Mom I Didn’t Mean To Do It
Note from Le Clown: This blog post is written by a friend of mine, Elaine Billings. Elaine is not a blogger, but a mother who lost her son through a tragic death. Her son’s story is an important one, and I am honoured to give her family a place to share this unfortunate story. Elaine will answer your comments herself. Much love, Elaine.
SSRI Drugs; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor.
Names for some of these drugs are; Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Effexor, Lexapor, Paxil and Prozac.
Tommy’s Story:
My son, Tommy didn’t just pass away ( that sounds so peaceful) it was anything but peaceful. My son committed SUICIDE that day! Why? Because he was given an antidepressant by the name of ZOLOFT! His mental disorder proclaimed by this doctor was, “ANXIETY”! I would certainly like to know, when did ANXIETY become a death sentence????
September 8, 2011 Thursday morning, I looked out my dinning room window, and watched my son mowing his lawn. I was smiling and thinking how lucky I was. Tommy and his family had moved back to our home town and as luck would have it, a house across the street went on the market and he bought it. I was just smiling away, and I said to myself, call Tommy up later and see if they want to come over for dinner tomorrow night. By now, you realize I didn’t get a chance to make that phone call! As told to me by his wife Tina, Tommy woke up that morning rested, and in a happy frame of mind. He made a couple of phone calls to friends. One to meet the next day for lunch, and the other for lunch the following Monday. These conversations show intent to being alive and well. That morning Tina left, to go out with her mother, and Tommy stayed home with his 11 year old daughter and his 9 year old son. At some point that morning, Brett asked his dad if he would go pick up a friend for him to play with Tommy said yes, and went and got him. Later that day, Morgan asked the same, would he go pick up her friend and Tommy said yes. I also, learned on his way down the road, one of Tommy’s friends was driving up the road, and he told Tina, that Tommy did what he always did when passing a friend in their cars. He blinked his car’s head lights and gave a wave and smile. After that point something sudden, and terrible happened to Tommy’s mind. Instead of getting his daughter’s friend, he drove his car to a downtown parking lot. He parked his car, retrieved his gun from his car’s trunk. He got back into the driver’s seat and putting the gun to his head, he pulled the trigger!! My first born child, my only son, was DEAD! For the life of me, I couldn’t understand how such a happy man who LOVED life, his family, job and friends could do something like this to himself. A few nights after his death, I was sitting in my bedroom, and he came to me he said, “Mom help me!” “I didn’t mean to do this!” I called my daughter in-law the next day and asked her if Tommy was taking any medications? She said, yes, Zoloft and Wellbutrin. That is when, I started to investigate to see if these antidepressant drugs, could have been the cause of my son’s death. What I learned was staggering and frightening.
The Black Box Warnings
In Zoloft the following symptoms have been reported. 1. Anxiety 2.Agitation 3. Panic Attacks 4. Insomnia 5. Irritability 6. Hostility 7. Aggressiveness 8. Impulsivity 9. Akathisia 10. Hypomania and 11. Mania, in adults and pediatric patients. Although a casual link between the emergence of such symptoms has not been established there is concern that such symptoms maybe precursors to emerging of “SUICIDALITY” The Black Box Warning goes on to say, short-term placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant drugs increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults, 24/25 years old and younger. My son, was 42 years old. When he restarted these drugs, in less than two weeks, he was DEAD. He is not the only adult who had died by SUICIDE on these and all Psychotropic drugs. The Pharmaceutical Companies and Scientific evidence suggests that depression and certain anxiety disorders may be caused by a “Chemical Imbalance” in the brain. Yet, there is no blood test, x-ray, MRI that can show this to be true. Psychiatrist can’t predict what adverse side effects you might experience because not one of them knows how their drugs work. Another paper I have read said, Common and well-documented side effects of psychiatric drugs include; 1. Psychosis 2. Hallucinations 3. Depersonalization 4. Suicidal Ideation 5. Heart Attacks 6. Stroke and sudden death. There are many damaging effects on humans, besides what I have listed here. A very serious problem is withdrawal symptoms, this needs to be done with a doctor who is very familiar with the debilitating side effects of withdrawal. Many people are physically damaged, and will have a lifetime of pain.
