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Medication Madness: True Stories of Mayhem, Murder & Suicide Caused by Psychiatric Drugs
Medications for everything from depression and anxiety to ADHD and insomnia are being prescribed in alarming numbers across the country, but the “cure” is often worse than the original problem. Medication Madness is a fascinating, frightening, and dramatic look at the role that psychiatric medications have played in fifty cases of suicide, murder, and other violent, criminal, and bizarre behaviors. As a psychiatrist who believes in holding people responsible for their conduct, the weight of scientific evidence and years of clinical experience eventually convinced Dr. Breggin that psychiatric drugs frequently cause individuals to lose their judgment and their ability to control their emotions and actions. Medication Madness raises and examines the issues surrounding personal responsibility when behavior seems driven by drug-induced adverse reactions and intoxication. Dr. Breggin personally evaluated the cases in the book in his role as a treating psychiatrist, consultant or medical expert. He interviewed survivors and witnesses, and reviewed extensive medical, occupational, educational and police records. The great majority of individuals lived exemplary lives and committed no criminal or bizarre actions prior to taking the psychiatric medications. Medication Madness reads like a medical thriller, true crime story, and courtroom drama; but it is firmly based in the latest scientific research and dozens of case studies. The lives of the children and adults in these stories, as well as the lives of their families and their victims, were thrown into turmoil and sometimes destroyed by the unanticipated effects of psychiatric drugs. In some cases our entire society was transformed by the tragic outcomes. Many categories of psychiatric drugs can cause potentially horrendous reactions. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Xanax, lithium, Zyprexa and other psychiatric medications may spellbind patients into believing they are improved when too often they are becoming worse. Psychiatric drugs drive some people into psychosis, mania, depression, suicide, agitation, compulsive violence and loss of self-control without the individuals realizing that their medications have deformed their way of thinking and feeling. This book documents how the FDA, the medical establishment and the pharmaceutical industry have over-sold the value of psychiatric drugs. It serves as a cautionary tale about our reliance on potentially dangerous psychoactive chemicals to relieve our emotional problems and provides a positive approach to taking personal charge of our lives.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2008
About the author
Peter R. Breggin
31 books106 followers
Peter R. Breggin MD is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and former Consultant at NIMH who has been called “The Conscience of Psychiatry” for his many decades of successful efforts to reform the mental health field.
His work provides the foundation for modern criticism of psychiatric diagnoses and drugs, and leads the way in promoting more caring and effective therapies.
His research and educational projects have brought about major changes in the FDA-approved Full Prescribing Information or labels for dozens of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.
Dr. Breggin has authored dozens of scientific articles and more than twenty books, including medical books and the bestsellers Toxic Psychiatry and Talking Back to Prozac.
His work provides the foundation for modern criticism of psychiatric diagnoses and drugs, and leads the way in promoting more caring and effective therapies.
His research and educational projects have brought about major changes in the FDA-approved Full Prescribing Information or labels for dozens of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.
Dr. Breggin has authored dozens of scientific articles and more than twenty books, including medical books and the bestsellers Toxic Psychiatry and Talking Back to Prozac.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Due to the large number of people that I have come in contact w/over the years as a jail chaplain, coach, & pastor, who have at one time or another sought my help for either themselves or others they care about, I have had a high level of interest in counseling, psychology & related topics. Along the way I have also encountered a large number of these people who were suffering in many ways that seemed to worsen regardless of the kind of advice or help I offered. What I also discovered was that many, dare I say most, advocated a philosophy of life that did not reflect what they had believed in the recent past and seemed resigned to living within a diminished level of expectation as it concerned life. What I discovered was alarming, all of them were taking or had taken anti-depressants.
I began reading everything I could get my hands on concerning these types of drugs and what I have discovered has compelled me to take a very unpopular stand. I have read over 20 books pertaining directly to the issue of anti-depressants; most people have no desire to read that much about this subject. So what one book could I recommend that would give them all I would want them to be exposed to that would help them get a grasp of the life altering issues surrounding these drugs. Until this past week there was no one book that did, but now there is.
Written in 2008 “Medicated Madness” covers a wide range of issues related to these drugs and their dangers. You obviously won’t know it all, but you will be alarmed and, I trust, want to read more. From the flyleaf it states, “Medications for everything from depression & anxiety to ADHD & insomnia are being prescribed in alarming numbers across the country, but the cure is often worse than the original problem.”
You will be amazed, stunned, and angered by what you read. You will soon realize that the doctor writing this book is not simply giving his opinion but has offered a well informed diagnosis that is acutely & alarmingly accurate.
There is so much that I could cover but then I would simply be repeating what is between the covers of a highly compassionate & informative book that is much better worded than anything I could say.
The greatest danger is being uninformed. You, your family and loved ones really are in danger unless there is someone who knows about these drugs and the philosophy of treatment that stands behind each prescription that is written. And no, you cannot trust your doctor, not because he is necessarily untrustworthy, but because he has been miss-informed.
Someone you love is suffering (or will be soon) because they do not know what is in this book. You can help them. You can save them from suffering.
