazy rash comes back than we’ll deal with it.

I guess I just want you to know that you, your future, your health and happiness are on my mind ALWAYS. That making these decisions is SO HARD to do. That I lie awake at night thinking of ways I can make it easier on you, ways I can help you learn your letters and get along socially with your friends. That I make lists and lists of things to do to make you happy, and that my pride for you is overwhelming. I couldn’t ask for a better son, and I’d do all this work over again 100 times if it would help you become the man I know you can be. You have my heart now and always. And with us working together, there is no way “Mr. Jumpy” is going to win this one. He doesn’t have a chance.

Keep up the great work, Baby. I love you,

Mommy

Éen van de doelen van het Psychose Anders project is het verschaffen van informatie die mensen meer vertrouwen kan bieden in het activeren van hun eigen zelfherstellend vermogen.  In de onderstaande bijdrage van Sharon kunnen we meer achtergronden lezen met betrekking tot het binnen de psychiatrie populaire idee dat er sprake zou zijn van een biochemische onbalans in de hersenen bij mensen met schizofrenie, een bipolaire stoornis, depressie etc.

Het zou zo maar eens kunnen zijn dat deze hele theorie vooral niet veel meer is dan een theorie, en dan bovendien een vrij speculatieve ook. Veel wijsheid met het volgende deel uit het boek ‘Your Drug May be your Problem’ van Peter Breggin en David Cohen. Vergeet ook niet de noot van de vertaler onderaan het artikel!

KUNNEN WE TESTEN OP BIOCHEMISCHE ONBALANS?

Vanwege ethische en legale beperkingen, kunnen onderzoekers geen studies uitvoeren waarvan zeker is dat ze hersenbeschadiging veroorzaken bij menselijke proefpersonen. Het is hen bijvoorbeeld niet toegestaan elektronen te implanteren of om minutieuze hoeveelheden drugs in het hersenweefsel van levende patiënten te injecteren om de effecten van experimentele drugs te testen.

Omdat er geen andere manier is om het te doen, wordt het basis biochemisch onderzoek met betrekking tot drugeffecten eerder uitgevoerd op dieren dan op mensen. De meeste informatie over het biochemische effect van een psychiatrische drug wordt afgeleid uit het uitvoeren van testen op levende dierenhersenen of, vaker, door het doden van de dieren om hun hersenweefsel te kunnen onderzoeken na blootstelling aan drugs.

Bovendien mankeert er bijna nooit iets aan de dieren; de medicijneffecten worden bestudeerd in gezonde zoogdieren hersenen.

Kortom, wanneer onderzoekers uitleggen hoe een psychiatrisch medicijn zoals Prozac of lithium de biochemie van het menselijk brein beïnvloedt, baseren zij dit bijna volledig op dierenonderzoek dat uitgevoerd is op normale zoogdieren hersenen in plaats van op studies bij mensen met veronderstelde biochemische onbalansen in hun hersenen!

Het concept van biochemische onbalans in mensen die gediagnosticeerd zijn met depressie, angst of andere ‘stoornissen’ blijft enorm speculatief en zelfs verdacht.

Hoewel we uitvoerige redenen hebben te twijfelen aan de betrouwbaarheid van dit concept, is er op dit moment geen manier de betrouwbaarheid hiervan te bewijzen. In het bijzonder ontbreekt het ons aan technische capaciteit om biochemische concentraties te meten in de synapsen tussen zenuwcellen. Hoewel medicatieadvocaten vaak spreken met ogenschijnlijk vertrouwen over hoe psychiatrische drugs biochemische onbalans in het brein herstelt, zijn ze vooral bezig met pure speculatie of ze gebruiken een manier van spreken waarvan ze weten dat het zal resoneren bij hun publiek.

Er is weinig bewijs voor het bestaan van één van zulke onbalansen en absoluut geen manier om te demonstreren hoe de drugs hierop invloed hebben als ze wel zouden bestaan.

