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Suspicious Suicide of sister – Solved – IMIPRAMINE. GENERIC FOR TOFRANIL

Lisa-Lori-ssri-suicide.jpg

Lisa & Lori

Lorraine

1956-1981

Lori’s Story

“I always knew my sister’s sudden death that was labeled suicide was

suspicious” Nothing made sense until NOW!

After almost 3 decades of being kept in the dark, I have the answer I

searched for my entire life since that tragic morning I found her in

her 1977 Buick with our father’s handgun in her lap. I promised her

that morning I would not give up until I found t

he “truth” about what

really happened to her. My sister loved her family and knew we loved

her. She would not of taken her life. So why did she?

Summary of my story:

My sister moved home to file for divorce in 1980.

I am her younger sister Lisa, and we spent the most time together when

she moved back home. I was thrilled to have the time with her. We were

very close.

She was a strong, smart woman and was determined to make it on her own.

She worked for the county that we lived in and was very well liked.

They were shocked as everyone was to hear about her sudden death. So

out of character.

The time she lived with us she was fine. Going to work taking one day

at a time to rebuild her life. Until Suddenly the last month to weeks

she  changed.

I listened, and I watched her suddenly turn into someone I did not

know. I could not figure it out. Why was she acting like this? Saying

these things to me? Finding it funny to scare me?

She started to talk about death and dying, and included me in her ideas

on how I could help her end her life. (ways we could try)

Some examples: She would loop a belt around her neck and ask me to pull

as hard as I could until she stopped breathing, She would ask me to

come in the middle of the night and put a pillow over her face to

suffocate her in her sleep, she would lay still in her bed and when she

heard me coming she would pretend to be dead when I shook her to wake

her up… she would not move until she started to laugh hysterically, and

would say “I’m just joking Lisa..I just wanted to see what you would do

if I were really dead? and what it would really feel like to be dead? I

wouldn’t really do it …I’m too chicken!”

Soon another sudden change came about she started to say things like

“HE” is in your closet and going to get you. Will you sleep with me in

my room?! Never made sense. She also would go from laughing and joking

about something then it turned into anger and agitation and confusion

at times.

Something else happened shortly before she took her life. She was

very sick with the flu.  She lost a lot of weight, she could not eat,

drink, or get up out of bed she was very pale and fragile looking. I

felt so bad I could not help her feel better.

She often fell asleep with her bible on her face she looked like she

was searching for a answer to something that was happening inside her

she did not understand.

I had to take the bible of her face when she finally was able to sit

still and take a short nap. Her sleeping pattern was all off as well.

The night before she took her life I remember so clear all the details.

I remember everything.. from how she kept rocking in our rocking chair

we had in the living room. She would n

ot stop. She also was talking

much faster than usual and walking much faster as well. When I asked

her to stop rocking so fast she just looked at me like she couldn’t

stop, or didn’t want to. It was like someone was pushing her to rock. I

thought it very odd at the time but soon overlooked it because her

behavior had been so altered lately that I almost was getting use to it.

Lori came into my bedroom late that night and stood in my doorway. She

was talking to me.

The last thing she said was “Well I’ll see you in the morning!” and off

she went down the hallway and I heard the door slam as it always did

behind her. I did not know it then but that was the last time I would

see her alive.

On September 22 1981 I was getting ready for school. I went into her

room to borrow a shirt of hers and I quietly asked her if I could

borrow it.

She did not answer. So I took it and got ready to catch the bus.

As I walked out the front door down our driveway I had to pass her car.

From a distance all I could see was RED. My first thought was “here she

goes again,  She is trying to fool me again, and this time she used

Ketchup!

Well as I got closer..I saw my sister through the car window as she lay

on her side with her head on the headrest of the passenger side door. I

could see her face clearly. There was blood dripping from her bottom

lip onto the seat and still I was in disbelief.

Our father came out of the house broke the driver side window unlocked

the door got in the car reached across her body to unlock the passenger

side door ran around the car as fast as he could to then find out my

sister was not moving. She was not alive. She was gone.

