2006N-0414

Suicidality Data from Adult Antidepressant Trials

FDA Comment Number :

EC44

Submitter :

Mrs. Cassandra Dawn Casey

Date & Time:

12/01/2006 09:12:31

Organization :

Mrs. Cassandra Dawn Casey

Category :

Individual Consumer

Issue Areas/Comments

GENERAL

I am neither a psychiatric survivor, nor a member of the Scientology Church. I have never been prescribed, nor have I ever taken a psychiatric drug, but my life has taken a complete 180 degree turn because of them. I carry no high degrees or honors worthy of applaud or recognition. I am just a mother who cares about this world and my fellow man. I care deeply about human rights and free agency.

My ex-husband was prescribed Paxil to alleviate depression. Initially, he had a positive response to it, but that effect did not last. When my son was only twelve years old I was told that a chemical imbalance was the cause of his depression. He was prescribed Prozac by a physicians assistant in our primary care doctors office. Our doctor explained that depression runs in families (like father, like son).

My son told me he didnt want to keep taking this drug because it made him feel really weird. When we discussed this with our doctor, he told us that sometimes it is hard to find the proper dosage for children, but since my son was big for his age, he doubled the dosage. One day I found my son no longer breathing. He had died from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head, or at least thats what his death certificate tells the world.

I eventually came to know of others who had experienced negative results from using antidepressants, and my ex-husband decided to quit taking Paxil, We had been married for nearly twenty years, and had faced different challenges throughout that time, but nothing could have ever prepared us for the nightmare we lived through as he tried to come off Paxil. He became violent and suicidal. Our marriage fell apart during that time. It took almost a year before he was certain that he was free from the horrendous withdrawal. He has never been violent or suicidal since.

Through my own research I discovered that there is no definitive test that can determine whether someone has a chemical imbalance. My personal understanding has been validated by the scientific literature. So, essentially, we had been lied to by the physician we had once trusted. No doubt, he had been lied to and trusted pharmaceutical reps he had once trusted.

The FDA has miserably failed in its own stated mission:

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nations food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

I personally testified before an FDA hearing on the safety of antidepressants in February 2004. I have read the transcripts from the 1991 and September 2004 hearings. It has now been sixteen years since the first horror stories were laid bare for the FDA to examine, and during this expanse of time, the FDA administration has not yet met its own missive, and thousands have died or have been through similar nightmarish experiences to my own. I am not writing to request additional restrictions on these drugs or more strongly worded warnings. I am writing because it is time for those who head the FDA to step down or be booted out. It is well past time to change the guard.

I am prepared to take every effort needed to ensure this is accomplished.

Cassandra Dawn Casey

(formely, Dawn Rider)

Mother to Kevin Neil Rider

(10/02/85 06/03/00)

Lehi, UT