Lisa & Lori
Lorraine Coppeta
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 TOFRINAL
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.
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.
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I can’t imagine what you have gone through over the years but hope that your
recent discovery helps you, and from the looks of it it has certainly helped
others. I truly believe there is a reason for things happening, and in this
case I believe your sister sacrificed to help many others. It sounds like she
was that type of person.
Hello, Lisa~
Thank you for contacting Citizens Against Homicide regarding the story of your beloved sister’s tragic journey. Your words were heart wrenching and, I am sure, must have been extremely difficult for you to express. However, the truth about this drug, IMIPRAMINE (TOFRANIL) needed to be told. Lori’s story will, no doubt, hit the core of so many experiencing signs of stress/depression and wondering where to turn or what medications are safe to take.
Thank you, Lisa, for stepping forward to ensure that another family does not have to suffer such a senseless, tragic loss due to the effects of an irresponsibly prescribed drug.
Shellie
Victim Advocate
Lisa, I am sorry for your loss.
Your sister trusted a doctor (like we are supposed to) and took what was prescribed.
Many people make this mistake.
Psychiatric Drugs that psychiatry and GP’s prescribe can go either way, drugs might help or harm the patient.
This makes psych drugs not a science, and not medicine, in my opinion.
Yes , the survivors should unite to put better restraint (LAWS) on the multi-billion dollar a year pharmaceutical companies that peddle mind altering drugs as medicines.
Dear Lisa & family.
I just found out tonight what happened. I knew Lori back in the seventies. We hung out now & then. I moved to California in 1976 and just lost touch. My prayers go to you and your family. And any other family with similar situations. May God Bless.
“L” Dave La Vigne
I care!
After sharing you sister’s story a life was saved! My son’s life partner was on this drug and was having all sorts of problems. I passed your story on it was recognized by family and professinals. He got off this drug and is fine.
YOU AND YOUR SISTER SAVED A LIFE!
THANK YOU
A law should be passed that everyone that dies from a suicide from a pharmaceutical
drug side effect should be published to take the blame of the victim and on the hands of those that are guilty.
I thank you for your information and I know that people all over will see the truth here.
Well done sweetheart there are to many people dying due to the drugs they get from there doctor and trust that they are in good hands I for one know what i am talking about as my mother was addicted to precription drugs and contributed to her death when she was only 36.
God bless you Lisa xxx
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Dear Lisa,
Firstly, thanks very much (if that’s the right expression!) for sending your story. It is one of the most tragic and moving things I have ever read.
Anti-Depressants are handed out like sweets (candy as you say) over here in England and the damage they have done to me is untold.
I was put on Prozac back in 1997 because I was supposed to have been ‘Clinically Depressed’. I have Crohn’s Disease and Type 1 Diabetes and yes, it gets me down but, before I went on Prozac it was never something that I couldn’t handle. My Doc thought they would be a great help!
After around 6 months, I started to get really bad fatigue and lethargy. This was put down to Crohn’s but, when the illness was under control, I still had the fatigue. To cut a very long story short, I went for every test possible to try and find out what was causing it but nothing showed up. This fatigue killed off my marriage, my career and my life!
Following my divorce I was so down and anxious that a Psych. changed my A/D’s to Mirtazapine telling me that they would be better than Prozac in that they would stop my anxiety, No way! I too became suicidal and these types of thoughts were constantly in my head. Every morning I would break down crying (I am a male by the way) and, even though I’d been through a divorce, I just knew this was not me. Yes I should have been sad about the divorce but this was just unnatural, it was if my body had taken control of me.
Eventually, I went to see another Psych. and told him that the Mirtazapine seemed to be making me worse or, at least not making me better. He (a very arrogant person) simply told me ‘just stop taking them and I will write to your doctor and tell him to cancel your repeat prescription.
Of course I did what he told me to do after all he is a qualified Psychiatrist and who was I to doubt him?!