My sister’s body lay across my fathers lap and he just kept repeating

Why?

My father’s spirit died at that moment he realized his daughter was

dead.

We had no answers, there was no evidence that somebody could of helped

her there was no clues left behind. So It appeared at the time

“suspicious”

Decades later the truth has surfaced. Finally I was able to put it all

together.   I was going through my sister’s box of things I packed almost 28 years

ago.  I came across many things I remembered from the time… Including a

medicine bottle. We knew my sister was put on a medicine to help her

with stress from the divorce so it was not a surprise that I packed the

bottle off her dresser.

However..the shock came to me when I typed the name of the drug into

the computer just months ago.

Slowly…it all came together..and I mean all of it. From the things she

said to the things she did. To the rocking in the chair to the things

she was seeing that were not there ..and finally to the flu like

symptoms that come with the Sudden withdrawal of the

medication!

The Black Box Warnings that today are on ALL antidepressant drugs says

it all.

My sister was put on this drug Aug. 18 1981.

She stopped taking it as many people did due to the side effects.

She was in bed with the flu which turned out to be not the flu at all

but the withdrawal from this prescription drug that in the end killed my

sister!

I WAS 13 YEARS OLD

LORI WAS 25

PEOPLE ASK ME WHY NOW DOES THIS MATTER?

MY ANSWER IS…BECAUSE NUMBER ONE MY SISTER IS DEAD.

NUMBER TWO I AT 13 HAD TO LIVE MY ENTIRE LIFE WITH SUSPICIAN ABOUT WHAT

HAD HAPPENED TO HER!

I HAD TO LIVE WITH THE NIGHTMARES, I COULD NOT WALK BY A PARKED CAR FOR

YEARS DUE TO THE FEAR OF SEEING HER INSIDE AGAIN,

I WOULD GO TO THE CEMETARY FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS RIGHT FROM SCHOOL

AND JUST SIT AND ASK..WHY..HOW..SOMETHING IS MISSING. I KNOW YOU DID

NOT DO THIS. YOU WOULD NOT DO THIS.

I WAS TORMENTED BY HER BECAUSE OF A MIND ALTERING DRUG..THAT WAS AND

STILL IS LEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY.

I COULD NOT SAY GOODBYE TO HER WHEN SHE DIED BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO GO

UP TO THE COFFIN DUE TO THE FACT I THOUGHT SHE WOULD JUMP UP AT ME AND

LAUGH LIKE SHE DID BEFORE.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE THIS DRUG DID TO MY

SISTER..AND TO MY FAMILY.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER FAMILIES OUT THERE STILL IN THE DARK!!

I HOPE TO FIND THEM AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO THEIR

LOVED ONE IF OUR STORIES ARE SIMILAR..AND THIS RX DRUG WAS INVOLVED!

——————————————

THE DRUG WAS CALLED IMIPRAMINE. GENERIC FOR TOFRANIL

ALSO PRIOR TO THE SSRI THE CLASS OF DRUG LORI WAS ON WAS CALLED A TCA. TRICYCLIC 3 RING MAKE UP..THIS DRUG WAS THE FIRST ANTIDEPRESSANT INVENTED IN THE LATE 1950′S.

** MANY DID NOT LIKE THE DRUG DUE TO ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS/ADVERSE REACTIONS THAT CAME ALONG WITH IT.

MOST PEOPLE WHO TOOK THIS IN CLINICAL TRIALS OR STUDIES SHOWED THEY DROPPED OUT DUE TO THESE SIDE EFFECTS. NEVER GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO TAKE EFFECT!

THAT IS WHAT MY RESEARCH SHOWED.. BUT YOU ASK ANN TRACY.

YOU MAY WANT TO ADD THIS TO LORI’S STORY SOMEWHERE IF YOU CAN:

WHEN WE TOLD HER DOCTOR SHE WAS ACTING LIKE SHE WAS ABOUT DEATH AND DYING..WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT THAT SHE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN HER. SHE WOULD NOT REALLY HARM HERSELF OF ANYONE ELSE.