I know this is long but let me end with a quote from page 209-210: “For everyone of the more extreme & horrifying outcomes described in this book, there are untold numbers of people who are suffering similar reactions of a lesser degree or intensity. Instead of becoming depressed & suicidal, the feel ‘down,’ apathetic, or perhaps saddened—life loses its luster & nothing seems to matter much anymore. Instead of killing themselves, they worry a great deal & feel that life isn’t worth living; they withdraw from others or stop taking good care of themselves. Instead of becoming murderous, they become more irritable & aggressive, distressing their friends, loved ones, & coworkers. And all these people will be too medication spellbound to realize what is happening to them.”
Simply put, they are suffering & life is more than suffering.
I began reading everything I could get my hands on concerning these types of drugs and what I have discovered has compelled me to take a very unpopular stand. I have read over 20 books pertaining directly to the issue of anti-depressants; most people have no desire to read that much about this subject. So what one book could I recommend that would give them all I would want them to be exposed to that would help them get a grasp of the life altering issues surrounding these drugs. Until this past week there was no one book that did, but now there is.
Written in 2008 “Medicated Madness” covers a wide range of issues related to these drugs and their dangers. You obviously won’t know it all, but you will be alarmed and, I trust, want to read more. From the flyleaf it states, “Medications for everything from depression & anxiety to ADHD & insomnia are being prescribed in alarming numbers across the country, but the cure is often worse than the original problem.”
You will be amazed, stunned, and angered by what you read. You will soon realize that the doctor writing this book is not simply giving his opinion but has offered a well informed diagnosis that is acutely & alarmingly accurate.
There is so much that I could cover but then I would simply be repeating what is between the covers of a highly compassionate & informative book that is much better worded than anything I could say.
The greatest danger is being uninformed. You, your family and loved ones really are in danger unless there is someone who knows about these drugs and the philosophy of treatment that stands behind each prescription that is written. And no, you cannot trust your doctor, not because he is necessarily untrustworthy, but because he has been miss-informed.
Someone you love is suffering (or will be soon) because they do not know what is in this book. You can help them. You can save them from suffering.
I know this is long but let me end with a quote from page 209-210: “For everyone of the more extreme & horrifying outcomes described in this book, there are untold numbers of people who are suffering similar reactions of a lesser degree or intensity. Instead of becoming depressed & suicidal, the feel ‘down,’ apathetic, or perhaps saddened—life loses its luster & nothing seems to matter much anymore. Instead of killing themselves, they worry a great deal & feel that life isn’t worth living; they withdraw from others or stop taking good care of themselves. Instead of becoming murderous, they become more irritable & aggressive, distressing their friends, loved ones, & coworkers. And all these people will be too medication spellbound to realize what is happening to them.”
Simply put, they are suffering & life is more than suffering.
Good idea, poor execution. There are indeed cases in which people were negatively influenced by psychiatric drugs to the extent they became psychotic, violent/homicidal or suicidal and it's important to acknowledge these and dig into why precisely their brains reacted to the medication the way they did.
On the other hand, there are very many cases in which antidepressants/SSRI's have greatly helped individuals recover from depression, suicidal ideation, grief and more. Particularly in combination with some form of therapy and/or adding spirituality to the mix if so desired by the patient.
There is no one size fits all approach with medication or therapy, and to state that is grossly negligent and dangerous.
The author's insistence that medication in general is "the devil" comes across as extremely paranoid and alarmist.
Additionally he is unbearably blasé about needing to point out on every second to third page that HE ALONE had warned the entire medical community and world about the catastrophe that psychotropic drugs, antibiotics et al would cause worldwide for many years before anyone else "caught on." That's not only starkly exaggerated but also seems uncomfortably narcissistic to me, which is another reason I cannot take this book 100% serious.
On the other hand, there are very many cases in which antidepressants/SSRI's have greatly helped individuals recover from depression, suicidal ideation, grief and more. Particularly in combination with some form of therapy and/or adding spirituality to the mix if so desired by the patient.
There is no one size fits all approach with medication or therapy, and to state that is grossly negligent and dangerous.
The author's insistence that medication in general is "the devil" comes across as extremely paranoid and alarmist.
Additionally he is unbearably blasé about needing to point out on every second to third page that HE ALONE had warned the entire medical community and world about the catastrophe that psychotropic drugs, antibiotics et al would cause worldwide for many years before anyone else "caught on." That's not only starkly exaggerated but also seems uncomfortably narcissistic to me, which is another reason I cannot take this book 100% serious.
This is an excellent book. It explains how drug companies suppress and/or manipulate the results of their trials before they put a new drug on the market (related to psychiatric diagnoses). Once on the market these drugs are aggressively promoted to doctors to use as add ons and in combination with other drugs that they have never had tests trials done. Payoffs, lobbying, suppressing information, case histories of patients that have had their minds altered by one pill. . . I think this is a very important book for anyone to read that is being treated by medication for mental health issues.
