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EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION
The dark
side of prescription drugs has
a new Ray
of Hope...
by Tara Ciampa - EDITOR
..5-hydroxy-tryptophan: or 5-HTP works by increasing the amount of Serotonin that is naturally produced deep within the human brain. According to Gastpar and Wakelin (1998), 5-HTP is a known precursor to Serotonin which has been proven in many studies. Serotonin regulates mood, emotion, sleep and appetite and is directly implicated in the control of numerous behavioural and physiological functions. Decreased serotonin plays a role in depression. Highly specific Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have been developed and is a highly profitable business, and are increasingly prescribed for depressed patients. However, these drugs come with a very high price and the side effects are nothing short of alarming. Lawsuits are becoming more common today due to these very severe side effects. The mode of action of these prescription antidepressant drugs is the serotonin transport protein, and possible regulatory mechanisms thus making the goal alleviation of depression.
..Is -this- the scientific answer to Extreme Emotional Disorders ? It was reported in 1990 by Harvard psychiatrist Martin Teicher and colleges that six of their depressed patients had developed "intense, violent suicidal preoccupation" soon after their treatment with Prozac. Meanwhile 3000 suits against Glaxo (maker of Paxil) have been filed across the country. And YES, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS AVALIABLE...
..5-HTP has
been used for depression and fibromyalgia. In addition, it is commonly
used for mild insomnia, migraine headaches and as a weight
loss therapy. It has been said to reduce the pain and anxiety associated
with fibromyalgia.
It has
also been used in reducing panic attacks.
In some migraine populations, 5-HTP
was found to be as effective in treatment and prevention as beta-blockers
or methysergide. These
results have not been consistent in all trials. Some studies indicate
5-HTP is effective for mild depression. At higher doses, 5-HTP
has been reported to reduce appetite and promote weight
loss. The psychoactive action of 5-HTP is thought to derive from its
effect on serotonin synthesis in central nervous system tissue. It
is believed that an artificially high supply of 5-HTP causes the
brain's serotonin-producing neurons to increase production. Increased
serotonin production then leads to increased
serotonin release.
..In Europe, 5-HTP has been used for decades to aid with problems with depression, sleep, weight loss and other medical complaints. Now it is gaining popularity here in the United States. There a only a few precautions to be aware of if taking 5-HTP. It should not be taken with Carbidopa (used to treat Parkinsons) and triptans such as Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt or Amerg. Also, 5-HTP could cause seizures in DOWNS sufferers.
..5-HTP is
a compound that is produced by the body from Tryptophan. Tryptophan
plays a vital role in a person's health, being
an essential amino acid for building both
proteins and enzymes and serves as a precursor for Serotonin. Griffonia
simplicifolia (a
shrub found in Africa) is
a natural source of 5-HTP (
5-Hydroxytryptophan),
an enhancing -amino acid- that
is a highly absorbable
type of tryptophan and a direct precursor to
Serotonin.
..In
recent years 5-HTP has been sold by health food companies as an alternative
treatment for depression and mood disorders. Its role
as an intermediary in the biosynthesis of serotonin indicates that this
chemical may indeed be effective in treating these and other 
serotonin-related
disorders. It
is also used as a prophylactic against chronic daily headache. 5-HTP
may also be useful in treatment for migraines, since studies have shown
that migraines occur when serotonin levels are low. Though there is no
official dosage, most supplement providers recommend 50 mg or 100 mg
5-HTP, one to three times per day. Most clinical studies have tested
doses of 200-300 mg/day, although one study tested doses as large as
3250 mg/day.
(Editor’s
Note): DISCLAIMER: This
topic of depression has played a part in my life on a very
grand scale. It is known to run in families. My mother
had her life systematically taken away due partly to depression
and she had little resources available to help her cope.
Her sister (my aunt) also
struggles with depression. When I found myself exhibiting
some of the very symptoms my mother was having after caring
for a (now ex) husband
that had cancer twice and being in a failing marriage I
was determined to find something to give me the upper hand
in this life long battle. St. Johns Wort was being hailed
as the herb for depression. I found it did me no good.
Then I read about 5-HTP. When I took it I felt the effects immediately. I could think more clearly about the challenges all around me. It no longer felt like I was hanging from a cliff and couldn't keep my grip much longer. After using 5-HTP It made me able to look for solutions and opportunites to challenges rather than letting the dread consume me. Prescriptions drugs were not an option. If the price wasn't enough to scare me to death all the reported side effects would. |
To learn more: 5-HTP, The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity and Insomnia by Michael Murray (Bantam Books, New York 1998)
..Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract of animals including humans. Serotonin is a hormone in the pineal gland, blood platelets, the digestive tract, and the brain which is also found in many mushrooms and plants, including fruits and vegetables. Serotonin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerves signals between nerve cells and that causes blood vessels to narrow. Changes in the serotonin levels in the brain can alter mood, and these medications that affect the action of serotonin levels are used to treat depression.
