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Antidepressant Drugs Scientific Resources

Antidepressant Drugs Resource Center 

This page makes available some key scientific publications on antidepressant drugs (last update 10/2/19).  

 

 

(1) Antidepressants Cause or Worsen Activation (Over-stimulation) and Mania

In 2003/2004 (below), I wrote about the stimulant or activation syndrome of adverse drug reactions caused by SSRI antidepressants that are very dangerous and closely resemble amphetamine- and cocaine-like effects. The FDA then included this syndrome in its class warning for all antidepressants, including, for example, Zoloft where it states : “The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and non-psychiatric” (below, pp. 12-13). The scientific literature confirms that this syndrome is very common in adults and even more common in children, afflicting up to 50%, and causes or contributes to a whole array of behavioral abnormalities including harm to self and to others, and bizarre out-of-character antisocial behaviors (see this Section and Sections 2 and 3 below).

A. Adults

B. Children

C.  Serotonin Syndrome (SS).  SS  is a toxic reaction caused by drugs that stimulate serotonin.  It varies from minimal to deadly and can be acute or chronic.  Recovery can seem complete or it can leave neurological disability consistent with brain damage, including cognitive decline, emotional instability, and hyperactive reflexes.   It is easily confused with neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) (123antipsychotics.com); but characteristically reflexes are subdued in NMS and hyperactive in SS. 

 

(2) Antidepressant-induced Suicide 

Antidepressant-induced suicidality is among the most scientifically established facts about antidepressants. Ironically, it is much better established that any claims for antidepressant effectiveness as a treatment (see Section 8 below). It is not surprising that children appear to be more vulnerable than adults to antidepressant-induced suicidality. Because of the immaturity of their brains and minds, their relative inexperience in life, and their dependent status, they are more vulnerable to all neurotoxins, which is why we prohibit their use of other strong psychoactive substances, such as alcohol and marijuana.

I have been writing about antidepressant-induced suicide for many years in books and scientific articles. My book that focuses most intensively on the subject is Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Suicide and Crime. Many of the individuals in the book are taken from malpractice and product liability cases in which I have testified. Most of my scientific articles in Section 7 of this Resource Center also deal with this subject, including Breggin, 1992, 2001, 2003/2004, 2006a-d, 2010, 2014, and 2016. The following material was originated by other scientists and clinicians:

A. Adults

B. Children

C. SSRIs Cause Especially Violent Suicides

 

(3) Antidepressant Violence, Aggression, Hostility,  Irritability and Antisocial Behavior

I have been writing about antidepressant-induced violence for many years in books and scientific articles. My book that focuses most intensively on the subject is Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Suicide and Crime. Many of the cases in the book involve criminal cases in which I have testified. Most of my scientific articles in Section 7 also deal with this subject, including Breggin, 1992, 2001, 2003/2004, 2006d, 2010, 2014, and 2016. The following material was originated by other scientists and clinicians:

A. Adults

B. Children

C. Animal Studies 

 

(4) Antidepressant-Induced Apathy, Indifference, Lack of Caring or Empathy in Children and Adults

 

(5) Persistent Sexual Dysfunction

 

(6) Antidepressants Full Prescribing Information (the Label) with Assorted Dates

 

(7) Selection of Dr. Breggin’s Antidepressant-Related Articles

 

(8) Antidepressant Ineffectiveness

A. Adults

B. Children

C.  Antidepressants Make People Worse

 

(9)  Antidepressant Increase the Death Rate in Humans, and Damage the Fetus, Newborn, Nursing Infant, and Animals

A. Animals:  Damage to Fetus and Young Animals

B. Humans:  Damage to Fetus and Infants

C. Damage to Brain in Adult Animals and Humans

D.  Neurogenesis (growth of new neurons)  Antidepressant-induced neurogenesis is touted as proof of the good physical effects of antidepressants, but neurogenesis is typically the brain’s reaction to brain damage.  This section has articles about antidepressant neurogenesis and about neurogenesis in general as an expression of brain damage from stroke, seizures and electroshocks.

E.  Death and Other Harms to Human Anatomy and Function (Non-CNS)

 

(10) Discontinuation or Withdrawal Syndrome

My book Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal is the most extensive source available for information on why and how to stop taking psychiatric drugs. It discusses the toxicity and withdrawal problems associated with every class of psychiatric drug. It then provides a patient-centered team approach with the prescriber, therapist, and family working cooperatively with the individual withdrawing from the medication. Below is a sample of the psychiatric literature on the hazards of psychiatric drug withdrawal.  

 

(11) Miscellaneous FDA Documents

 

(12) Psychotherapy and Other Effective and Less Harmful Approaches to Depression

 

(13) Head Injury Worsens Drug Reactions

 

(14) SSRI-induced Abnormal Movements, TD, Dystonia (also see Akathisia above)

 

(15)  No Long-Term Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials that Determine Safety. There are many long-term clinical studies that confirm harmful effects such as apathy, brain damage, and sexual dysfunction.  However, there are no adequate long-term randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials that shed light on the risks or safety of the drugs. Therefore, while there is evidence for a variety of long-term harms, there  is no evidence to the contrary demonstrating their safety.

 

 

Antidepressant Drugs Resource Center 

 

 WARNING:
Psychiatric drugs are not only dangerous to take, they are also dangerous to withdraw from. Withdrawal from psychiatric drugs, including antipsychotic drugs, should be done cautiously with professional supervision.Please see my book, Peter R. Breggin, MD, Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families.

 

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