ZE VEROORZAKEN EERDER BIOCHEMISCHE ONBALANSEN DAN DAT ZE ZE GENEZEN

Zoals bevestigd in dierenonderzoek, hebben alle psychiatrische medicijnen een direct effect op de normale chemie van de hersenen door deze te verstoren. Van Ritalin bijvoorbeeld, is bekend dat het overactiviteit produceert in drie van de neurotransmittersystemen van het brein: dopamine, norepinephrine en serotonine.

Maar, het feit dat een drug de hersencelactiviteit verhoogt, impliceert in geen geval dat het de gedragsactiviteit verhoogt.

In het geval van stimulanten zoals Ritalin of amfetamine, zijn de effecten op mensen zeer gecompliceerd, variabel zelfs in dezelfde gebruiker op verschillende tijden en soms inconsistent. Vaak temperen of verdoven ze degenen die ze innemen, wat hen meer gedwee en beheersbaar maakt. Dit is precies waarom ze worden gebruikt bij het behandelen van gedragsproblemen bij kinderen.

Maar op andere momenten, produceren stimulanten tegenovergestelde effecten die sommige kinderen en volwassenen hyperactief en impulsief maakt.

Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil (=Seroxat)  en Luvox (=Fevarin) produceren hyperactiviteit in het serotonine systeem; maar aangezien serotoninezenuwen zich uitstrekken door het gehele brein, zijn de effecten wijdverspreid en hebben uiteindelijk betrekking op andere neurotransmittersystemen zoals dopamine.

De lichtere tranquillizers zoals Xanax, Valium, Klonopin en Ativan produceren hyperactiviteit in weer een ander neurotransmittersysteem, GABA; maar GABA activatie genereert / produceert een onderdrukkend effect op het algeheel functioneren van de hersenen.

Het is belangrijk om dit in gedachten te houden: het brein wordt altijd beschadigd door psychiatrische medicijnen. Als een drug sterk genoeg is om een verondersteld positief effect te hebben, dan verstoort het de normale breinfunctie.

Hoewel deze conclusie controversieel mag lijken, wordt dit ondersteund door gezond verstand en een enorme hoeveelheid wetenschappelijk onderzoek dat tot in detail de biochemische onbalans in het brein beschrijft dat gecreëerd wordt door het gebruik van psychiatrische medicatie.

Deze door drugs geïnduceerde biochemische onbalansen veroorzaken gewoonlijk psychiatrische stoornissen in de routinematige psychiatrische praktijk. Een stuitend voorbeeld van hoe ver onderzoekers kunnen gaan om schade veroorzaakt door psychotropische drugs te ontkennen, wordt geïllustreerd door een rapport waarin onderzoekers gliosis aantroffen – littekenweefsel rondom neuronen dat een kenmerk is van celdood en degeneratie – in gezonde resusaapjes nadat ze antipsychotica kregen toegediend.

De onderzoekers stelden desalniettemin dat gliosis ‘voordelig zou kunnen zijn voor de cordiale functie ondanks de negatieve connotatie van de term ‘gliosis’ door de lang gevestigde associatie met neurondegeneratieve processen’!
(pp.51-53)

Er is al eerder een stuk vertaald uit dit boek. Dat deel kun je vinden in het artikel ‘Je Medicijnen kunnen je probleem zijn: beslis zelf‘. Het boek heeft een volledig herziene druk gehad in 2007 en is bestelbaar bij de betere boekhandel (of gewoon op internet).

Noot van de vertaler;

Bijna acht jaar geleden werd ik voorzien van een psychiatrisch stigma waarvan ik tot dat moment nog nooit gehoord had.  Vanwege het feit dat ik een gedwongen opname, gedwongen medicatie en eenzame opsluiting in een isoleercel had moeten ‘ondergaan’ voelde ik mij alsof mijn menswaardigheid van me af genomen was. Ik was het rijk der geesteszieken binnengetreden.