If you are asking yourself, why is’t this information getting out to the general population? May I suggest that the Pharmaceutical Company’s have deep pockets. They advertise their drugs on the major TV networks, also in magazines, newspapers and other print forms. If they get sued, they more than likely settle out of court with some sort of gag order’s in place. GP’s are writing the prescriptions, and many rely, on what the drug reps. are telling them about the SSRI Drugs and all the other Psychotropic Drugs on the market. Drug reps. get paid and bonus’s made by, the amounts of their particular Psych Drugs that are getting filled for the paying customer, us!
My advice is heed; “THE BLACK BOX WARNINGS!” Ask for full disclosure, go home and research the drug before you take it. There are plenty of Professional people out here, who absolutely know the dangers of Psych Drugs and you can friend them on the Internet. Please do, because I know what the SSRI Drugs did to my son first and foremost, and also to our entire family. And me Tommy’s mom, I am never going to be the woman I was before my son’s SUICIDE! I will have a lifetime of grief, because he shouldn’t have died, but because of Big Pharma’s greed! One more warning from me, Stop Drugging Our Children! Putting them into a system, that will do nothing but harm them in the long run!!
_______________________________
Ilion, New York–Thomas E. “Tom” Fort Jr. age 42, passed away, on Thursday afternoon, on September 8, 2011, in Ilion, NY. He was born on January 25, 1969, in Ilion, son of Thomas E. Fort Sr., of Ilion, and Elaine P. (Baker) Billings, of Ilion. He graduated from Utica College with a degree in Criminal Justice. On September 23, 1995, he was joined in marriage with Tina M. Failing in Annunciation Church, Ilion; a union of nearly 16 years. He entered into service with the New York State Police on October 12, 1992, and earned the rank of Investigator on February 4, 1999, and eventually the rank of Sgt. on May 3, 2007. During his 18 year tenure with the state police, he was a hostage negotiator, crime scene technician and a polygraphist. Tom was successful in the personal roles of his life and devoted to his family which earned him the admiration and respect of his wife and children. He served as an excellent and inspiring role model while performing his duties as a New York State Trooper and eventually as a Sgt. and Investigator. He loved sports, golfing and especially coaching his children’s sports teams. Tom will be forever remembered by his family and friends. Survivors include his beloved family; his wife, Tina (Failing) Fort, of Ilion; a daughter, Morgan Fort; a son, Brett Fort; his mother and step-father Elaine and William Billings, of Ilion; his father, Thomas Fort, Sr., of Ilion; mother- in-law, Donna Bailey, of Little Falls; father-in-law, Marty Failing, of Little Falls; grandmother, Eleanor Kuhner, of Ilion; sisters and brother-in-laws, Nicole and Gary Stuart, of Scotia, and Kelly and Sam Dickenson, of Glens Falls; brother-in-law and companion, Paut Failing and Adrian DePetro, of Little Falls, step-brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Amy Billings, of Dolgeville; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; as well as many great friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Frank Baker; paternal grandparents, Leland and Betty Fort; and by an uncle, Robert Fort. Relatives and friends are invited to visitation on Tuesday September 13, 2011, from 4-8 pm. The funeral will commence on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, Procession will follow to Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion, where he will be laid to rest.Elaine Billings
Tommy’s mom….. RIP until I see you again my son
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51 Comments on “Mom I Didn’t Mean To Do It”
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Elaine,
This is a heart-breaking story. I’m so sorry.
Your sharing it will touch everyone who reads it and provoke thinking about drugs, the companies that make them, and big money endorsements that encourage uneducated use and distribution.
Thank you for sharing.
