26.07.17
Is it right to label antidepressants ‘a prescription for murder’?
As the stigma about mental health decreases and more come forward to be treated for various illnesses, the number of antidepressants that are prescribed to sufferers will be set to increase.
But tonight, the BBC will air a documentary arguing that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) could have some dangerous side effects.
Panorama will argue that SSRIs, including commonly prescribed drugs like Prozac and Seroxat, which are prescribed around 40 million times in Britain every year, could be responsible for 28 reports of murder and 32 cases of murderous thoughts in cases referred to the UK medicines regulator over the past 30 years.
In particular, the programme, called ‘A prescription for murder’, will look into the case of James Holmes, a man who killed 12 people in Colorado at a screening of a Batman film in 2012.
By analysing his notebooks and psychiatric interviews, programme makers have said that he appeared to lose his fear of consequences as the drugs took away his anxiety.
However, in response to the shows findings, an influential mental health charity has warned that the documentary could end up scaring mental health sufferers and discourage them from taking appropriate medication.
“Millions of people take SSRIs and other antidepressants and many find them useful in managing their mental health problems,” Stephen Buckley, head of Information at Mind, stated.
“Side effects from medication can be serious, but it’s important to recognise that severe side effects such as those explored in this programme are incredibly rare.”
Buckley also claimed that anyone prescribed medication for a mental health problem should be fully informed about the drug and its side effects so that they can make an informed choice about whether it’s the right treatment for them.
“Those prescribing medication need to work with and listen to their patients closely, especially in the first few weeks after prescribing a new medicine or making a change of dose,” he continued. “Anyone taking an SSRI or other antidepressant needs to be fully informed about what to do if they are worried about side effects, and how to report them to their doctor and via the Yellow Card Scheme.
“It’s not advisable for someone to stop taking medication suddenly without support from someone they trust – ideally their doctor. If anyone is concerned that they may be experiencing harmful side effects they should speak to their doctor or pharmacist about alternatives.”
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