Geduldig werd mij uitgelegd dat ik een aangeboren, chemische onbalans in mijn hersenen had. Ondanks dat ik op dat moment volledig gedrogeerd was door de onder dwang geïnjecteerde anti-psychotica, voelde ik mij afglijden tot een soort inferieur wezen.

Ik was van een getalenteerde, intelligente en maatschappelijk succesvolle vrouw plotseling afgegleden tot iemand bij wie ‘een steekje los’ zat. Vervolgens werd mij verteld dat er gelukkig een middel tegen bestond; als ik dit medicijn de rest van mijn leven zou slikken, zou de onbalans in mijn hersenen weer in balans komen.

Het middel had wat minimale bijwerkingen zei men maar als ik iedere 3 maanden mijn bloedspiegel liet controleren, was er niets aan de hand. Ik zou in mijn dagelijks leven absoluut geen enkel effect ondervinden van het medicijn behalve dat ik misschien wat vaker dorst zou hebben en misschien wat in gewicht zou aankomen. Ook had dit medicijn geen enkel schadelijk effect op de lange termijn.

Zoals iedereen het met de paplepel krijgt ingegoten, geloofde ik de ‘dokter’ op zijn woord.

Tot…. Een jaar geleden.

Een jaar geleden ben ik begonnen met een fanatiek onderzoek naar mijn eigen Waarheid. Na wat speurwerk in diverse boeken en op internet, kwam ik erachter dat ik altijd wel erg gemakkelijk alles ter kennisgeving aangenomen had wat bijvoorbeeld in de reguliere media wordt voorgeschoteld.

Uiteindelijk kwam ik als vanzelf uit bij de vraag; ‘En hoe zit het dan met mijn veronderstelde geestesziekte?’

Google-zoekopdrachten maakten mij echter neerslachtig en verdrietig. Zonder uitzondering resulteerden deze zoekopdrachten in ongeveer deze bewoordingen; ‘deze ziekte is niet te genezen maar de symptomen kunnen beheersbaar gemaakt worden door het gebruik van (vaak levenslange) medicatie. Het is belangrijk dat de patiënt inzicht krijgt in de symptomen door bijvoorbeeld psycho-educatie en ook dient de levenswijze aangepast te worden’

Pas veel later realiseerde ik me dat de meeste websites die ik destijds bezocht, gesponsord worden door de grote farmaceutische bedrijven (zie bijv. Helemaal te gek te gek!)

Momenteel gebruik ik nog steeds psychiatrische medicijnen maar heb ik deze (zeer geleidelijk) succesvol tot de helft afgebouwd.

This is the first in a series of articles to be republished on The Bitter Pill by Ashleigh Stewart, a scholar investigating the drugging of children and natural alternatives. This initial series is based on research conducted for her dissertation. You will be hearing much more from Ashleigh. Her bio and a link to her website are coming soon.

WEIRD SCIENCE!?:

Investigating Attention Deficit Disorder

By ASHLEIGH STEWART

“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.” (Kahlil Gibran, 1923)

As scientific as the name may sound ‘Attention Deficit Disorder’ and ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’ (AD/HD) are alleged and somewhat mysterious ‘diseases’ of which, despite numerous studies dedicated to investigating their cause, no convincing evidence of any brain malfunction or other biological or genetic abnormality has been discovered.

Despite the fact that the source of this ‘so-called’ disease is still vague, the symptoms that define AD/HD are prevalent and prominent, so much so that approximately 6 million children in America alone have been diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder and prescribed with psycho-stimulant drugs, such as ‘Methylphenidate’, otherwise known by it’s brand name ‘Ritalin’, as the primary method of treatment.

My question is what is AD/HD? Why are so many children being diagnosed with it these days, and what could be the real cause of it? Also, how much do we really know about the effects of stimulant drugs on our children? How will taking these drugs affect children’s lives physiologically, psychologically, emotionally and socially as they grow up? Also, what are the implications in terms of the future of the human race and our world if we keep drugging millions of our children with dangerous and highly addictive drugs?

