Suicide rates double with antidepressants; drugs being handed out like candy

Wednesday, October 19, 2016 by: Isabelle Z.
Tags: antidepressants, suicide, violence

---

(NaturalNews) The term "antidepressant" implies a pill that takes away depression. In fact, some people even refer to them as "happy pills." However, this could be the misnomer of the century, as a recent study shows that the drugs actually make people twice as likely to become suicidal and violent.

Danish researchers carried out an assessment of 13 previous antidepressant drug trials in what was the first-ever review involving antidepressants that were taken by healthy adults without any signs of mental disorders. The researchers noted a doubling of the harms related to violence and suicide.

After looking at more than 600 cases, the researchers concluded that the original papers underestimated suicide risk as well as the risk of other types of problems. Although the researchers were mostly focused on the risks to healthy people who take antidepressants, they believe that the risk of suicide is increased for everyone who takes them.

A 'lethal misconception'

The Nordic Cochrane Centre's Professor Peter Gotzsche, the study's lead author, stated: "While it is now generally accepted antidepressants increase the risk of suicide and violence in children and adolescents, most people believe these drugs are not dangerous for adults. This is a potentially lethal misconception."

He added that drug trials do not have a good track record for accurately reporting harms, and that adverse event reporting is "generally inadequate."

"It is well documented that drug companies under-report seriously the harms of antidepressants related to suicide and violence, either by simply omitting them from reports, by calling them something else or by committing scientific misconduct," he said.

Dr. Gotzsche is helping expose the pharmaceutical industry's dirty little secret: Studies are often tinkered with in a way that causes them to yield the results their manufacturers want, always casting them in the best light and brushing any problems – no matter how serious – under the rug. They employ a host of tricks to obscure anything that makes their products look bad, and when they can't get creative in their reporting, they simply leave the negative parts out. While they are creatively boosting their bottom line, families are losing loved ones and being torn apart.

Antidepressant over-prescription a serious problem

It might sound dramatic to say that antidepressants are being given out like candy, but it's a lot closer to the truth than most of us would like to believe. Doctors are now prescribing antidepressants for all sorts of medical problems, with one recent study finding that only half of the antidepressant prescriptions written in Quebec in the last decade were for depression. Doctors dole out these drugs for chronic pain, insomnia, migraines and fibromyalgia, and they also regularly prescribe them for "off-label" conditions that they have not gained approval to treat. In fact, two thirds of the antidepressants prescribed for something other than depression fall into this category.

Over 10 percent of Americans taking antidepressants

With the CDC reporting that 11 percent of teens and adults take antidepressants, the situation is reaching a critical point. These drugs pose significant risks to everyone who takes them, whether they had depression in the first place or not. As if the idea of causing people to become violent or suicidal wasn't bad enough, they can also increase a person's risk of Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and heart disease. It's no wonder that Big Pharma is working overtime to doctor studies about antidepressants; if people knew the truth, no one would take them at all!

True depression is a very serious problem. Unfortunately, too many people are being given these drugs when they are not necessary, which is simply unacceptable given the risks. There are lots of safer ways that people can utilize to feel better. Never underestimate the power of cleaning up your diet, consuming more superfoods and working out regularly. Yoga and meditation can both alleviate depression, and talk therapy has also proven to be an effective remedy. Best of all, none of these options cause otherwise mentally healthy people to become violent or suicidal.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com