In "Medication Madness," Peter Breggin describes dozens of cases that he has personally evaluated as a practicing psychiatrist. These stories were told without embellishment; their truth was dramatic enough. Through his clearly sympathetic retelling, we hear "about children and adults who have been emotionally injured and sometimes driven mad by psychiatric medications, many committing horrific crimes." (p. 1) Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, anti-psychotics and ADHD stimulants are all, at various times, villains in these tales of medication insanity. You MUST read this book if you know someone using psychiatric medications.
More mandatory reading for anyone thinking about putting themselves or a loved one on a psych med. Risky, risky business!
Very interesting stories, but a little boring at times. All in all, I enjoyed it.
This was an interesting book. Unlike Healy's work, Breggin is starkly biased against all forms of medication in favor of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and this makes the book far more polemic and less reasonable. It is much less balanced, and states its claims in stark terms even where there is considerable room for interpretation and more careful scholars are hesitant to make sweeping claims. Still, some of it was helpful, but the lack of even-headed balance seems to me to damage the overall legitimate thesis.
This was an excellent read, accessible for just about anyone interested in the subject. The author does lean a little too far in the direction of denouncing ALL psych meds as bad news, but he does make the solid point that they are not really correcting some sort of chemical imbalance in the brain: they create artificial imbalances. He also gets, just a little, into what really helps people in psychological distress. I wish he would spend more time on this if, as he says, he truly wants to steer people away from using psych meds.
Dr. Breggin has done it again! I applaud his fine effort in this remarkable book and encourage any thinking human being to read it, and read it now. The description of "spellbinding" and the application thereof, to all our addictions, is worth way beyond the price of the book. I have been associated with Dr. Breggin's ICSPP organization for several years and am proud of that association and for standing up for psychiatric patient's rights. A great book by a truly great man of our time.
You won't ever consider taking antidepressants, tranquillisers or sleeping pills after reading this book. It's a disturbing fact that three million Australians, some of them children, are on antidepressants. Many more children are on medication for so-called ADHD. This is indeed medication madness.
This guy was and is way ahead of his time. Read this book: http://psychiatricsurvivors.wordpress...
Does a wonderful job exposing the dangers and ineffectiveness of most anti-depressant medications.
Very insightful and helpful
This book and others by Dr. Breggin have been very insightful and helpful in understanding how to help my son who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder over 20 years ago. Many years of Depakote and lithium have left him with so many serious side effects and related major health issues. Now I am confident there is a better way.
This book and others by Dr. Breggin have been very insightful and helpful in understanding how to help my son who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder over 20 years ago. Many years of Depakote and lithium have left him with so many serious side effects and related major health issues. Now I am confident there is a better way.
Very informative -- think twice before taking any medication and do your homework.
This book was enthralling and disturbing. It really changed the way I look at mental health in general. I definitely recommend it!
I tend to agree with the criticisms in other reviews (repetitive, self promoting, etc.) but found this book to be hugely eye opening and helpful, and even, for me, paradigm changing
Eye opening.
It took me six weeks to read this book and I'm glad I did read it slowly. Dr. Breggin, the researcher, consultant, medical expert, and clinical psychiatrist, provides a fascinating look at the adverse effects of different classes of drugs. He tells the stories of many individuals he has encountered during his career. One of his life principles: 15. You cannot solve your problems by taking psychoactive substances that impair your mind and the expression of your spirit. .......all drugs oppress and distort our real emotions and should be avoided, especially in time of suffering or fear when we need to know what we are feeling and to control our actions. I feel that drugs can help many individuals and one needs to take a minimalist approach toward the use of drugs if possible. One needs, with the help of family, friends and counselor or therapist, to monitor drug use, it's effects and also any withdrawal effects if there is a change of dosages.
He takes a very very negative approach to psychoactive medication. I completely agree with this to an extent. Drugs used in conglomeration with various out-patient therapy techniques, proven to be beneficial for many people. This has also been 10 years ago, not to say that much had changed in terms of the pharmaceutical industries, but more and more people have been put on psychoactive medication and less are seeing such drastically blatant psychotic responses. Overall though the book has a lot of very interesting, gruesomely fascinating stories about people that were wronged by theier prescribing physicians.
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September 6, 2010
This book is mind blowing. It deeply discuss the problems of modern-day medication. It is by far my favorite book and im sure I will read it again in time. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interesting in the pharmopyschology field.It is astonishing to read a book that tells the flip side of prescription medications that we think will help us, when in realistic form, they hurt us more than anything. Medications are a toxin to the human body and mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Makes a lot of really good points about the dangers of antidepressants, discusses dismissal of the fact that it's been made clear over and over in studies that antidepressants are not
effective in treating mild to moderate depression, discusses how NT theories of depression lack evidence.
Some interesting case studies (but not totally convincing). It's really too bad this guy shows up on right-wing talk radio so much.
effective in treating mild to moderate depression, discusses how NT theories of depression lack evidence.
Some interesting case studies (but not totally convincing). It's really too bad this guy shows up on right-wing talk radio so much.
A fascinating and apropos reading.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews