http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/02/girlfriend-of-n.html
Posted on 02/20/2008 3:31:12 PM PST by do not press 2 for spanish
Steven Kazmierczak had been taking three drugs prescribed for him by his psychiatrist, the Northern Illinois University gunman's girlfriend told CNN.
Jessica Baty said Steven Kazmierczak was irritable but not erratic before his shooting rampage.
Jessica Baty said Tuesday that her boyfriend of two years had been taking Xanax, used to treat anxiety, and Ambien, a sleep agent, as well as the antidepressant Prozac.
Baty said the psychiatrist prescribed the medications, a fact that made her so "nervous" that she tried to persuade Kazmierczak to stop taking one of the drugs.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I’ve heard of similar reactions from several others, like Zoloft, as well. It’s the abrupt ending of it, which seems to be responsible for the violent behavior in some people.
See my post #38, pls.
Savage is wrong and, by the way, also an ass.
I'm thinking that they probably have their place in the treatment regimens, but abrupt withdrawal is what triggers the violent reactions, and shootings.
That has not been established.
Thanks for providing such a trenchant example of the Luddite attitudes I mentioned above.
All that's happening is Prozac, et al, are zonking them just a tad and keeping them quiet, and then they get antsy (as their problem progresses), quit the drug and now we have the full blown crazy guy we would have seen develop slowly over several months rather than over night.
I have taken all three, Xanax, Zoloft and Ambien without any problems at all. Trying to get off the Zoloft now after many years. The side effects from withdrawal are awful. Xanax when used properly is a great drug for dealing with anxiety. As with anything, moderation and knowing your own body make a big difference.
You are correct...
Bring back the asylums and institutions? I’d second that after seeing so many wacko and violent ‘homeless street people’ in the major cities, over the years I traveled on business.
I can take cold remedies - like Nyquil . It seems that a week or two after stopping, I get the most horrific nightmares that are surrealisticly bizarre and summon up so much angst that when I recall they months later, they are still chilling.
“I have taken all three, Xanax, Zoloft and Ambien without any problems at all”
At the same time? Or at different times?
I couldn't agree more.
“...I get the most horrific nightmares that are surrealisticly bizarre and summon up so much angst that when I recall they months later, they are still chilling.”
You know my ex, too?
I have taken all three at one time...after my husband passed away. It was only for a short period of time though. It made a big difference for me. The Xanax and Zoloft I have been on for about ten years. A thirty day supply of Xanax lasts me a year. I am wanting off all of it though. Don’t need it anymore. The SSRI withdrawals are bad. Have to do it very slowly.
My guess would be that the drugs mask psychological and psychiatric problems that continue to fester despite their presence. In the absence of the drugs those problems would have started to manifest themselves in lesser ways rather than in a sudden explosion.
I'm thinking that for some cases we need to eliminate outpatient treatment and move these guys behind walls.
I would not be surprised if, in the absence of these drugs, many dangerous people could be committed before doing anything too destructive. There are many moral, ethical, and political problems dealing with people who might be made functional in the outside world, but who might also be very dangerous.
You are correct...
I listen to Weiner occasionally to see if he's still the smartest man in the world.
I think it is pretty clear that some of those drugs are capable of masking problems without solving them. There are times that, especially for short-term situations, masking problems can be a good thing. For example, if one has a dental infection, oral analgesic problems may allow one to be somewhat functional pending a trip to the dentist. On the other hand, continued use of such products may be dangerous if it results in a serious condition going untreated.
My instinct (as a layman) is that it's important to develop diagnostics to ensure that when using various drugs there are no serious underlying problems that are being masked. Otherwise, whether or not the drugs cause underlying problems, they may allow the problems to fester until they become explosive.
I was given a 30 day supply 6 months ago and still have some left. I use it very judiciously but I'm not ashamed to say I sometimes need it now like I did when it was first prescribed for me. Panic attacks are something I thought only other people got and even then I was arrogant enough to think you should just 'get over it.' I wouldn't wish one on my worst enemy and I really mean that.
I'd pay three-fiddy to see THAT parody commercial!
I started this on Dec 26th, and used this graphic to help pinpoint and guide my own bodily functions:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Biological_clock_human.PNG
All points but high body temp, are now pretty much ‘in place’, and that’s due to a nagging staph ear infection, which Tobradex is clearing-up quickly, now. My doc was impressed that I could do it wo/ assistance or drugs.
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