Never in the history of our planet have so many children been put on psycho-stimulant drugs to alter their behaviour, emotions and sense of perception, to treat a disease that remains to be proven to exist.

As a mum of two children under the age of three, a student of Yoga and Metaphysical Science I feel it is my duty to investigate this alleged disease and examine what lies at the source of society’s ‘Attention Deficit Disorder’ and why so many children are being drugged. As a result, it has become my goal to help children reconnect with their true inner essence, to simply be who they were born to be before their human rights, freedom and innocence was stolen away and replaced with a diagnosis that labels them as being damaged and disordered, just because they do not act in ways certain adult ‘authoritarians’ believe to be appropriate.

It is my belief that in the very moment we label children as being disordered we influence they way they will see themselves, and define their future in less than positive ways as a result. Also, the moment we choose to drug our children is the moment we rob them of their essence, steal their spirit and dis-empower ourselves as parents by giving the responsibility of our children’s well-being over to the medications we give them.

Just why are so many parents willing to succumb to this type of drug-influenced upbringing for their children? I am certain that this was not part of their dream of parenthood while planning to have children!

Does this happen because children these days are misunderstood? Is it because they are evolving and no longer fit into the convenience of the ‘one size fits all’ society that we have become, a society which, on the other hand claims to celebrate diversity, liberty and freedom of expression?

Drugging our children is apparently a more convenient method of handling the challenges that come hand in hand with raising children, while we as adults struggle through the daily grind, and the task of managing the hustle and bustle of life in this fast-pace and competitive world. This whole situation is nothing short of tragic in my eyes, and if we do not begin to address the issue of mass drugging of children now, I fear we are paving a dark and gloomy path into tomorrow’s world.

We do have a choice however; we can keep allowing these things to happen to our children, or we can take responsibility for their well being by taking action and educating ourselves about the reality of the AD/HD diagnosis and the stimulant drugs that are used to treat it. It is crucial that we stop labelling and drugging children now!

**Photo By Tara Meeks Copyright Tara Meeks Photography, All Rights Reserved.

Drugging Children for Profit, Psychiatry, Foster Care, Big Pharma

“to do no harm” (epi dhlhsei de kai adikihi eirxein)
Hippocratic Oath, a rule physicians are, by tradition, expected to live by.

The video raises the existence of a disturbing trend in the psychiatric industry. Over the years this industry has shifted its interests from trying to restore mental health towards making profit. Today psychiatry seeks to medicate children rather than helping them actually prefers to help increase their own profits. In essence care for the patient has been substituted by care for profit. Ergo, crudely stated, the more meds are being fed to patients the better. The preference for corporate profit over the help of the patient constitutes a major conflict of interest and one that, if justice were served, should be fatal for the definition of the industry as it has become.

In addition, the number of different medications any one particular patient is taking tends to increase with time due to the perceived desire to offset side-effects through the additional use of others types of psychotropic drugs. And then these additional drugs bring side-effects of their own. So you see once the patient gets medicated and with the current approach of the ethically disqualified psychiatric industry, the patient is thrown into in an ever more demanding vicious toxic spiral. The body of the patient has to work harder and harder to keep itself clean and functioning properly due to the increasing toxic load of the taken meds.

The progressive lack of care for the patient heads towards a kind of mentality that is ironically rather well-known in psychiatric circles: psychopathy. Due to its shift of interest from the patient to the wallet, the psychiatric industry has become psychopathic itself, the very mental condition that it also seeks to treat, paradoxically.

So basically your children are being treated by psychopaths, people who have no primary interest in the well-being of your children.

So in a real way the gruesome situation is that the perceived mentally sick are being treated by the practically mentally sick.

It is obvious that this is an untenable unethical situation.

Keep your children drug free!

