Arianna Discusses The Abuse Of Antidepressants On "Real Time With Bill Maher" (VIDEO)

On Friday night, Arianna appeared on "Real Time with Bill Maher" Friday night alongside Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and they discussed the abuse of antidepressants happening in the US. This is a topic Arianna has been writing about for years. Here are some of her columns and blogs:

Columns:
Exit Joe Camel, enter Joe Prozac
Children, soft money and McProzac

Kip Kinkel: Listening to Prozac?
Barking Back At Prozac
After Littleton: Antidepressants In The Bloodstream

Blogs:

A Pill For Every Ill

WATCH: (Discussion begins at 1:43)

Comments

[Megson]

I began to taper off Celexa about 7 weeks ago after being on it for 8 years. I finally realized it was actually making me feel terrible, so I began to taper. It was a nightmare at first, after the initial 6 weeks I began to feel better and now for the first time in years I feel like a real live person.

There have been no long-term studies of these medications. After much research on my own, I have learned that you will eventually end up with sleep problems (which I have) and you could end up with brain ticks or some other neurological problems. Doctor's are also under the mistaken assumption that you can just switch willy nilly from one to another which is also not true. These drugs have definite effects on everything from your nervous system to your gastrointestinal to your lymphatic system. I found one reliable source on how to get off Celexa which is a book written by James Harper, titled "How to Get Off Celexa Safely." He has also written others for Lexapro, Paxil, etc.

I now call these drugs "the Dementors" because they suck the soul right out of you. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you get the comparison. All I can say is if can happen to me, it can happen to anyone, because I am very savvy when it comes to my own health. Don't let this happen to you.

[funkalicious]

Joe Kennedy's solution to his out of control daughter Rosemarie....pills or lobotomy

We went through the top of the head, I think she was awake. She had a mild tranquilizer. I made a surgical incision in the brain through the skull. It was near the front. It was on both sides. We just made a small incision, no more than an inch." The instrument Dr. Watts used looked like a butter knife. He swung it up and down to cut brain tissue. "We put an instrument inside," he said. As Dr. Watts cut, Dr. Freeman put questions to Rosemary. For example, he asked her to recite the Lord's Prayer or sing "God Bless America" or count backwards. ... "We made an estimate on how far to cut based on how she responded." ... When she began to become incoherent, they stopped.

[RevRayGreen]

botanical cannabis beats any anti-depressant on the market, plus it is healthy for you as a preventive medicine, and little or NO side effects.

[Mr Croman]

I wish they had a doctor on the panel or someone from the APA.

[Nathaliefranks]

Arianna looks gorgeous.

[techjockey]

In the very early 70's I was diagnosed as "clinically hyperactive" at 3 years old, & was perscribed straight amphetamines (this was before Ritalin). Thankfully my mom educated herself enough about the long term side effects of this to refuse the treatment.
2 college degrees (that I paid for myself), an invitation to try out for our olympic team (sports helped a lot), & a wonderful career Iater, I am lucky to have avoided this "treatment".
As in my case, the home life can be a huge factor in learning difficulties. Low grade physical & mental abuse, neglect, and parental disharmont can devastate a child, & it wouldn't hurt to take a look at the other siblings, if there are any. I lived with an extremely abusive older sister that turned out to have more than one serious mental illness diagnosis.

[GinaPera]

Ritalin was developed in the 1950s, so your experience wasn't before Ritalin.

And, really, what does one story mean? You could have misdiagnosed. The doctor could have been wrong.

Your story is great, but it doesn't negate a huge body of scientific research and, perhaps more importantly to some, the stories of millions of people with ADHD.

Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, Or Adult A.D.D.?
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.com

[FrankenPC]

So...the obvious question. Why now? Where did it come from? We have tens of thousands of years of history. Why now? Why the need for massive amounts of drugs?

Just asking a question.

[einstein10]

"millions of people with ADHD" ????

NONSENSE!

[zombie fairy]

I'm a high school special education teacher and I've seen few genuine cases of ADHD. I get a lot of kids who are diagnosed, but not many who actually show the symptoms. There is certainly a population of ADHD kids out there who simply were never taught how to control themselves of deal with what they're feeling.

[einstein10]

"A decade ago, it was rare to find juvenile offenders on two psychotropic drugs at once, Dr. Parks said. Now, many take three or four at a time, often for nonprescribed uses like helping the youths sleep.