John
Yes Tae, I do have a two fold reason for putting up Tommy’s story. First to make people aware of the danger and side effects, that are printed right on the Black Box Warnings. I think these are to say the less misunderstood warnings. Some people think if even one person suffers a side effect it has to be put on the warning. But, in fact there are many people who have not only completed suicide, but there has been many people who kill others first and then suicide themselves. My second reason is for my beloved son, Tommy. He asked for my help, and I never refused him anything, not in life and certainly not in death
Hi John,
That is my hope, to get people thinking. My son was never suicidal in his life. There were over 700 hundred people at his wake and nobody could believe it. The comment I kept hearing, he would have been the last person, I would have thought would do this. Well, he was the last person, it was the SSRI drugs. The side effects should scare everyone away.
You story is heart-breaking. I’m so sorry this side effect caused your son’s death. You think drugs are there to help people but the side effects can be devastating. You are from the same part of the country i am originally from. It is a beautiful are where people care for one another and no one thinks such bad thing will happen to them and the ones they love. Doctors and their patients need to watch carefully when they first prescribe meds for the dangerous side effects. Even people who are not adolescents can suffer from them, as did your son. My heart goes out to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your story. It will help others to be more vigilant in reading the labels on the boxes of meds and watching for the signs of side effects. God bless you.
Hi maiedubhtx,
There are at least three times that these drugs can do bad things to people. One when they first start, two when the dose gets changed and three when trying to get off them. This was my son’s case I believe. He went off them and the withdrawals that many, many people suffer and then decided to restart. A deadly decision.. Thank you for your comments.
Elaine,
This is heartbreaking and certainly a tragedy. I am so very sorry for your loss. Something you said about the phone calls your son made struck a cord with me. “These conversations show intent to being alive and well.”
That was something in my own experience with the suicide of someone close to me that just didn’t add up. Three days before his unexpected death we’d made plans for a visit. There was no indicator, nothing at all in our conversation to suggest he was going to commit suicide. These 14 years later, the grief has subsided, the senseless loss is still painful and there are still unanswered questions. It hadn’t occurred to me at the time to ask if SSRI drugs were a factor. By sharing your story you may have saved the life of someone else I love. With all my heart, thank you.
Thank you fo your kind words. Too many doctor’s think a quick fix, here’s a pill. But, there is a price to pay. Death, is the ultimate price to be paid, but there is so much phsical damage done to the body. The withdrawal for many is a living hell. The Pharmaceutical Companies do not play honest or free.
Honie,
I am very sorry for your loss. No one should died because of drugs. Drugs that don’t even work, it’s called the Placebo Effect. If you have a loved one on any psych drugs and they are feeling suicidal, they need a good doctor or psychiatrist who practices drug free therapy. Also, it is not easy for many to get of these drugs, terrible withdrawals that can go on from months to years. I hope I haved helped, that is what Tommy wanted. Thank you.
Elaine, thank you for sharing your story. The more people talk about it, and ignore and forget the stigma, the more will be free to do their research openly.
Elaine,
There are not words for what you experienced, but I will share with you what I have, for whatever it is worth.
I am 32-years-old, and I have suffered for all of my adult life with severe, debilitating bipolar disorder, as well as every anxiety disorder that’s in the book. Medication is a must with me, but I have always pursued full disclosure, and beyond, before I swallowed the first pill of any medication I have been prescribed. Fortunately, I have also always had wonderful partners in treatment — a primary who has seen me since I was 15, and psychiatrists who were knowledgeable and would answer truthfully any and every question I would ask of them. And I asked thousands, then went home and dug through my reference books and sought out even more information.
I have never had to endure what you have. I have never lost someone the way you did. But still I ceaselessly hound people I know to research, investigate, question, double and triple check, advocate for themselves; and if anything seems at all wrong, insist that it is until they are empirically, irrefutably proven wrong!
Nothing can bring your beloved son back to you. But maybe one voice, two voices, loud voices, more voices can help to make people more aware, cautious, proactive, and invested in learning everything about the medications they are being prescribed. And if you, if I, if anyone can speak loudly and insistently enough to bring about real change, that’s a major victory.
But even if only one life is saved because of what you share, if one mother doesn’t have to go through what you have, that’s a major victory as well.
I wish that you may find some measure of peace in all of this.
With love.
Ruby
Ruby,
Thank you for your words. I don’t know why it seems, some people can handle these SSRI drugs and other antipsychotic drugs. Tommy was labeled with Anxiety, certainly it could have been handled with Empathic counseling, But we seem to live in a quick fix society. We maybe want the magic pill that will make us feel better, and unfortunately that does not always happen. But, I do thank you for your comments and wish you well.
First, I’m very sorry about your son. I cannot imagine the anguish a parent must feel when losing their child.
Humans are such complex creatures; different blood types, different disorders, different hearts, different genetic makeups. Yet, we still treat them as “one size fits all” beings. This is dangerous because clinical trials will show extreme success in the majority of the population, but what they fail to highlight is how detrimental it can be to others. We are all not created equally in this sense.
As Ruby said above, working with the right team of people is essential in getting proper care for whatever type of treatment a person is seeking. It takes fine-tuning, doctor accessibility, and research to get it right. Sometimes this means increasing/decreasing dosages several times, switching medications, or deciding a holistic approach is the best course of action.
Our broken pharma system failed your son, and I am truly sorry about that.
Jen and Tonic,
There are a lot of people who should be held responsible, Big Pharma for their geed, The FDA who some have a vested interest in big Pharma, docto’s who should not be writing prescriptions for psych drugs, sales reps. who tell of the wonde drugs to doctors, and people too afraid to speak the truth, either because they are educated about them or just don’t care. Money? the root of all evil. 
Thank you for your kind words, and yes the pain is uncomphrehensible, I wanted to just die or go crazy when my daughter in-law came over and told me. But, I didn’t am I realize I am just going though this grief as best I can. I have two daughters and five grandchildren, two which are Tommy’s. I just know if I ever committed suicide, it would be too much for them or the rest of my family. I had to make the difficult decision to live.
I’m so sorry to hear about this. What a terrible, terrible loss. In high school, I lost a friend to suicide when he shot himself with his parents’ gun.
Antidepressants’ side effects can be really terrible, especially in the beginning. The insomnia, shakiness, cloudiness… it’s a lot to go through, but sometimes it can help in the long run.
I’m really sorry for your loss and wish that the medication hadn’t failed your son and your family, but I also have to point a finger at the gun. I’ve been reading up on guns lately and learned that when people make a snap decision to kill themselves, if they have a gun, they are much more likely to be ‘successful.’ If they use something else, they are much more likely to survive… and if they survive, they are very unlikely to try again. So… guns make suicide easier and more likely. The Harvard ‘Means Matter’ website has more research on this if anybody is interested.
So it it probably worth a hard conversation in families and with friends–if they are experiencing depression or other issues and are possibly suicidal, it might be a good idea to find out if there is a gun available and get rid of it.
I know a lot of people like to have guns for personal protection, but when I look at the stats on how much more likely it is that somebody in your family is going to accidentally shoot themselves or another family member, kill themselves, or shoot a woman in a domestic violence situation, my heart breaks.
And it makes me sick, that just like the pharmaceutical industry, there is a gun industry making a huge profit off this.
Sorry. I know this is a ‘political’ topic and may be taboo, but when we talk about suicide, it’s hard not to talk about the means used.
