Archive for Genetics

Family fears one of UK’s most commonly prescribed anti-depressant drugs stopped their 24-year-old son’s heart beating amid concerns it could harm others — (The Daily Mail)
SSRI Ed note: Two young people taking sertraline suffer sudden death, doctors suspect drug but coroners record deaths as from natural causes.
DNA on drugs: How genetic tests could make prescriptions more precise — (The Globe and Mail)
SSRI Ed note: Pharmacogenetic testing reveals who cannot metobolize meds incl. antidepressants, and will likely be harmed. Such tests should be done prior to prescribing.
Alabama Girl Medically Kidnapped and Forced on Drugs: Parents Facing Jail for Failure to Pay State Child Support — (Health Impact News)
SSRI Ed note: Family may be poor metabolizes of antidepressants, given the 2 suicides. Teenager is drugged by state against her mom's wishes.
Nebraska man blames Zoloft in girlfriend’s 2002 killing — (Tri-City Herald)
SSRI Ed note: Man is put on Zoloft, attempts suicide, kills girlfriend, is convicted. Blames drug, is tested, found to be a poor metabolizer, court rejects appeal.
Antidepressants Are Among the Most Dangerous Drugs Available Causing 40,000 Deaths a Year — (Investment Watch)
SSRI Ed note: Many people have reduced or no ability to metabolize SSRIs due to a deficiency in CYP2D6 (cytochrome P450 2D6), an enzyme needed for 1/4 all prescriptions.
Fish on Prozac become angry, aggressive and KILL their mates, new study finds — (Daily Mail)
New diagnostics firm asks: Can genes give clues about who’s at risk for antidepressant-related suicide and violence? — (MedCity News)
When Medicating Kids Goes Very, Very Wrong — (Blog Her)
Antidepressant-induced akathisia-related homicides associated with diminishing mutations in metabolizing genes of the CYP450 family — (DovePress Journal)
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology — (Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology)
SSRI Ed note: Child given Ritalin, clonidine and Prozac experiences horrible side effects over 10 months, "expires", cytochrome P450 CYP2D (gene) defect discovered.
A beginning to forget — (The Richmond Times-Dispatch)
SSRI Ed note: New mom given various antidepressants and getting worse goes to Mayo Clinic where she learns she is a non-metabolizer, drugs are poisoning her.
Drugs may cause violence in sleep — (Phys.org)
SSRI Ed note: Doctor at Mayo clinic discovers that 80% of young people with REM sleep disorder, causing violent dreams, are on antidepressants.
31-Year-Old Female Shows Marked Improvement in Depression, Agitation, and Panic Attacks after Genetic Testing Was Used to Inform Treatment — (Case Reports in Psychiatry)
SSRI Ed note: Genetic testing results in tailored treatment for woman with depression, agitation, panic attacks. Non-pharmaceutical solutions not considered.
Lilly settles Prozac lawsuit — (Indy Star)
Prozac and Suicide, an Interview with Dr. David Healy — (CounterPunch)
The Promise of Precision Prescriptions – ‘Pharmacogenomics’ Also Raises Issues of Race, Privacy — (Washington Post)
Prozac Victim’s Parents Settle With Doctor. Martins Creek Couple Will Collect $187,500 In Case Where Their Son Died — (The Morning Call)
SSRI Ed note: Nine-year-old dies from drug toxicity while doctor who prescribed high/increasing dosage failed to notice symptoms.
MUTANT MICE MAY HOLD KEY TO HUMAN VIOLENCE: AN EXCESS OF SEROTONIN, A CHEMICAL THAT HELPS REGULATE MOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH, CAUSES MAYHEM — (Portland Press Herald)