“If you just give a kid a pill, the prison administration doesn’t have to do anything differently,” he said. “The staff doesn’t have to do anything differently. The guards don’t have to get more training.”

[FrankenPC]

One final thought. While anti-depressants are WAY over prescribed, we also are suffering from a severe lack of qualified psychiatrists. I have nothing against psychologists, but they have a certain shtick they stick with that rarely changes and doesn't adapt to the individual. A good psychiatrist can analyze mental disorders and repair them at their core.

So, in your city, try to find a psychiatrist who is accepting patients who practices old fashioned psychoanalysis.

Good luck with that.

[NKR]

Psychoanalysis isn't really effective...Freud wasn't really a psychologist. That is, his work wasn't scientific or in any sense empirical. He was more of a philosopher. Almost everything he said was mere speculation, and most of his theories are complete nonsense.This is why there aren't many psychiatrists who practice psychoanalysis.

Modern psychotherapy, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), has been scientifically proven to be effective for the treatment of numerous mental illnesses, particularly depression and anxiety. Most psychiatrists, who are MDs, don't do psychotherapy anymore, as that job is reserved for psychologists (generally PhDs). I wouldn't say its a bad system, as most people receiving medication should also be receiving talk therapy. I have to agree that most psychiatrists are horribly unqualified now though, but for a different reason: most don't keep up with the research and just Rx whatever Big Pharma is pushing, among other problems.

[FrankenPC]

I've heard of CBT. Have to check that out.

[MNmommy]

There are good ones out there, but you are RIGHT, they are incredibly difficult to find.

[einstein10]

"Juvenile prisons have been the caretaker of last resort for troubled children since the 1980s, but mental health experts say the system is in crisis, facing a soaring number of inmates reliant on multiple — and powerful — psychotropic drugs and a shortage of therapists."

Arianna, you are a hero for daring to bring up this subject!

[IdahoMoxie]

I generally agree with this discussion. However, I do not agree with spanking children. Also, Bill Maher is very confused if he thinks the need to use an oxygen tank can be cured "holistically," Someone who is on oxygen probably has COPD which once it happens is due to irreversible lung damage. However, since most COPD is caused by smoking, it can be prevented.

The truth is that the entire theoretical basis for prescribing anti-depressants is very murky and constantly changes. First the idea was that there was a lack of certain neurotransmitters. Then they discovered that the number of receptors responding to the neurotransmitters being increased by the drug actually down regulate (i.e., their numbers are reduced in the brain) at about the time the therapeutic effects are noted. The latest theory I heard was that they think the antidepressants may cause neuron regeneration in certain parts of the brain. Giving anti-depressants to children in my view is usually not a good idea.

I really agree with the overall tone of this discussion which is that we are too inclined to find a pill for a problem instead of learning how to deal with stress, and we need to focus on prevention.

[Bulbul]

By the way, Arianna looked very nice and poised. Over the years I have always noticed, she stands firm what she believes in, speaks out, BUT , maintains that smile.
I think that is her strength....

[FrankenPC]

Yeah, I think she is actually becoming more beautiful with age.

[DeeDubya]

The principal at my son's grade school called a meeting. She said my son seemed depressed because he was withdrawn, quiet, etc. She felt he should be on Prozac and wanted him to meet with a school-affiliated psychiatrist.

We refused.

They called us less than a month later. Seems they thought he was hyperactive; speaking up in class, dancing around, being disruptive. I asked her, "Which one is it? Is he depressed or hyperactive?"

Then I asked her the real question, "How much money does the school get for every referral to this psychiatrist?"

Lo and behold, we got a letter indicating he was no longer welcome at this school. These behaviors have not been reported since (He's in high school now). I think they were lying to make a sale.

Our government is leading a war on drugs that is double-edged. If the drug makes you relaxed or feel good, then it is bad. But if a drug makes you more productive and obedient then it is good.

[GinaPera]

Sorry, but I don't believe your story. Schools do not want to risk lawsuits from situations like this. Moreover, schools do NOT benefit from having a child diagnosed with ADHD. it costs a school more in accommodations, so they often try to gloss over problems.

It's too bad, though, that you don't seem to feel the need to have your child evaluated. Many brain disorders are genetic, you know, and if you have the same disorder you might not see anything wrong with your child. But your child could still be having problems.

