Before 1980 Roughly through to 1980, vaccines were public goods. They were mostly made by national bodies who were publicly funded, although pharmaceutical companies were dipping their toes in the water. They were used for diseases that a national community thought were serious and worth getting vaccinated against – like polio. Few national communities would have … [Read more...] about Shifting Vaccine Confidence
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Little Red SSRIding Hood
Billiam James' Akathisia Anthem available HERE with lyrics Here raises the profile of one of the most neglected problems in medical care. There may be up to 500 commonly available drugs that trigger depression, agitation and suicadality - see RxISK 500+. The song has a gritty, hard-hitting message -- rated with "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics" on iTunes and Amazon. It's … [Read more...] about Little Red SSRIding Hood
A.K.A.thisia: Drug Induced Emotional Turmoil – D.I.E.T.
A link to the Akathisia Anthem is now live on the RxISK Akathisia page which includes more details on D.I.E.T. Pills. There is a parallel post on RxISK and will be follow up posts here and on RxISK over the next two weeks. AKATHISIA ANTHEM LYRICS: Akathisia, Akathisia You make me wanna Make me wanna Akathisia Thank you doctor for this little pill But the fact of the … [Read more...] about A.K.A.thisia: Drug Induced Emotional Turmoil – D.I.E.T.
Being the Right Peer
Having previously completed a Masters in Psychology degree, a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and worked in the addiction fields for 8 years in the UK and Ireland, Martin worked as a ‘Peer Support Specialist’ for a year while in New Zealand. Due to his criticism of approaches in mental health and the damage he saw being inflicted on people, he left this position … [Read more...] about Being the Right Peer
Quinism Foundation
Editorial Note: We have run previous posts on mefloquine (Lariam) - the The Strange History of Lariam and Lariam Hell and quinoline anti-microbial, as well as on a different group of anti-microbials - the fluoroquinolones - but a lot of their problems overlap. More to the point, those with Mefloquine problems have faced difficulties from Roche that so many others taking … [Read more...] about Quinism Foundation
Tweeting While Psychiatry Burns
Editorial Note: This is part 1 of a lecture given at a British Neuropsychiatric Association meeting in London on February 22 under the heading of Psychopharmacology: 1952 - 2017. The lecture will feature here in 3 posts of which this is the first. Slides 1 -11 can be found HERE. The Birth This picture is taken from a newspaper in 1952. It features Jean Delay wearing navy … [Read more...] about Tweeting While Psychiatry Burns
Generalists and Partialists
An issue that crops up in comments on both this and the RxISK blog is the question of whether treatment would be safer if given by specialists (partialists) rather than general practitioners (generalists). We wouldn't have the problems with antidepressants and antipsychotics for instance many people seem to think if prescribing was done by psychiatrists rather than GPs. This … [Read more...] about Generalists and Partialists
Go Figure: Sally’s Problem with Whinging about Medicines
Two weeks ago in response to the last post in the Study 329 series, Sally MacGregor added the comment - that features as a post below. It's spot on. The problem is how to avoid being marginalized, becoming part of a 1%. How to capture the attention of the 99% for whom the meds work just fine thanks. There will be more on this theme over the next few posts. The whole point … [Read more...] about Go Figure: Sally’s Problem with Whinging about Medicines
Club 329: Part 4
Editorial Note: This post perhaps should be called: There's Something about Leonie. The image above is of a Rapid Response she submitted to a BMJ editorial by Richard Smith and Fiona Godlee that BMJ published and unpublished and republished and re-unpublished. The full story is here. It again hinges around Study 329. The full transcript of her exchanges with Ben G is below. … [Read more...] about Club 329: Part 4
Club 329: Part 3
Editorial Note: This post by Leonie Fennel carries on from parts 1 and 2 in this series. There will be one more post. I dreamt I met my son Shane last night - in a jewelry shop, of all places. I was admiring the beautiful costume jewelry, when I overturned the dainty display and went clambering to pick up all the pieces. It seems I don’t escape my klutziness in the land of my … [Read more...] about Club 329: Part 3