Kylie,
I will respect your opinion, but first my son had a gun because he was an Investigator for the New York State Police. Also, what happened to him must have been a spur of the moment, and I wouldn’t even say his decision. These drugs take over your mind in some kind of excuriating, detached psychoisis. He didn’t stand a chance, unless it would have happened while in the company of family or friends, who could have stopped him. As I said, in his story, he was never suicidal in his life. He had already gone out once, to get a friend fo his son. He later was on his way to get a friend fo his daughter. I know my son, he didn’t think oh, you know what, I think I will just drive myself downtown and kill myself. The heck with my kids being home alone. no, it was the drugs that did this. He loved his wife, kids, family, friends, and job. He had it all. He was labeled with anxiety, and I am sure if he had some empathic therapy, instead of these very dangerous drugs, he would be here today. Look up SSRI stories and other sites with info on these drugs and be prepared to lean the truth. But, thank you for your comments.
Hi Elaine,
I’m really sorry for your loss. It’s a horrible, painful, tragedy. My heart breaks for you and your family–especially your son’s children. My father was killed when I was ten, so I know what it’s like to grow up without a dad. I completely agree that these drugs can, in some cases, lead to psychotic episodes, murders, and suicides. I appreciate you telling your story–it can be such a hard, and vulnerable thing to do–especially since you’re not a blogger.
Hi Kylie, Thank you for your kindness. My heart breaks for them also. It tears me apart, that Tommy will miss high school graduations, college, marriage and grandchildren. That his grandchildren will never get to know him and God he loved his children, all children. He was a great supportive uncle and a friend to all his friends children. Such a loss.They only have a few years of memories, 9 for Brett and 11 for Mogan. Tina became a widow in her thirties, all because of these killings drugs. Not, easy, If Tommy hadn’t died, I probably won’t even have joined facebook. I was doing family genealogy before this. I have left it in the dust. My priority now is educating, warning about psych drugs. I know there are far wiser than me, and have been doing this work for a very long time. But, I am learning as I go and share what I know. Thank you once more.
You’re welcome–and thank you. I have a bittersweet memory of dancing with someone else’s father at my eighth grade graduation. It’s definitely a hard way to grow up… I’m glad your grandchildren have you to tell them about their father.
Kylie
This is a sad story, but a valuable learning experience for us all. Thanks to Elaine and Eric for this. It takes courage to speak of this “in public.” That must be respected and admired.
Thank you BrainRants,
In deed it is a big lesson. When it comes to medicine ask lots of questions. Full disclosure and then research, before filling out that prescription. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your personal pain and heartache, Elaine.
You’re a brave soul. Your son may have been deeply troubled and confused, but at least he had a beautiful, caring mother who never gave up on him, even in death.
Thank you, hook, but he was neither troubled or confused. He did have anxiety which I am sure goes with the kind of job he had. You know life issue’s, Someone pointed him in the wrong direction, on this one is all.
Elaine,
Thank you for sharing this. It can’t have been easy to put it out into the world. Unfortunately mental illness is something that is not talked about enough. As a mother myself I can’t fathom the depths of what you have been through. It is a brave thing you have done here and hopefully it will make a difference. I have been prescribed zoloft a few times in the past. Thankfully my only side effects were extreme migraines. I will never take it again now. Not now I know what it can do.
stephrogers,
Thank you and this is exactly why I did this, to try and let people know how dangeous these drugs are. One correction please, my son did not have mental illness, he was labled with the diagnoses of anxiety, by a doctor who got it from the DSM. The bible for psychiatry. Made up by a group of people, debating symptoms to try to make them into an illness for billing puposes.
Sorry to hear that Psych Drugs took the wonderful life of your son. His great memory is living on, helping to educate the rest of the world about the dangers of pharmaceutical drugs. The side effects that you listed are sadly true. Doctors are quick to diagnose and prescribe, and I do know for a fact, that it’s because of money(I know many people who work in this industry-it’s booming!). When I was prescribed Psych drugs, I was going through all the motions, after weeks of depression, my friend who is a chemist, looked into the chemical composition of the drugs I was prescribed. Not only were they killing my insides and messing with my body, they were Narcs(had Narc components), so I was slowing becoming an addict. The withdrawal took many months to overcome. At my lowest point, I had my friends to help pick me up. They were determined not to let me end everything. I am thankful for them. I am thankful that you are a strong women and shared your story with us. May the memory of your son and his accomplishments continue to blossom, forever in your heart, and in the hearts of his family.