Only a few months ago I began taking, for the first time in my life, a daily performance-enhancing drug: Adderall XR.

Until then I was getting by just fine without it, but always felt I had a harder time staying on task than others did. I had never been interested in going to the effort and expense required to get a prescription for this class 2 controlled substance. I also didn’t like the idea of becoming dependent on an unnecessary daily medication.

While I was in college, it never even occurred to me to try any sort of drugs I was not legally prescribed. I’m sure I could have had easy access to amphetamines (Ritalin at the time?), but I just wasn’t interested. More important to me than the fact that it was illegal was simply that I didn’t feel any need to use drugs to make myself better.

Anabolic Steroid Tablets

But a couple of years ago, I was hanging out with a friend of mine, telling him how frustrating it was not to be able to concentrate on my work, and that I thought it was becoming worse. As one who was familiar with its effects, my friend offered me an Adderall of his own so that I could be the judge of its effectiveness.

I couldn’t believe what it did for me. Every particle in my brain aligned as if by some huge electromagnet. I was hyper-focused on the task at hand and on nothing else. My working memory felt twice as sharp as usual, and I was able to manipulate more information simultaneously in my mind. Movements, sounds and other distractions had no effect and flitted out of my mind as quickly as they popped in. I was in Brainiac Nirvana.

I understood now why so many people liked Adderall, and wanted some some of my own. It would be nice to be able to perform like that more often. I began exploring alternatives to dropping over $2000 on an ADD evaluation that would potentially result in a negative diagnosis and no prescription at all. I spoke to a friend of mine, who pointed me to a $500 student evaluation available through Emory University’s psychology department. The student’s final diagnosis would be signed off by the her licensed teacher, so it was really all the same to me who evaluated me. All I needed was a positive diagnosis.

The test was very thorough and included an IQ test and a long interview. The final report was equally thorough. At the end it stated, “Although Moshe does not meet criteria for a diagnosis of adult ADHD, a trial of stimulant medication may be considered to determine if it would help alleviate his symptoms of distractibility and difficulty sustaining attention. We recommend that Moshe consult with either his primary care physician or a psychiatrist if he is interesting in pursuing this option.”

All I needed to do was go to my doctor, but I delayed for almost two years. I am not sure why I procrastinated for so long, but I think that deep down I didn’t want the prescription. I didn’t want to be dependent on a drug that raised the bar. By taking the drug on a daily basis, I would increase others’ expectations of me, and I would then be pressured to continue taking it so that I could meet these expectations.

Additionally, I worried that my negative diagnosis would make my doctor unwilling to write me a prescription. When I admitted this to a friend, he informed me that most doctors write ADD prescriptions with a level of gravitas equal to that with which they blow their nose. Maybe it wouldn’t be too difficult after all. I was surprised that a controlled substance could be so easy to get.

"Caffeine up close" by eyeore2710

So after convincing myself that I’d just take the medication on certain days, I finally bit the bullet and went in to get the prescription. My doctor wrote it without hesitation. After a couple of weeks, I came to enjoy the way I performed with it, and have now begun taking it almost every day. In an irreversible move, I have raised my own expectations of myself; I have raised my own bar.

Adderall is just one example of performance-enhancing drugs, a category including anabolic steroids, caffeine, alcohol, pain killers, marijuana, Valium, and DayQuil, among others. The question is this: Is the use of performance-enhancing drugs morally acceptable?

Obviously, their use in competitions is not only morally unacceptable but also usually forbidden. The reasoning behind this is clear: it skews the playing field. The competitors who choose not to take drugs are at a disadvantage, and are pressured to take the drugs just to compete, despite potential physical and/or mental health risks.

But what about enhancing our everyday performance with drugs? Is there anything wrong with my taking performance-enhancing drugs on a daily basis if I am aware of, and willing to accept, the inherent health risks?

