What about the meds?

[Klukie]

I have been listening to all the speculation as to why Aaron Alexis went on a rampage yesterday, and I have yet to hear any mention about what meds he was taking. I want to hear a discussion from the medical community about what treatment he was receiving for his mental health issues and if the treatment could have in any way exacerbated his problems. The treatment that he has been receiving since August certainly was a failure, so I don't understand why this isn't being focused on.

[sufrommich]

1. What exacerbated his problems was easy access to

a weapon of mass destruction.

[Klukie]

2. You really believe that was all that did it?

Way to problem solve.

[sufrommich]

5. I'm tired of these phony distractions to the real problem.

Whatever drugs he was possibly taking don't fucking matter,whichever drug it was is no doubt used in other countries too. It's not drugs,it's not video games,it's not our lacking mental health programs,there is only one uniquely American problem that needs our attention when these mass murders take place and it's guns.

[Klukie]

8. Short sighted imo

[wercal]

3. It usually takes a while for this type of info to come out

HIPPA and all...

But, a perusal of mass shootings in this last decade reveals that at least 75% of the perpetrators were on mind altering drugs. For some reason we're not allowed to talk about that, though.

[Klukie]

4. It is beyond time that we talk about

[ananda]

6. I do know this

Psychotropes generally exacerbate violent
and suicidal tendencies

[no1uno]

7. What meds?

Like way too many deep troubled people, they stop taking their medication. "I feel better. Don't need those pills any more."

[Klukie]

10. yeah maybe

but then again...if he just started treatment in August, then maybe his system couldn't handle it. We will never know unless the treatment is revealed and scrutinized.

[elleng]

9. 'Was taking,' or Should have been taking?

[Klukie]

11. we don't know

but we should

[Klukie]

12. Prescription Drugs Associated with Reports of Violence Towards Others

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0015337#s3

[solarhydrocan]

13. another link

http://ssristories.com/index.php

[postulater]

14. Thanks for the link

and thanks for the discussion.

My first thought when I hear about a mass shooter flipping out is what is their medication status.

I agree that it should be investigated.

[Klukie]

15. No problem

You know, I have a family member who was put on meds of for depression and I watched as she become a paranoid recluse. She became convinced that her neighbors were out to get her and she actually barricaded her 2nd floor balcony with cardboard boxes.This behavior went on for quite some time. I witnessed it with my own eyes, so I find it really hard to believe that the medical community is unaware of these potential effects.

[RobinA]

16. Well, I Work

in a psychiatric hospital. Probably 80% of the people here are paranoid, delusional, and hear vocies. They are all on meds, so it must be the meds that are making them think that way.

[Klukie]

17. well

If they are paranoid, delusional, and hear voices while on meds, then i would say that the meds aren't working.

[RobinA]

20. The Meds

work quite well in some cases, to a point in some cases, and not at all in some cases. It's not a binary situation. In my population the meds generally work to a point. There are some aspects of mental illness that meds don't touch. Doctors AND researchers are quite well aware of the problems with psychotropic meds, their side effects, and their efficacy.

[Klukie]

18. I guess it's a case of which came first....the delusional or the meds.

I would guess that there is a little a both, but a do have an expectation that medical professionals are able to tell the difference.

[Klukie]

19. one more thing...

If you can take a look at the possible side effects of a drug like Effexor and dismiss the possibility that paranoid delusions or violence could be a side effect, then I am really surprised. http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-4896-Effexor+XR+Oral.aspx?drugid=4896&drugname=Effexor+XR+Oral&pagenumber=6

[RobinA]

21. Listed Drug Side Effects

include everything but the kitchen sink for liability reasons. And no, I'm not dismissing the possibility that paranoid delusions or violence could be a side effect of Effexor. However, if someone is taking a drug for paranoid delusions, and then suffers paranoid delusions, I'm probably not going to blame the drug.

[Klukie]

22. But

if you introduce a medication that can exacerbate existing delusions, don't you think it could trigger violence? We don't know what his medical condition was upon treatment, but I do think that it should be thoroughly examined, and the findings be publicized.