Lady Lovely,
You are truly lovely, I am happy to see that you know all too well about these drugs. I am very happy you got through it all, and knowing you are so much the wiser now, as me. We are an army of people going to battle over psych drugs.
This is one army I am proud to be apart of
As a mother, I can’t fathom your pain. I’m so very sorry. Thank you for sharing your story.
Fish out of water,
Thank you for your compassionate words!
Profound and very moving. Sadly, I’ve not only wrote about but met parents who have lost loved ones to suicide. They all had one thing in common, that being that they were all on psychiatric drugs at the time of their death. Not one of them were mentally ill – they had ‘life problems’, relationship break-ups, school exam worries, teenage problems etc.
It’s people like Elaine that can bring about change. Awareness has to be created and snowballed – Our foe is huge and, as Elaine rightly points out, has deep pockets.
Bobby,
Thank you for your love and support. My son is with beautiful Toran and they are smiling at their moms.
I don’t have much to say except that I’m so sorry you had to go through that. One thought about the drug, though… could it be that he had actually just stopped taking it suddenly? Because sudden withdrawal from many psychiatric drugs can cause equally sudden and terrible symptoms.
Val,
Thank you, and yes that is a very dangerous time, going off cold turkey. But so is having your dose changed either up or down. Restarting, which is what Tommy did. With no warning from his doctor..Or having another drug added into the mix.
My sincerest and deepest condolences on your loss. This is heartbreaking and just shouldn’t be. These drugs can be so dangerous, and they are treated way too lightly in our society. May your son rest in peace.
Janet,
Thank you for your kind words of compassion. You are so right about these kinds of drugs. I know many people who are suffering greatly because of them. Also, and unfortunately, I know many people who have lost their loved ones because of being on SSRI drugs. If we group together and tell the truth, the truth will set us free. Thank you again.
Elaine that is a heartbreaking story. I am associated with CCHR new Zealand. We have just published an online newsletter to draw public attention to the tragedy that is happening in our society. IWe would be very grateful if you would give us permission to copy your son’s story directly from this blog. I will embed a link to the first edition of the newsletter for you to get a feel for what we are doing …. http://www.newsletter.realstew.com/newslink/?iid=ERfty4ERPoY=&n=y
I am so sorry about your son. I too lost a son to Zoloft. He was 16.
Peggy,
I am so deeply sorry, we belong to a club we didn’t sigh up for. My miss my son so much. He was a beautiful soul. I do this in his name and in honor of his life. God Bless you.
My heart goes out to you. My family calls it the suicide survivors club; because until it happens to you (someone close), you truly have no idea the depth of pain, anger, and personal guilt and trauma that goes with it. My brother committed suicide 9 days before Christmas, with no warning, and plans for the next day. He needed the anti-depression meds, but didn’t like the stigma, so he kept going off of them, and that’s when it got him.
I’ve been on a variety of them for years, and can’t imagine trying to live without them. Like him, the mental health needed to be managed for just this reason. Whenever I have to go off, or can’t afford the obscenely high cost and am forced off overnight – I’m surprised I’m still here. Hell has nothing on those times. Getting off a med is FAR worse than how I was before I took it.
My daughter is BiPolar (seriously) and when they initially tried to treat her they gave her an anti-seizure med; Trileptal. She cam down with Stevens Johnson Syndrome and spent a long time in ICU – I had to mentally let her go, because the outlook was so bad, but for whatever reason, she came through it. It was like being given a second chance – something my brother never got.
Nothing I can say will make your experience any better, but I just wanted you to know, I know. And I am so, so sorry. Thank you for talking about it. Most people avoid it, and it’s kept in the dark. People NEED to hear the reality of these meds, and need to face the fact that people can, and do commit suicide.