..Some
history on Tryptophan (and
why 5-HTP is the better choice): In
1
989
a company named Showa Denko distributed "contaminated
lots of Tryptophan"
according to the findings of the FDA. Thousands got sick due to this
contamination and hundreds died. FDA subsequently banned
Tryptophan due to this negligence.
..Just
days after this ban on Tryptophan, Newsweek announced
the arrival of Prozac,
a "selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor" (SSRI).
Prozac raised serotonin levels by inhibiting the reuptake (recycling) of
serotonin. Now that Tryptophan was out of
the picture it cleared the way for Prozac to become wildly popular.
..Fluoxetine
hydrochloride (Prozac) is
an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class.
Fluoxetine is approved for the treatment of clinical depression (including
pediatric depression), obsessive-compulsive
disorder (in both adult and pediatric
populations), bulimia nervosa,
panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Other indications
include hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder. Despite the availability
of newer agents, it remains extremely popular. Over 23.1 million prescriptions
for generic formulations of fluoxetine were filled in the United States
in 2006, making it the third most prescribed antidepressant.
..Use of SSRI's have been the most controversial in modern medicine. A number of scientists theorized that while boosting serotonin SSRIs also indirectly inhibit another key neurochemical messenger called dopamine. Thus creating a perilous brain imbalance in some people. This would explain why you are seeing reports of deranged mental states being reported after taking SSRIs. Prozac debuted in 1988 and within three years annual sales neared $800 million. Newsweek quickly put it on their cover and hailed it as a breakthrough drug.
..Soon after FDA approval of Prozac here in the states, German regulators rejected it partly because of the concerns that the drug increased the risk of suicide. Lilly was made to include a warning in the drug's package insert about the possible need to prescribe sedatives to counter the risk. Looking back to 1990 Harvard psychiatrist Martin Teicher and colleagues reported that six of their depressed patients had developed "intense, violent suicidal preoccupation" soon after starting to use Prozac. Yet in September 1991 an FDA advisory panel concluded there was no credible evidence that Prozac promotes suicidal or violent impulses.
..Over the past 15 years critics have been given access to what could amount to reams of medical journal reports and internal FDA memorandums obtained with the Freedom of Information Act filings and "unpublished" industry documents pried out through the discovery process in lawsuits. Lilly (the Prozac manufacturer) has quietly paid out an estimated 50 million plus to settle more than 30 lawsuits due to various side effects. As reported in Time Magazine (January 12, 2003) -according to several clinical studies, Prozac is associated with insomnia, restlessness, nausea, weakness, loss of appetite and tremors. It is shocking to learn that as many as -60- percent of Prozac users could suffer lack of sex drive.
..Enter
the drug Paxil. I'm
sure you have seen the advertisements. Rob Robinson
(a rock climber once featured on the
cover of Climbing
Magazine) says his experience with SSRIs started
in 1998. He struggled with withdrawal symptoms including muscle
spasms, extreme sensitivity to sound and horrible
electric 
shock sensations in his head. He went back on Paxil to alleviate
these symptoms. He concluded he had a drug dependency and found a
specialist who took him off the drug in 18 days.
..Robinson states: "Paxil withdrawal symptoms can be so severe and protracted it requires an almost superhuman strength to endure them, not surprisingly, some people can not, and as a consequence commit suicide." Robinson continues: "Others victims have resumed use of Paxil to escape withdrawal symptoms, but will have to take the drug for the rest of their lives whether they want to or not. In other words, they've become lifetime Paxil addicts."
.."Approximately 5,000 U.S. citizens have filed suit against GlaxoSmithKline asserting they became addicted to Paxil and then suffered withdrawals when quitting the drug as a consequence of the company failing to warn them of the drug's dangers. Several thousand more persons have sued GlaxoSmithKline in the UK on the same basis. Paxil's reach extends into medicine cabinets the world over, and cuts across all social classes."
..Robinson said: "Paxil is an equal opportunity destroyer."
.Below is an actual case study of a person (born New Years Day 1973) that was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D.), Depression and Chronic Alcoholism and had been prescribed numerous prescription drugs for all of these conditions.
.."Who
am I to say who I am... Doctor's
have been telling
me who I am for
the past 10 years...".
He describes being raised
in a very dysfunctional home by an alcoholic father (mother
was not an
alcoholic),
that committed suicide
in January of 1987 starting his now many years
of depression. He
describes
what led to this diagnosis and
has been in rehab
six times, beginning in 1992. 