Consider that life itself is a big competition. We are always trying to be the hardest working, most efficient, highest producing, or highest quality employee, parent, company, or country. When I come to work sick on DayQuil, I am increasing my competitive edge in the short run, but in the long run I and others are expected to take fewer of our sick days. When once stay-at-home moms begin working a job or even two, thanks to the power of caffeine, they begin earning more in the short term, but they also create an increased labor supply. An increased labor supply decreases wages, and now we’re not only sleep deprived, but we’re earning less for the same work or having to produce more for the same salary. Working a second job is no longer optional for that single mom struggling to make ends meet. It’s a slow process, but in the end the higher bar eventually becomes the new baseline.

On the other hand, haven’t we been raising the bar in other ways for as long as we’ve existed? We now understand how to eat properly so that we grow stronger and live longer. We know how to avoid and cure many diseases that were once fatal. We have modern tools that we never had before. Raising the bar, or performance enhancement, is a completely natural part of the evolution of our species. It just so happens that our species has advanced to the point that we are improving not only the tools we can manufacture, but the tools we carry with us everywhere: Our brains and bodies.

This mentality of medicating for “quick-fix” enhancements plays right into our capitalistic mindset: We Americans always want more results with less effort. We’re going to get what we want, but ultimately it will be at the cost of our own mental health.

"Adderall XR 10 mg" by robert_rex_jackson

University of Southern Nevada’s Drug Abuse Awareness Team has joined a coalition of local organizations and agencies to offer Southern Nevada residents a venue and information for disposal of prescription and over-the-counter drugs in an effort to curb misuse and abuse, particularly among teens.

Unused and expired medications will be collected anonymously and with no-questions-asked for safe and proper disposal during the Valley’s first-ever “Operation Medicine Cabinet.” The one-day event takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Las Vegas Sports Center at 121 E. Sunset Road, located at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Sunset Road.

“Our goal is to ensure that unwanted medications don’t end up in the wrong hands,” said Sgt. Paul McCollough, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Narcotics Division. “People vulnerable to misuse and abuse, such as children and teens, get into medicine cabinets at home or while visiting friends and family to acquire entire bottles or just a few pills at a time. These pills are often illegally sold or traded to others.”

According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free American, prescription and over-the-counter drugs have emerged as the “party” drugs of choice for many teens. A 2008 study by the organization showed that one in five teens has tried Vicodin®, a powerful and addictive narcotic pain reliever; one in 10 has tried OxyContin®, another prescription narcotic; one in 10 has used the stimulants Ritalin® or Adderall® for nonmedical purposes and one in 11 teens has admitted to getting high on over-the-counter cough medicine.

Dr. Paul Oesterman, associate professor of pharmacy practice and faculty advisor for the University of Southern Nevada’s Drug Abuse Awareness Team, says these numbers mirror what the team has observed through their work with students in Valley schools.

“Despite some high-profile tragedies associated with prescription drugs, such as Michael Jackson and Danny Gans, most people, particularly youth, are either unaware of or not concerned with the potential chemical dangers of these drugs,” said Oesterman. “There are varying strengths, side-effects and interactions to consider when taking medications that aren’t prescribed to you by a doctor or are simply misused. Unfortunately, the result can be great bodily harm or even death.”

The rise in number of prescription drug-related deaths in Clark County over the past decade is astounding, says Clark County Coroner P. Michael Murphy, DBA.

“In 2000, the Clark County Coroner’s Office reported 171 accidental drug and medication related deaths in the county. The numbers have increased each year. In 2009 there were 397, with dozens of cases still pending final report,” said Murphy.

Bruce Gentner, founder of the Narcotics Education Foundation of Nevada and detective with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said, “In addition to regularly cleaning out your medicine cabinet and safely disposing unwanted drugs and medications, it is also critical that the public safeguard their current medications at home, including limiting access and keeping track of quantities. It’s also important, especially for parents, to make certain that friends and relatives do the same.”

