| According to a report by Annette Foglino of | | | | several reports and testimony "...from patients, |
| Discover Magazine, leading researchers are making | | | | advocacy groups, and other interested parties."3 |
| landmark discoveries on genetics, the link to | | | | It was over a decade later, (March 22, 2004) |
| depression and startling revelations about | | | | when the same FDA released a Public Health |
| antidepressants like Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft.Per Eli | | | | Advisory expressing that pharmaceutical |
| Lilly and Company, Prozac proportedly works by | | | | companies place warning labels on the same |
| boosting serotonin levels in the brain. Paxil CR's | | | | medications due to "Worsening Depression and |
| claims are that it can help regulate the balance of | | | | Suicidality in Patients Being Treated with |
| the serotinin chemical, making serotinin more | | | | Antidepressant Medications." If the Public had only |
| readily available. Pfizer's Zoloft is supposed to help | | | | been made aware of this information back in |
| correct the chemical imbalance of serotonin in the | | | | 1991, perhaps teen killers Eric Harris and Kip Kinkel |
| brain as well.However, recent findings based on a | | | | may never have committed the violent and |
| long-term project alliance among New Zealand's | | | | horrific acts they did. But these two are only a |
| Dunedin School of Medicine, the University of | | | | sparce sample of the matrix of possibilities. |
| Wisconsin and King College London, found that the | | | | Another report from Freedom Magazine relays |
| 5-HTT gene (the gene responsible for regulating | | | | how antidepressants accounted for over 40,000 |
| the chemical serotonin and message transmission | | | | adverse reaction reports, including 2,300 deaths |
| in the brain) "...comes in pairs and in two sizes - | | | | (per the FDA) in 1998 alone.With modern, |
| long and short."1So what does that mean? The | | | | conventional medicine advancing at the speed of |
| study found that persons having "...long genes | | | | light, the perilous reprecussions are only starting to |
| were half as likely to suffer depression as those | | | | unfold. Although some medicines can be very |
| with at least one short gene."2 Ironically, individuals | | | | helpful, it is dangerous to withhold information |
| who had two short genes were also found not | | | | regarding the effects of mood-altering drugs. If |
| only to suffer from depression, but also had | | | | you are taking antidepressants, talk with your |
| correlating higher levels of serotonin. Because | | | | medical provider - become informed. Tomorrow |
| antidepressants (as the ones mentioned above) | | | | may be too late.References |
| are designed to raise serotonin levels, it in fact | | | | Discover Magazine, Pg. 69 "Depression Gene |
| implies that medicines such as these do not work | | | | Leads to Questions about Prozac |
| as well as originally planned. Based on these | | | | Discover Magazine, Pg. 69 "Depression Gene |
| compelling results, the seriousness of administering | | | | Leads to Questions about Prozac |
| antidepressants to persons who already have | | | | FDA - Psychopharmacological Drugs Advisory |
| heightened levels of serotonin could present itself | | | | Committee - Antidepressant Update |
| with devastating outcomes.According to the FDA's | | | | FDA - Public Health Advisory |
| Psychopharmacological Drugs Advisory | | | | Freedom Magazine |
| Committee, an Antidepressants Update report | | | | Science A GoGo - Latest Science News |
| was made on October 18, 1991 discussing the | | | | Wikipedia - Serotonin - SerotoninDisclaimer: |
| effects of certain antidepressants with regard to | | | | Information is intended for educational purposes |
| suicidal thoughts, acts or other violent behavior. At | | | | only and should not substitute advice provided by |
| that point in time, the FDA had already received | | | | a licensed health professional. |