[intothedeepbluesea]

WAKE UP> when children act like children instead of zombies it is not a disorder. the disorder is in the fact that a disturbingly growing segment of the population has been swindled into thinking that pharmacies should raise children, not parents !!!

[Isaflower]

I think this is an excellent example of how people become blinded by dollar signs; when someone tells a personal story and you call them a liar and question their parenting ability and also suggest that they might have a 'brain disorder' while at the same time promoting your book about ADHD... are you kidding me!?? are you seriously that unaware of how that appears to anyone that isn't you?

[zombie fairy]

I do believe her story. Something similar happened to my youngest nephew. However, his case didn't get so ugly because I was able to educate my brother on his rights under IDEA and Section 504. Although it is illegal for schools to engage in this sort of activity, schools do it all the time, and not just the private schools. I work for an alternative high school and reviewing the records of incoming student, I am horrified by the illegal activities of traditional public schools.

Really, if the problem never occurred again, there's no reason to have the child re-evaluated. If the problem only happens at school and no where else, it's not likely to be a true disorder. I believe manifestation in multiple environments is a guideline set forth by the DSM.

And, BTW, schools do benefit. There are more accommodations, but if they can get the kid on an IEP rather than a 504 plan, there is extra money to be had for that student.

[Cool-headed]

Thanks for reporting this. Contrary to another poster I have no reason to believe your story is not true. It's outrageous how schools expect kids (especially boys) to behave like stone statues or something.

[Niqueth]

Really, why is it anyone else's business what legally prescribed drugs someone takes? It is between the patient (or patient's guardian) and their Dr. Yet, we get people who say, "I don't need the drugs, so I doubt very many other people do either" -or- "of course I personally need these drugs, but other people are getting them too often.

Who is to say who needs meds? If a particular person like Bill Maher doesn't want to take them, nobody is forcing him. Why is he so vocal about whether other people take drugs to treat their illnesses?

[intothedeepbluesea]

sorry "charlie" (niqueth) it is everybody's business when children are being abused, and forcing dangerous mind altering(often permanently) drugs on children for the simple fact that they are acting like children, and not drugged out zombies, is child abuse ! thinking that the nations kids best interests will be protected by drug dealers is as delusional as thinking monsanto and dow chemical have the best interests of food consumers as their goal !

[Niqueth]

Bill Maher has some strange pseudoscientific views when it comes to healthcare and pharmacology:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/07/bill_maher_and_anti-science.php

Political pundits should refrain from discussing issues better left to medical experts, especially conspiracy theorists like Bill Maher.

[GinaPera]

Absolutely, Niqueth. He's also said that no one should take antibiotics.

Wait until he gets sick enough and see what he won't take.

[intothedeepbluesea]

don't you mean wait till he catches something nasty from one of the whores he so proudly patronizes !

[einstein10]

You are equating anti-depressants with antibiotics???

NONSENSE!

[zombie fairy]

I've taken antibiotics only twice in all of my 32 years. I rarely get sick and when something does go around, I seem to suffer about half as much as the rest of the faculty. I think this is because I didn't take antibiotics every time I got a sniffle and so my immune system is far stronger than that of people who take them several times a year.

[NKR]

I think like a lot of people who believe in the power of alternative medicine, Bill Maher has taken it a bit too far. Alternative medicine is effective for certain things but there's little research to support it because there's no money to be made by researching it. Sure, pharmaceutical companies are greedy and sometimes push unnecessary drugs, but you simply can't cure every medical problem by eating healthy food and taking vitamins & supplements. I was pretty shocked when he implied that people with oxygen tanks don't really need them...as much as he likes to call people who don't listen to scientists ignorant (with reason), he's doing the same thing when it comes to medical and health science.

[MNmommy]

Big MONEY is being made from pseudo-scientific CAM.

[FrankenPC]

I think the key remark was the need for stress management in this country. We are directly rewarded to burn ourselves out. Unchecked stress leads to permanent brain damage. Drugs become the only way to survive after permanent damage has been done to your neurotransmitters. The French understand this. They KNOW how to relax. Everything they do is centered around enjoying life. Sex, food, children, families, shorter work weeks. Americans could learn a lot from them if they would just open up their minds.