Operation Medicine Cabinet is a partnership of the University of Southern Nevada Drug Abuse Awareness Team, Narcotics Education Foundation of Nevada, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Clark County Coroner’s Office and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

For additional information on Operation Medicine Cabinet and information on securing and properly discarding prescription and over-the-counter drugs, visit www.operationmedicinecabinetlv.org. You can also help spread the word about Operation Medicine Cabinet on Facebook.

Well it’s official I have ADD.  For the past could of months I have been recieving LENS Neurofeedback (www.flexiblebrain.com) , coaching (www.focusfowardcoaching.com) also help from a wonderful therapist and psychologist and alot of prayer and patience.  All without the aid of medication.  Let me repeat that “ALL WITHOUT THE AID OF MEDICATION!”  So no nasty side effects, no remembering to take a drug etc etc.  Also, I have been running and working out over the past 5 months and guess what not only does that give me focus it has helped me lose over 45 lbs!! Also, changing my diet to eliminate the trigger foods has been wonderful(The Autism & ADHD Diet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Hope and Healing by Living Gluten Free and Casein Free (GFCF) and Other Interventions by Barrie Silberberg) I have been able to start my businesses and stick with it.  My house looks like people actually live here and my entire family knows what they can expect from me.  This is great!!! Life couldn’t be better.  So if  you have a dx of ADD or ADHD please consider the many non medication methods available.

1. diet, diet, diet

2. Exercise

3. Coaching

4. Support from your therapy team as well as family and friends

5. LENS Neurofeedback or regular Neurofeedback

All of these things together make a successful go at it and unlike medication many of the treatments will cease once you begin to see positive results.  So please try these results versus medication your body will thank you.  Good luck and God Bless will keep you guys updated on my journey.

www.beachbodycoach.com/fullerfitness

www.charmingdesignsbycf.com

Authentic Living. Do you ever wonder if you are really living authentically? We tell ourselves and are told so many lies about who we are and who we should be, is it possible to really know anymore who we are meant to be? Even at that, I’m trying to guess what it is God has purposed for me. But maybe that’s not the point–it’s not really about a worthwhile career or some cozy family. And that’s what I was having a hard time seeing in my 70+ hour work week. My life has been so full, but so empty at the same time. It’s my own fault. I let the job choose me. And then I let it take over my life. When I was 16 I got a birthday card from my grandmother that said “I know you’ll be a great teacher…” It was just assumed–even when I said repeatedly that I didn’t want to be a teacher. Because I hated school. I hated being stuck inside all day with people that I hardly knew. Having teacher after teacher look at me like I was an idiot because it was hard for me to pay attention and remember things. ‘Hated,’ is not an exaggeration.

But in college I loved my job in the Reading Clinic. I enjoyed helping the children see that they could read and then watching their countenance change as they grew in confidence. They were proud of themselves. I saw them get what I never had, which was confidence in their own ability. So I set out to be a reading teacher because I wanted to be part of that more, part of seeing people light up with a good story and their own new understanding of who they were.

Did you know the Hebrew word for understanding means putting the pieces together so that it makes sense? How can I see choosing teaching as a mistake? It’s just not what my life is all about. When someone asks me what I’m about, I don’t want it to be “teaching.” So I think I still want to use my strengths as a reading / writing teacher, but in a way that doesn’t take over my life. I just don’t know if I can pay the bills that way. And I’m tired. Of pushing so hard all the time. Of paying bills late, not because I don’t have the money, but because I don’t have the memory/organization to keep it all together. I’m tired of my messy apartment that seems to pile up on me when I turn my back.

It seems that going back to work on my PhD was not my best decision. Now I have student loans that equal a house payment, but I don’t have a house and I don’t have a husband and I don’t have children and I don’t have a job. For some crazy reason, I thought that by going back to school I’d be a better teacher, or at least that it would become less stressful and easier to manage. I couldn’t have been more wrong. By going back to grad. school, I learned what a great teacher looked like, I learned how to be a great teacher, but I never did learn how you can have a balanced life and be a great teacher. How much money did I just dish out to learn that little life lesson?

