Project about depression - please contribute to survey

Questions about depression?

We at APRIL have been trying for years to persuade doctors and official bodies to ensure people who are suffering adverse reaction to everyday medicines or anaesthetics or having problems related to withdrawal from prescribed drugs,  are heard and helped.

 Adverse drug reactions (ADRs)  and withdrawal effects can be depression, anxiety, insomnia, psychosis, self harming, or suicidal thoughts and actions.

Please contribute to the survey at www.depressionarq.org 

This is part of a major project about depression research. The aim is to inform research and provide a strong connection between researchers and the needs of patients.

Unfortunately if patient groups involved in this research have received substantial funding from the pharmaceutical industry, there will be attempts to cover up the extent of depression and suicides linked to medication adverse effects or withdrawal problems. It is therefore very important for those with experience of iatrogenic (treatment induced) depression or related conditions to express their views.

As difficult as it may be for those bereaved by iatrogenic related death of a loved one, we do appeal for you to please make your views known.

The survey gives patients, carers and clinicians a chance to let the organisers know what questions need to be answered. Questions can be about any aspect of depression; prevention, causes, diagnosis,
treatments or care.

Visit www.depressionarq.org to take part

Zoton / lansoprazole was Prevacid updated warning

This article by Jerome Burne has some more startling information about a drug that according to the reviewer of drug prescribing,  NICE, was being overprescribed by £50 million pounds over 10 years ago.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2177911/Heartburn-pills-uncomfortable-questions--They-help-millions--doctors-warn-long-term-effects.html

I first became aware of Zoton (lansoprazole) when I was attending the funeral of a young man who had died by suicide. His wife showed me the packet of Zoton tablets - his dose had been increased after he complained of stomach pain. No attention was paid to the fact that Zoton may have been the cause of the stomach pain. His depression, which may have been attributed to the drug side effects, was not addressed. I put a mention of this on the web site and was surprised to receive a number of emails from people who believed their depression (and stomach problems in some cases) was due to the drug. One man said " I stopped taking Zoton and felt back to my normal self - thank you for your helpful information".

Anyone with heart burn should address their diet and should also be given an H-pylori test. The discovery of Helicobacterpylori bacteria was one of the great breakthroughs in the 20th century.
The cause of ulcers, with possible links to cancer, the bacteria can be treated with antibiotics.