WELL…THAT WAS ANOTHER PIECE THAT DID NOT FIT.

THIS WAS TRUE.

**** THE DOCTOR BACK IN 1981 WHO GAVE HER THIS DRUG FOR MERE STRESS OF A DIVORCE…DID NOT KNOW..THE DRUG THEY GAVE HER WAS INDUCING HER BEHAVIOR.

THEY HAD NO IDEA..THEY WERE IN THE DARK JUST AS LORI WAS..AND US HER FAMILY WERE.

IT JUST SIMPLY LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS GOING CRAZY AND LOSING HER MIND!!

WHEN IN ACTUALITY SHE WASN’T..THE DRUG WAS INDUCING THIS REACTION!

but the one thing I wanted to make clear on the taking this drug Imipramine is that FROM START TO FINISH IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH. AUG 18 1981 SHE STARTED IT.

THEN STOPPED she told a friend I don’t like how this medicine is making me feel I’m not taking it anymore.

SEPT. 22 1981 SHE SHOT HERSELF IN THE HEAD AT 1AM.

FOUND AT 7AM PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 8:32AM

AND HER SUSPICIOUS SUICIDE WAS JUST RECENTLY SOLVED AS OF A FEW MONTHS AGO!

I AM OUTRAGED!

The Note she left behind said:  It’s Nobody’s fault I Just Flipped!!!

then drew a smiley face.”

She often drew smiley faces when she wrote things in general. but even the smiley face did not match her normal happy ones.

Lptpkp@aol.com

PLEASE SIGN Lori’s Petition to help me find others: :http://tinyurl.com/mt63tp

Part of the Warning on this drug today:

patients should be carefully supervised during the early phase of treatment with imipramine, and may require hospitalization. Prescriptions should be written for the smallest amount feasible.

Hypomanic or manic episodes may occur,  Such reactions may necessitate discontinuation of the drug. If needed, imipramine may be resumed in lower dosage when these episodes are relieved.

All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases.

The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and non-psychiatric. Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established, there is concern that such symptoms may represent precursors to emerging suicidality.

Consideration should be given to changing the therapeutic regimen, including possibly discontinuing the medication, in patients whose depression is persistently worse, OR who are experiencing emergent suicidality or symptoms that might be precursors to worsening depression or suicidally, especially if these symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms.

Families and caregivers of patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder or other indications, both psychiatric and non-psychiatric, should be alerted about the need to monitor patients for the emergence of agitation, irritability, unusual changes in behavior, and the other symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidally, and to report such symptoms immediately to health care providers. Such monitoring should include daily observation by families and caregivers.

patients should be carefully supervised during the early phase of treatment with imipramine, and may require hospitalization. Prescriptions should be written for the smallest amount feasible.

Hypomanic or manic episodes may occur,  Such reactions may necessitate discontinuation of the drug. If needed, imipramine may be resumed in lower dosage when these episodes are relieved.

Comments are coming in since my story posted:

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66 responses to “Suspicious Suicide of sister – Solved – IMIPRAMINE. GENERIC FOR TOFRANIL”

  1. Ruth

    I read your story and am appalled at what happened. I am now trying to taper off of Klonopin and am living through a nightmare. I am also on Prozac, but cannot even think of quitting this until I am through with the first withdrawal, which may take a long time. I am horrified by all this. Please tell me – who is Dr. Tracy – I saw his name mentioned several times – is he still in practice? Where? I live in Phila area – if anyone knows of a doctor who can help with benzodiazepine tapers, I would appreciate it.

  2. Vanessa

    Lisa:

    I am so sorry for your loss. No one should have to live the nightmare that you and your family have lived. I am so grateful for Ann Blake Tracy and her passion to bring these horrible drugs to the public attention.

