Doctors Lambast Shields’ Dangerous Position on Paxil

Released on = July 3, 2005, 1:18 pm

Press Release Author = Citizens Commission on Human Rights

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = Medical doctors today struck out against the dangerous
position actress Brook Shields has taken in promoting the antidepressant Paxil for
treatment of post partum depression (PPD).

Press Release Body = Medical doctors today struck out against the dangerous position
actress Brook Shields has taken in promoting the antidepressant Paxil for treatment
of post partum depression (PPD). “Ms. Shields does not address the tremendous body
of medical opinion against antidepressants being prescribed for PPD, nor does it
appear she was medically advised of this. The Food and Drug Administration warns
that these drugs can cause hostility, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, and mania,
which is a public health warning ignored in recent media coverage,” said Anthony P.
Urbanek, M.D., a surgeon from Nashville.

Today, the FDA issued a warning that adults who use the antidepressants could also
be at risk of suicidal behavior. After analyzing hundreds of studies, the FDA
updated its website with a notice about a higher-than-expected rate of suicide
attempts in adults taking the drugs.

Julian Whitaker, M.D., the founder of the Whitaker Wellness Center in California,
said, “PPD should be treated as a medical, not psychiatric condition. Add
psychiatric drugs to the hormonal imbalance that occurs at birth and you’ve
potentially created a time bomb. Texas mother Andrea Yates was prescribed
antidepressants for PPD, became psychotic and drowned her five children. New
mothers need to be warned of this risk.”

A statement by Edward G. Ezrailson, Ph.D., at the time of Ms. Yates’ trial, warned
the drugs she was prescribed caused involuntary intoxication, leading to the murder
of her children. Last year, Dena Schlosser, who had been prescribed two
psychotropic drugs known to cause violent behavior, killed her 10-month daughter by
severing her arms. Since September 2002, the FDA has been issuing more and more
warnings about psychiatric drugs, side effects that both psychiatrists and
manufacturers have underplayed or withheld. Additional warnings have now been added
to antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs and stimulants.

Psychiatrist Nancy Mullan, who practices non-drug alternatives to health care
problems, warned, “There is a terrific plummet in hormones when giving birth which
needs to be normalized. Blood sugar imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, low adrenal
gland function, thyroid imbalance and copper and zinc deficiencies should all be
tested for. The last thing you need is an antidepressant masking or messing with
this.”

The Physicians Desk Reference also warns that Paxil can be secreted through breast
milk.

Ms. Jan Eastgate, International President of the Citizens Commission on Human
Rights, a psychiatric watchdog established by the Church of Scientology, says, “This
is not a celebrity issue; it’s about the failure of psychiatrists and doctors that
have bought into psychiatric marketing of PPD as a mental ‘disorder’ to inform women
about the dangers of these drugs despite the FDA issuing very strong drug warnings.”
For further information, call Marla Filidei: 323-467-4242
Nancy Mullan: (818) 399-2038
Julian Whitaker: (714) 814-9798
Tony Urbanek: (615) 438-9001

http://www.cchr.org/pseudoscience/index.htm
http://www.cchr.org/postpartum.htm
http://www.cchr.org/topics/family/adhd/informationhttp://www.cchr.org/press/2005/050626.htm
http://www.cchr.org/disorders/index.htm http://www.cchr.org/disorders/Anxiety.htm
http://cchr.org/disorders/Depression.htm http://www.cchr.org/art/eng/page48.htm

Web Site = http://www.cchr.org

Contact Details = Marla Filidei
Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Tel: 323-467-4242
humanrights@cchr.org