[reality101] ABC 7 Medical: Teens and Antidepressants

> From: atracyphd2@aol.com
> Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 00:23:46 EDT
> Subject: [drugawareness] Media Reports Nationwide on
> Children & Antidepressants
>
> The following is a transcript and access to the
> online video of the interview
> with Mathy Downing, mother of 12 year old Candace
> Downing, who died earlier
> this year in a Zoloft-induced suicide. It is an
> excellent report by the local
> ABC station in the DC area.
>
> Amy Coburn did an interview with CNN this evening.
> After her father's death
> Amy was given Paxil to cope. After only a short time
> on the drug she attempted
> suicide by drinking Draino. Amy has been very vocal
> about this as a warning to
> other teens. She is a beauty queen now, beautiful
> both inside and out, and
> has made antidepressants and children her platform
> because she is so concerned
> about this issue. The CNN piece should air Monday.
>
> Tom Woodward, his neighbor Doug Ross, and I did an
> interview with NPR radio
> which should be airing this next week.
>
> Thanks to all the parents and children who are
> working so hard to help the
> media cover this most important issue as the FDA
> hearings draw near. Watch
> closely this week to catch all the media reports. If
> your local media is
> interested, have them contact us for any assistance.
>
> Dr. Tracy
> ______________
>
> Ann Blake Tracy, Ph.D.,
> Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug
> Awareness
> Author: Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin
> Nightmare & audio tape on
> safe withdrawal: "Help! I Can't Get Off My
> Antidepressant!"
> Order Number: 800-280-0730
> Website: www.drugawareness.org
>
>
>
> Be sure to access the video from this online link:
> http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0904/171639.html
>
> ABC 7 Medical: Teens and Antidepressants
> Wednesday September 08, 2004 5:35pm
>
>
>
> eVideo: Medical: Teens and Antidepressants
>
>
> -WJLA Script-
>
> Anchor:
> A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE BEGINS ITS INVESTIGATION
> INTO WHETHER THE FDA
> FAILED TO REVEAL POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING SIDE
> EFFECTS OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS WHEN
> USED BY CHILDREN.
>
> TONIGHT ABC-7 MEDICAL REPORTER KATHY FOWLER BRINGS
> US ONE LOCAL FAMILY'S
> HEARTBREAKING STORY - AND EXPLAINS WHY THEY BLAME
> THE FDA FOR THEIR DAUGHTER'S
> DEATH.
>
> Kathy Fowler on-set:
> 12 YEAR OLD CANDACE DOWNING WAS AN HONOR STUDENT, AN
> ATHLETE, AND HAD A
> BUBBLY PERSONALITY THAT ATTRACTED LOTS OF FRIENDS.
> SHE WAS ALSO AN OVER ACHEIVER
> AND THAT LEAD TO SCHOOL ANXIETY. DESPITE THE NAME
> ANTI-DEPRESSANTS - DOCTORS
> ALSO USE THESE DRUGS TO CALM HIGH ANXIETY.
>
> CANDACE'S MOTHER AGREED TO PUT HER DAUGHTER ON
> ANTIDEPRESSANTS BUT SHE DIDN'T
> KNOW THERE COULD BE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS.
>
> "hello I'm Candace Downing"
>
> THIS WAS ONE OF CANDACE DOWNINGS LAST PERFORMANCES
>
> JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THIS SKIT WAS TAPED...
> CANDACE KILLED HERSELF. SHE
> WAS JUST 12 YEARS OLD.
>
> Mathy Downing: "SHE never got to be a teenager...
> she had so many plans and
> she had so many dreams... and they took them all.
> and it didn't have to happen"
>
>
> CANDACE'S MOTHER BLAMES HER DAUGHTER'S SUICIDE ON
> THE ANTI-DEPRESSANT,
> ZOLOFT. A PSYCHAITRIST PRESCRIBED, ZOLOFT NOT
> BECAUSE CANDACE WAS DEPRESSED, BUT TO
> TREAT HER ANXIETY OVER TESTING IN SCHOOL.
>
> Mathy Downing: "You tell me where it says theres a
> chance children may harm
> themelves OR die while on this medication this is it
> that's it"
>
> WHILE DRUG COMPANIES TYPICALLY PUT WARNING LABELS ON
> MEDICATION - THOSE
> WARNINGS HAVE TO BE FDA APPROVED.
>
> TOMORROW, THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE
> FDA BEGINS IT'S
> INVESTIGATION INTO WHY THE FDA DIDN'T RELEASE IT'S
> OWN STUDY LAST FEBRUARY THAT FOUND
> MANY ANTI-DEPRESSANTS INCREASED A CHILD'S RISK OF
> HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR
> ACTUALLY COMMITTING SUICIDE.
>
> 7 MONTHS AGO, THE FDA'S DIRECTOR OF DRUG EVALUATION
> SAID, THERE ISN'T ANY
> DOUBT THAT THESE DRUGS CAN CAUSE AKATHISIA A
> CONDITION THAT CAUSES SEVERE
> AGITATION THAT CAN LEAD TO SUICIDE.
>
> DESPITE THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS,
> MANY CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS SAY
> ANTIDEPRESSANTS CAN SAVE CHILDREN'S LIVES.
>
> Dr. Adelaide Rob: "while anti-depessants have side
> effects, for many people
> they take a child who's not getting out of bed, not
> bathing not talking to
> their friends and not doing their school work and
> get them back to where they
> are laughing and smiling"
>
> BUT NOT ALL DOCTORS AGREE THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGHT THE
> RISKS. 10 YEARS AGO, Dr.
> PETER BREGGIN, FORMERLY WITH THE NIH , RECOMMENDED
> TO THE FDA, WARNING LABELS
> FOR ANTI-DEPRESSANTS SITING STRONG BEHAVIORAL
> REACTIONS INCLUDING VIOLENCE,
> DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE.
>
> Candace Downing "hey guys thank you joining me
> Wednesday..."
>
> CANDACES MOTHER JUST WISHES SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN OF
> THE DANGERS BEFORE GIVING
> THE DRUGS TO HER CHILD.
>
> Mathy Downing: They had an obligation to let parents
> know this was a risk
> because if I for one would never have risked my
> child's life for anything.. and
> they had no right to make that decision for me."
>
> Candace Downing: "see you later bye bye"
>
> Kathy Fowler:
> WE CONTACTED PFIZER THE MAKER OF ZOLOFT, THE DRUG
> THAT CANDACE DOWNING TOOK,
> PFIZER DID NOT HAVE A COMMENT FOR OUR STORY... BUT
> WE CAN TELL YOU THERE IS
> "NOW" A WARNING ON ZOLOFT.
>
> IT SAYS CHILDREN MAY BE MORE SENSITIVE TO THE
> EFFECTS OF THIS MEDICINE.
>
> THE FDA IS MEETING NEXT WEEK TO DECIDE WHETHER
> STRONGER WARNING LABELS ARE
> NEEDED OR EVEN IF SOME OF THESE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
> SHOULD BE BANNED FOR CHILDREN.
>