    I’m glad you have found this information and hope it gives you some sense of closure. Your sister was exactly the person you always thought she was. She wasn’t crazy and she didn’t make a conscious choice to end her life.

    I have an uncle who was given antidepressants after his wife of 49 years passed away. Luckily I had Ann’s information prior to that time and got him off the drugs very quickly. He was already having suicidal dreams and horrible bloody nightmares.

    Keep up the great work of spreading the word about these abominable drugs. Perhaps you can help save other families from suffering as yours has.

    Live with passion and purpose (as your sister would have wanted),
    Vanessa

  3. Norma

    I can relate to your story. I too became suicidal after using an anti-depressant. At the time all the doctor said was oh oh, we’ve let out a can of worms. When I asked what he meant, he said oh, just that. Now I know that medication ( I don’t remember the name of it) made my depression worse. I signed your petition and hope you can find peace at knowing you are doing all you can to make things right about your sisters death if that is possible.

  4. M Jones

    Dear Lisa,

    I, too, have read your story. I think it does an excellent job of recreating the horrors of living with someone on an SSRI. It is because of these kinds of stories and this kind of information that I have held so very firmly to no one forcing an SSRI on my son. I have benefited from you, people like you, and the work of Dr. Tracy whose voice was the first I heard on the dangers of these drugs.

    I would like for people to know that in my son’s entire 20 years of life, I have not had one person in our physical lives that has supported my resistance to these drugs even though I have shared the horrors that I have learned about them. Against my will, the police put my son in a psychiatric ward several years ago. I was threatened with child abuse if I did not allow them to drug my son even though again I pointed out the dangers of these drugs. Finally they said to me, “If you will not allow us to treat your son, then we must release him.” Well, finally! I didn’t want them to “treat” him anyway!!! What happened to that oath these doctors take about first doing no harm?

    Years upon years ago, back in the mid 1970′s, I was given valium for a back problem. Within days I found myself with suicidal thoughts. Since this was unusual for me, I went looking for the side effects of this drug. There it was — could cause suicidal feelings. I stopped the valium immediately and told the doctor. He didn’t seem bothered or concerned at all.

    I’m not sure what has happened with those we should be able to trust with our health, but nowadays if you do that, you may live, if you are lucky, to regret it.

    My heart goes out to all those who have suffered as a result of this.

    Blessings upon us all.

  5. Christa

    Author: Christa
    Comment:
    Lisa:

    Thank you for contacting me, commenting on the post and forwarding the video.
    Coming from someone who was medicated for years, I am also convinced many of the
    medications I was prescribed led to suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

    I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister, Lori, to suicide. I commend
    your determination to honor her memory and raise awareness about the dangers
    surrounding RX drugs, children and violence.

    With their losses (your sister and my friends) we learn, we grow and most
    importantly, we learn to live the best lives we can, lives filled with laughter.
    :-)

  6. Rhonda M

    Ronda July 7, 2010 at 11:04pm

    You should feel proud of what you are doing….I reposted your story on my facebook and asked everyone to repost, too. It is sooo sad that it took so long to have some answers. I know that doesn’t change the outcome for you but it might for so many others. Keep the faith my friend…..unfortunately things do happen for a reason and some day my hope for you is that you know that reason. I will say a prayer for you tonight.

    Love,
    Ronda

  7. Jennu

    Jennu

    “I am so sorry that you as a young girl had to see your sister pass that way I
    only pray for you to God that you can come to some kind of closer but what I
    heard I will never forget I hope you do write your book not only for your
    beautiful sister whoes death was due to yet a nother Dr. who should have never
    been able to be a Dr. but for you Lisa so you can get some kind of closer love
    always Jennu”

  8. George Kuchanny

    Over here in England we still do not have a legal duty on our medics to tell us the truth Lisa. I have read your story. What many medical professionals do not understand is that not knowing is far worse, being lied to about proceudures going wrong or drug errors does not help at all. It makes things far worse. So many things in your head make no sense – your entire world is gone. I feel for you and your father. To be 13 years old and be faced with this is terrible.
    Keep well
    George

  9. Chuck Hartman

    Hi, Lisa!