We may never get over it (I hate it when people suggest I should be), but we will get through it. Hopefully in the process we find the strength to create a legacy our loved ones can be content with. Education, compassion, and the desire to accept others goes a long way in doing this. – I am so happy to see this post; people need to hear your story – though my heart breaks for you. One day at a time. {{hug}}
theravonloon, I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. You ae so ight the pain and grief is always with us. As time goes by we leearn to manage it. Until when you least expect it, some memory or thought hits you between your eyes, it sucks your breath away, and still the tears come. A warning, these drugs are dangeous and some critical times is first starting them, getting dose changed, stopping and restarting. That’s what my son did. I hope your daughter is doing okay. If you ever decide that you know longe want to taks psych pills, I would suggest doing it with the help of a doctor who knows how to do it corectly. People need to wean down very slowly. God Bless you and your family.
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I am so sad for your loss! Our children are not supposed to die before we do, and especially not in the way your Tommy did! My warm and prayerful thoughts are with you and your family. My mother has been in heaven for many years; I’ll ask her to come find your Tommy and welcome him home.
Thank you paralaxu, for your words of sypmathy and compassion. It is not a club any parent would sign up for.I am trying to stay strong for him. To honor his life, and to WARN these drugs are no good. I don’t want any other parent to ever have to bury their children, because these drugs murdered their child.
I am so sorry for your loss Elaine. I have 3 children (24, 22 and 16) and I can’t imagine losing any of them, let alone to suicide. My uncle put a gun in his mouth, and my grandmother almost drowned in the guilt that she felt about not being there and not “saving” him. For you however, there was no way you could have seen this coming. Thank you so much for sharing your painful story and I hope that you one day get closure. xo
Thank you Wendy, It is a living hell on earth! I wanted to go crazy, I wanted to die. But, my son came to me and ask me to help, He told, I didn’t mean to do it. I believe that with all my heart. He never would have done that in his right mind. The drug, just look at the side effects that Pfizer puts right on their Black Box Warning. No Tommy did not KILL himself, he was MURDERED! and I will speak out until I daw my last breath. No parent should have to bury their child!!
Your story is powerful, heartbreaking and important. I haven’t realised how big an impact a drug may have on personality and behaviour but the known side effects you mentioned are terrifying. It’s so sadly ironic that something that’s supposed to be an anti-depressant can lead you to take your own life… something has gone terribly wrong when designing those drugs!!!
Big hugs to you, I hope knowing that your son had such a good life makes it easier xx
Hi Pixie Girl, Thank you for your compassionate words. I have lost my child to these drugs, I will never see, hear or kiss him again. How could I stay quiet about the dangers of psych drugs. Knowledge is power, never just take the word from anyone that this drug is safe. Because the’re not save. Always ask for full disclosure, then do your homework, before filling the prescription. This is my son’s warning, these drugs can kill and do. Thank you for taking the time to read his story.
Thank you for sharing – my heart is breaking -
Thank you Rutabaga, so is mine
Elaine, I am so sorry for your loss. I currently take SSRI’s adn I take Effexor. I have tried many of them over the years and this one I like. Zoloft made me crazy right away and I got off of it. I am very versed in Psyche meds and help people to understand what they are, how to take them and what to do if things don’t seem right. I think that internists and Dr.’s that are not trained to rx these meds shouldn’t. They do not have the training or take the time to explain all of the nuances. Blind faith in any Dr. is dangerous. Educate yourselves and families….Thanks so much for sharing your story…..
Hello Malka,
Thank you for your compassion, it has been very difficult knowing I am never going to see my son again. These antidepressants are very dangerous drugs, and I have read many stories of others who have had a family member die by suicide while using them or in the coming off of them. The withdrawal is a very difficult time, and it could take months or even years to get off them and heal the brain from their destruction. I only wish I knew then what I know now, I could have saved my son’s life. Please be careful and keep educating yourself about SSRI drugs.