After a few days, I started to get extremely anxious and more and more paranoid, then the ‘rebound depression’ started as well. I was going (and still am) through a living hell and it was until around 7 weeks into the ‘cold turkey’ I realised was the cause of this was, I didn’t know anything about how dangerous it was to suddenly stop taking these drugs and I was totally shocked. I decided that as I had gone 7 weeks without the drug, there was no way that I wanted to go back on it and withdraw slowly as I believed it would soon be out of my system…..WRONG!!! It’s still going on but, I WILL NOT go back on it, not for $1,000,000
I will just ’sit it out’ until it eventually does get out of my body
Anyway, I wish you a happy and peaceful Xmas and rest of your life. I have signed the petition and wish you all the success you deserve for bringing these eveil drugs to the public awareness.
Love Renny
Dear Lisa,
Firstly, thanks very much (if that’s the right expression!) for sending your story. It is one of the most tragic and moving things I have ever read.
Anti-Depressants are handed out like sweets (candy as you say) over here in England and the damage they have done to me is untold.
I was put on Prozac back in 1997 because I was supposed to have been ‘Clinically Depressed’. I have Crohn’s Disease and Type 1 Diabetes and yes, it gets me down but, before I went on Prozac it was never something that I couldn’t handle. My Doc thought they would be a great help!
After around 6 months, I started to get really bad fatigue and lethargy. This was put down to Crohn’s but, when the illness was under control, I still had the fatigue. To cut a very long story short, I went for every test possible to try and find out what was causing it but nothing showed up. This fatigue killed off my marriage, my career and my life!
Following my divorce I was so down and anxious that a Psych. changed my A/D’s to Mirtazapine telling me that they would be better than Prozac in that they would stop my anxiety, No way! I too became suicidal and these types of thoughts were constantly in my head. Every morning I would break down crying (I am a male by the way) and, even though I’d been through a divorce, I just knew this was not me. Yes I should have been sad about the divorce but this was just unnatural, it was if my body had taken control of me.
Eventually, I went to see another Psych. and told him that the Mirtazapine seemed to be making me worse or, at least not making me better. He (a very arrogant person) simply told me ‘just stop taking them and I will write to your doctor and tell him to cancel your repeat prescription.
Of course I did what he told me to do after all he is a qualified Psychiatrist and who was I to doubt him?!
After a few days, I started to get extremely anxious and more and more paranoid, then the ‘rebound depression’ started as well. I was going (and still am) through a living hell and it was until around 7 weeks into the ‘cold turkey’ I realised was the cause of this was, I didn’t know anything about how dangerous it was to suddenly stop taking these drugs and I was totally shocked. I decided that as I had gone 7 weeks without the drug, there was no way that I wanted to go back on it and withdraw slowly as I believed it would soon be out of my system…..WRONG!!! It’s still going on but, I WILL NOT go back on it, not for $1,000,000
I will just ’sit it out’ until it eventually does get out of my body
Anyway, I wish you a happy and peaceful Xmas and rest of your life. I have signed the petition and wish you all the success you deserve for bringing these eveil drugs to the public awareness.
Love Renny
Renny Proudlove
I really feel for you, and your
story is one of extreme sadness. These horrible crimes can stop, but we need
to band together and march on the Whitehouse and demand that they put a stop to
this.
I know many people who have committed suicide, and only after I was put
on these poisons for anxiety, could I put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Not only did these drugs spin me into a downward spiral, but I know now how
someone could kill themselves. I also know that these people who did commit
suicide were on SSRI medication and that is why they did what they did.
The doctors and drug manufacturers should be held liable. Our voices
need to be heard, and those of us who’s lives have been destroyed, either
directly by the drugs, or indirectly, deserve justice and compensation….. But
what kind of compensation can you give to someone who has lost someone they
love, or how much money can return my brain back to it’s pre-drugged state.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Let me know if there is anything I can do
for you.