    Looking to sign petition. To whom does it go?

    You might consider imprecation.

    Love in King Jesus,

    Chuck

  10. Misty Merchant

    I am so sorry for your loss.

  11. Nikki Cliff

    Dear Lisa,
    Words can’t express how you must have felt – I am so sorry for your loss. I lost me older sister when she was 22 and I was 17, she had overdosed on ‘pinks’ – we will never know if she meant to or not. I have a twin sister too and I am blessed that she is still with me. She is diagnosed with bipolar nervous disorder, but the truth is that all the EST she had and all the different drugs she was on was because they did not know the real reason so decided to experiment on her. I am just so thankful I have her with me and through the grace of God, her health is okay.
    My thoughts are with you,
    Always – Nikki

  12. Dayna Merchant (DeMonte)

    I am so very sorry for your loss. What a hard thing for you to deal with as a young child. Your story is very touching and will help others. The story also shows how strong and caring you are. Your sister would be proud.

    Dayna

  13. Dr. Rev. McCovery

    Lisa I can hear your pain I can feel your cries inside I can sense the agony you hide I know your loss is deep and wide I know you rage and tear and cannot abide all these people millions and score being misdiagnosed and drugged–yes the statistics SOAR–as many turn to homicide, suicide, and more-I know you long to even the score and save many others from going through this revolving Hell Door-I pray for you and all the rest whose palpable pain leaves nothing to jest that you find peace and justice too and that others are saved from what these vile drugs do. –Peace and Love, csm.

  14. Jennifer Lutterbie

    Thank you for sharing. My son was put n this drug as a young teen-ager in the ’90s. It effectively ruined both of our lives. Thank the Lord he didn’t die. He complained of feeling like he was in pea-soup and couldn’t get out of bed. He just refused to take it any longer. He went through what I now know is withdrawal syndrome. At the time it was so unmanageable I (again) listened to the shrink and put him in an institution. What a nightmare. It is small wonder he doesn’t even speak to me anylonger. It just amazes me that with the internet superhighway (which I didn’t have then) people are still succumbing tot he comfort of a shrink and having their lives destroyed and wondering WHY? Thank you Lisa. And God Bless Dr. Tracy.

  15. Linda Mulvey, California

    I am SO tired of seeing commercials on TV pushing antidepressant drugs. How can people be so stupid as to IGNORE the warnings about sexual dysfunction, violence, and suicides apparently being caused by them? Not only that, but mothers and their babies are being “treated” with these toxic drugs with very sad results. Psychiatric drugs ruin lives.

  16. Jodee Borgerding, Ohio

    Jodee Borgerding, Ohio
    I had been put on many (over 40) different anti-depressant drugs do to depression. For 25 yrs. It would take 4-6 weeks to work, by then I was completely suicidal and had to be hospitalized! On each and every type I took! They say this only occurs in young adults, I disagree completely! I am “living” proof as an OLDER adult that they are BAD medicine. Dr. FINALLY put on my chart that I could not take them (after 25 yrs. of trying different things and many hospitalizations). I honestly believe that they are created to do exactly what they do do. MAKE people take thier life. Not one kind EVER helped me, only caused tremdous problems mentally and financially. It puts thousands of dollars in the pockets of Big Pharmacy and the DRs. who no longer practice with ETHICS. Its to line their wallets, no matter what the cost. Even your LIFE. Thank God I found a DR. who seen this and cared enough to put me on a completely different med. that has helped tremndously (after searching for 25 yrs). They tried to put my neice on one and I had to step in. She is now doing great with her family Dr. and the meds. he gives her, which, by the way, are NOT anti-depressants. Lives a completely normal life and did NOT while trying all of the anti-depressants they were feeding her. Seen it happen too many times. Its a gamble with your life that they are taking.

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