I can be authentically NOT myself pretty well by now. I know who I’m not. So much for my optimistic post last time. I just decided to try on something more real. Maybe this blog should be more about learning how to deal with your ADHD, and finally accepting that it’s not going away. Now what?

All the Ritalin in the world will not fix this.

So, Max was diagnosed by a fantastic group of Doctors and it was a hands down diagnosis of “Extreme ADHD, as well as Sensory Issues”. It was great to finally put a name to what my son has struggled with for some time and the thought of being able to curb his high energy and disruptive actions in his class got me pretty excited. We got a fantastic OT (Lisa Gold with North Shore Pediatric Therapy) and she got to work on the sensory issues. We still had to tackle the white elephant in the room….THE ADHD.

So, I took my doctor’s advice and went to see a child psychiatrist. She was kind, patient and kind of held my hand through the medication nightmare that was about to begin.

Flash Forward 6 Months. Max has been on close to  every medication there is. Here’s just a few:

Vyvanse

Ritalin

Ritalin LA

Addrell

Daytrana patch

Focalin XR

Metedate CD

Concerta (I tried but he couldn’t swallow the odd-looking pills)

I know the difference between when he’s on it and when he’s not. The side effects in some of these cases were terrible, things a kid shouldn’t have to deal with. So we  ARE NOW STUCK. Help!!!!!

Have any of you out there had your kid on any of these meds and what have been your experiences. Please share.

Thanks,

Mindy & Max

Max and our new puppy Samson.

What is methylphenidate?

• Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.
• Methylphenidate is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy.
• Methylphenidate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Please note that all information provided on this site is for informational purposes only.

Please consult your physician before using any information/medication you see listed on this site.

_______________________________________

What is zolpidem?

• Zolpidem is a sedative, also called a hypnotic. It affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause sleep problems (insomnia).
• Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia. This medication causes relaxation to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Zolpidem may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Please note that all information provided on this site is for informational purposes only.

Please consult your physician before using any information/medication you see listed on this site.

Sorry for the lack of update. With the holidays, and all the trial & error with the meds, there wasn’t much to report along the ADD front.

Since my last update, I’ve been through Methylin (generic Ritalin), Dexadrine (Barr), with no success. My pdoc even had me double up on the Dex. All I got was a dry mouth & a big fat migraine! Ugh!

That left me with the Adderall as the last of the three choices she presented me with. I didn’t want to try it initially, despite all the success stories, because I had heard about these horrible headaches. I already am prone to migraines and I’m a total wimp when it comes to migraine pain.

Surprisingly, within an hour of the 20mg Adderall XR (Shire) dose, I just cried. No drugged feeling. No speeded up feeling. Just calm. Peaceful serenity (for this Type A girl). It wasn’t a “brain kick” like I’ve heard some people describe it. I didn’t “feel” anything, I just did things. Concentrated on things. Finished things! I actually did housework!

I’m now on Day Three with no side effects, other than the obligatory dry mouth. My appetite is much lower, but I am really making an effort to try to eat small meals and stay really hydrated.

My Bupropion dose was doubled as well, and that also seems to be working out nicely.

Some people have mentioned a “crash” on Adderall — even the XR — but I have not noticed one. I “hovered” on the edge of a headache last night, but it may just be a remainder from the migraine. It never became a full-blown headache, not even a dull throb. I didn’t have a problem with sleep. And, unlike some stories with XR, it actually lasted the whole day & well into the evening!

I’ve had the energy to tackle homework with the kids. Not every little noise they make irritates me or seeps into my sub-conscious.  I’ve actually had patience with squabbles and disciplinary stuff. It’s been nothing short of amazing. Hubby is keeping a running tally of the changes he’s seeing, as well, to validate my findings.

Color me one happy Mama!