..In 1995 he was involved in a very serious car accident (pictured RIGHT), blood alcohol content was .297. Treated at a mental health facility (for DEPRESSION / ALCHOLISM) and given "Zoloft" during his 7 day stay, he describes the side effects as absolutely terrible: constant dry mouth, constant irritable bowel, hands always sweaty/clammy.
..In 1997 he was prescribed "Luvox" due to drinking a fifth of Jim Beam and taking a bottle of Sleepinal (this was a result of a break-up of a 2 1/2 year relationship). He was admitted to a mental health rehabilitation unit, now being diagnosed as obsessive compulsive. He did not experience side effects. The problem was that if he had a relapse with alcohol the "Luvox" would not work effectively, leaving him with obsessive compulsive disorder once again.
..In 2007 he was prescribed "Wellbutrin" and "Remeron" after four straight days of not eating barely sleeping (even while on Fluvoxamine). The Dr. told him the Wellbutrin was superior to the Luvox he was taking prior, and the he Remron was to facilitate sleep. The Remron caused extreme hunger and the Wellbutrin actually curbed his cessation for smoking . Later in that same year they started him on a Prozac, Seroquel, Vistaril combination. He has what he describes now as "black periods" where he experiences barely eating or very deep sleeping and alcohol abuse recurrences(3 days or more).
| 1st REHAB / Nov. 1992 | 30 days | WESTMORELAND GATEWAY | Drug / Alchol |
| 2nd REHAB / Jan-July 1993 | 6 months | LIGONIER VALLEY TRETEMENT CENTER | Drug / Alchol (by JUDGE) |
| 3rd REHAB / Apr. 1995 | 8 days | LAKEWOOD MENTAL HEALTH | 1st Medication given |
| 4th REHAB / Nov. 1997 | 7 days | WESTMORELAND MENTAL HEALTH | Woke up there after -OVERDOSE- LUVOX given |
| 5th REHAB / July 2007 | 7 days | McKEESPORT MENTAL HEALTH | Wellbutrin - Remron given |
| 6th REHAB / Dec. 2007 | 7 days | WESTMORELAND MENTAL HEALTH | Prozac - Vistaril - Seroquil given |
Prozac (Fluoxetine) - $93 per month, Wellbutrin (Buproprion) - $65 per month, Luvox (Fluvoxamine) - $103.73 per month, Zoloft (Sertraline) - $48.81 per month.
Fluoxetine
hydrochloride (Prozac) is an antidepressant of
the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Fluoxetine
is approved for the
treatment of clinical depression (including
pediatric depression),
obsessive-compulsive disorder (in both adult
and pediatric populations),
bulimia nervosa, panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.Other
indications include hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder.
Despite the availability of newer agents, it remains extremely
popular. Over 23.1 million prescriptions
for generic formulations of fluoxetine were filled in the United
States in 2006, making
it the third most prescribed antidepressant.
Suicidal ideation and behavior in clinical trials are rare. For the
above analysis the FDA combined the results of 295 trials of 11 antidepressants
for psychiatric indications in order to obtain statistically significant
results. Considered separately, fluoxetine use in children increased
the odds of suicidality by 50% (not statistically
significant),
and in adults decreased the odds of suicidality by approximately 30% (statistically
significant). Similarly, the analysis conducted
by the UK MHRA found a 50% increase of odds of suicide-related events,
not reaching statistical significance, in the children and adolescents
on fluoxetine as compared to the ones on placebo. According to the
MHRA data, for adults fluoxetine did not change the rate of self-harm
and statistically significantly decreased suicidal ideation by 50% |
| Bupropion (previously known as amfebutamone, Wellbutrin, Zyban) is an atypical antidepressant that acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and nicotinic antagonist. Bupropion belongs to the chemical class of aminoketones and is similar in structure to the stimulant cathinone, to the anorectic diethylpropion, and to phenethylamines in general. Initially researched and marketed as an antidepressant, bupropion was subsequently found to be effective as a smoking cessation aid. In 2006 it was the fourth-most prescribed antidepressant in the United States retail market, with more than 21 million prescriptions. Bupropion lowers seizure threshold and its potential to cause seizures was widely publicized. However, at the recommended dose the risk of seizures is comparable to that observed for other antidepressants. Bupropion is an effective antidepressant on its own but it is particularly popular as an add-on medication in the cases of incomplete response to the first-line SSRI antidepressant. In contrast to many psychiatric drugs, including nearly all antidepressants, bupropion does not cause weight gain or sexual dysfunction. |
| Fluvoxamine (Luvox) is an antidepressant which functions pharmacologically as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Though it is in the same class as other SSRI drugs, it is most often used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. The normal dosage for depression and anxiety starts at 50mg per day, rising to 100mg after a few days. It may be raised after evaluation of the effects by a doctor. Side effects of fluvoxamine can include: decreased sex drive or ability, drowsiness, tiredness, diarrhea, dizziness or light-headedness, constipation, headache, nausea, nervousness, sleep problems, increased sweating, tremors, serious skin rash, vomiting, stomach pain, dry mouth, heart burn, loss of appetite, pins and needles, abnormal taste, increased heart beat, weight gain or loss, unusual bruising and other allergic problems such as difficulty breathing, fever, confusion, severe weakness, intense agitation or anxiety, restlessness, hypomania, mania, seizures. Fluvoxamine has been found to delay ejaculation in a manner similar to but less than other SSRIs including fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline. |
| Sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft, Lustral) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It was introduced to the market by Pfizer in 1991. Sertraline is primarily used to treat clinical depression in adult outpatients as well as obsessive-compulsive, panic and social anxiety disorders in both adults and children. Sertraline shares the common side effects and contraindications with other members of SSRI class; however, it does not cause weight gain. Controversy and legal actions have resulted from the suspicion that sertraline, similarly to other antidepressants, may increase the risk of suicide. In 2006 it was the most prescribed antidepressant on the U.S. retail market with 28,060,000 prescriptions |
| Mirtazapine (Remeron) is an antidepressant introduced by Organon International in 1994 used for the treatment of moderate to severe depression. Mirtazapine has a tetracyclic chemical structure and is classified as a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA). Mirtazapine and Ludiomil are the only tetracyclic antidepressants that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat depression. Because of its unique pharmacologic profile, mirtazapine is virtually devoid of anticholinergic effects, serotonin-related side effects, and adrenergic side effects (orthostatic hypotension and sexual dysfunction). Antihistaminic side effects of drowsiness and weight gain are prominent. It is most useful as an add-on medication to enhance the effectiveness of agents such as duloxetine and venlafaxine in severe and treatment-resistant depression. Mirtazapine is relatively safe if an overdose is taken. |
| Quetiapine (Seroquel) is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia as well as for the treatment of acute manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, as either monotherapy or adjunct therapy to lithium or divalproex. Quetiapine received its initial indication from the FDA for treatment of schizophrenia in 1997. In 2004, it received its second indication for the treatment of mania-associated bipolar disorder. Quetiapine is controversially marketed to parents of moody and irritable teenagers in magazines such as Parade and TV Guide. It is sometimes used off-label, often as an augmentation agent, to treat such conditions as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, restless legs syndrome, autism, alcoholism, Tourette syndrome, and has been used by physicians as a sedative for those with sleep disorders or anxiety disorders.In 2005, quetiapine and other "atypical antipsychotics" were shown by the New England Journal of Medicine to be no more effective than perphenazine (Trilifon), a typical antipsychotic, for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, the subsequent CATIE trial, funded by AstraZeneca and other major pharmaceutical manufacturers, contradicted the 2005 study in certain instances. A 2005 British Medical Journal report showed that quetiapine was ineffective in reducing agitation among Alzheimer's patients, whose consumption of the drug then constituted 29% of sales; in fact, quetiapine was found to make cognitive functioning worse in elderly patients with dementia. The National Institutes of Health recommends against the use of quetiapine and almost all other psychotropic medications (including all atypicals, most antidepressants, and all benzodiazepines) by children or those under 18, observing that teenagers taking quetiapine "may be more likely to think about harming or killing themselves or to plan or try to do so". AstraZeneca's patent for Seroquel expires in September 2011, which will allow other companies to manufacture Seroquel as its generic equivalent quetiapine. |
| Hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Vistaril) is distributed by several manufacturers as tablets and capsules with strengths of 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg. Oral liquids and ampoules and multi-dose phials for injection are also available. Less commonly, tablets of 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg are manufactured, as are 25 mg suppositories. The latter four strengths of tablets are apparently used both in human medical and vetrinary settings. Hydroxyzine is not thought to be an effective treatment for anxiety if used for a period of over 4 months, and it is therefore a prerequisite of any medical professional prescribing such drugs, to re-assess the usefulness for the individual patient. Reasoning for this decision stems from the fact that hydroxyzine is mainly used as an antihistamine and has a somewhat short shelf-life in its common form. Rather than its use as an anxiety-reducing agent, hydroxyzine should be reconsidered if the patient has more intense anxiety or other psychoneurosis; then other compounds specifically designed for such conditions should be considered. |
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| The opinions, beliefs and practices presented within this article are- NOT- necessarily those of the Visionsmagazineonline.com editorial staff. However, we do believe in giving our readers diversity in the many subjects we put forth in front of you. The words in this article are those of the author. They are edited for content and clairification. The Author's methodology, procedures, and evidence presented here in this article are theirs and theirs alone. We are not endorsing nor condemning them for these practices. We are presenting you with information of what other people involved in paranormal investigations today are doing on a worldwide basis. The choice is yours. |
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