Editorial Note: This post continues a sequence that began with Cochrane Cock-up. It centers on treatment efficacy. A third post will center on safety where Cochrane has failed even more comprehensively than on efficacy. A fourth will feature some of the protagonists. The Cochrane Collaboration took shape around two foundational ideas. One was that randomized controlled … [Read more...] about Data Based Medicine and Cochrane Inc
Cochrane Cock-up
Editorial Note: The Akathisia theme of recent weeks will move over to RxISK for the moment to leave room for some posts about an astonishing meltdown in Cochrane centered on the HPV vaccine. The Cochrane Collaboration began a quarter of a century ago aimed at trying to pull together the best available evidence on treatments. From the start there was an assumption among this … [Read more...] about Cochrane Cock-up
Even Docs get killed by Akathisia
This post by Johanna Ryan is part of a series on DH and RxISK centered on Billiam James's .Akathisia Anthem Pamela Wible, M.D. has been one of the leading voices speaking out about physician suicide. She has done a lot of good, too, by being open about the abuse of doctors by the system - students and junior folks especially – instead of just reciting bland slogans about … [Read more...] about Even Docs get killed by Akathisia
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.
The Hot Zone: Quarantining Girls
The idea of managing lethal epidemics by imposing a quarantine flourished in Italy in the fourteenth century. In their efforts to control the plague, Italian towns regularly put blocks on trade particularly maritime traffic from affected areas. This seemed sensible and may have worked to some extent. But if you don't know what is in fact going on it, it is rarely … [Read more...] about The Hot Zone: Quarantining Girls
In the Name of the BMJ
Editorial Note: This post follows last weeks In the Name of the BBC. There will probably be two more posts on Hostile Environments and The Anti-Facts Brigade. The titles and this photograph come from the movie In the Name of the Father - a compelling 1993 move about the Guildford Four which comes complete with an astonishing cast. The movie costs almost nothing to rent on … [Read more...] about In the Name of the BMJ
In the Name of the BBC
A recent BBC File on Four program on Antidepressants in Children, presented by Paul Connolly, has drawn disparaging comments on posts here. Here is some background detail. I was interviewed for the program. My messages were as follows: That the trials of Prozac in children were identical to the trials of other SSRIs and other antidepressant drugs in this age group - … [Read more...] about In the Name of the BBC
Everyone is Equal?
Editorial: This post comes from a Belgian colleague. Belgium's best-selling pop singer Stromae has been talking about his drug-induced illness all over the media since last year. He claims the anti-malaria drug Lariam (mefloquine) made him instantly psychotic and caused long-term anxiety problems which have already persisted for 3 years after stopping the drug, and still … [Read more...] about Everyone is Equal?
What to do about Suicide
These words are from David Foster Wallace. I don't know if he was speaking about the depression he had or the akathisia that antidepressants can cause. Maybe he didn't know and this contributed to his suicide. This post needs to be read in conjunction with What to do about Sex on RxISK. This post is about structural aspects to the problems not just of sexual dysfunction … [Read more...] about What to do about Suicide