Kindest Regards,
Tony
Oh, Lisa, I’m so sad to read this. I had no idea. Please remember that you were just a young girl and there was no way you could’ve understood at the time what was going on. Good for you for being your sister’s champion, and continue to fight hard for what you believe is right!
Lisa, I understand you are angry. I was diagnosed as bipolar for reacting
negatively to antidepressants myself in 1992. I became suicidal and lost a
good portion of my memory for several years. I fought my body daily for over
12 years after cold-turkeying off of benzodiazepines during my pregnancy. I
thought I was crazy like the rest of the family and lived in fear of
discovery for loss of my professional credibility for many years.
My grandmother was destroyed by psychiatric drugs and was suicidal most of
her life AS A RESULT OF THE DRUGS they treated her with not her illness as
we were told! My mother was a psychological mess because her mother was a
psychological mess. In turn, my sister and I were both psychologically
scarred from my mother’s inability to bond emotionally with us because of
her own mother’s exposure to psych drugs.
My niece burned herself alive 5 years ago TOMORROW so it is a particularly
difficult anniversary for me each year as I relive the trauma daily and know
that the event was blamed on her MENTAL ILLNESS not her toxic treatment.
She was a brilliant, talented, beautiful young woman only 20 years old.
Of course you are shocked, appalled, angry…as well you should be. But my
point was not meant to minimize your situation but to simply reassure you
that you are not alone in this battle or in this calling. All of your
reactions to finding out the drugs are what killed your loved one are
justified and I validate you! We have all been deceived and lied to and
they still won’t own up to it to this very day! They are targeting our
children more every year as expansion profit centers for psych drugs.
Please read my book.
Have you contacted the Citizens Commission on Human Rights with your
sister’s story? They may be able to help with litigation efforts and the
investigation of your sister’s death.
In truth for health,
Gwen
Lisa, thank you for sharing this deeply personal story. I hope it helps to heal your long suffered pain….and helps prevent someone else’s pain too in the process. You are doing the right thing. Professional medicine failed your sister, but you are not failing her. Too many “legal” drugs are killing people. Why did the FDA ever pass the one that took your sister’s senses?
Stay strong and battle on!
Hi, I’m a victim of a different drug, but I would offer the importance of considering where, exactly, your dear sister had been living before returning home. Why I had a worse time metabolizing the medication has been one of the hardest parts to understand. If your sister was spending time near any broadcasting or high power equipment, she could have been getting a much higher effective dose. The fact is that cell membranes dilate in the presence of electric fields, admitting more hormones, toxins, and medications, deeper into the body.
If you would like more details, please contact me.
Thanks for the link.
Lori would of had Psychiatric Psychotherapy. The drugs and the psychotherapy she received did nothing for the stress of the divorce, but added to that problem which ended in suicide. Anyone going to a psych or medical practioner today for a similar situation are up against the same failed system Lori went to for help.
What Causes Depression
http://www.dianetics.org/?branch=index/nav/videos&pageid=videos#/videos
PSYCHOTHERAPISTS PROVOKE VIOLENCE
http://www.rehabilitatenz.co.nz/pages/psychotherapy.html
What’s Wrong with Psychiatry? A Psychiatrist Explains…[2 mins]
http://www.cchrint.org/videos/experts/whats-wrong-with-psychiatry-a-psychiatrist-explains/
Let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Kevin Owen
Psychosomatic Healing
http://www.psychosomatic-healing.co.nz/
Handling the stress related to all illness.
With a reduction in Mental and Physical Stress
comes an improvement in health.
I think there are alot (if not near all) prescription and over the counter medications that are just plain “not good” for anyone.
Example, anti depressants that get prescribed. It seems to take forever to find the right pill and dosage. Along with that, a doctor will probably go thru a number of different ones to find the one that works best. This is where alot of ppl have a hard time coping. They are in need of help, but while being used as a guinee pig, they can become very lost and in some cases suicidal.
So, what to do if one does not want to be guinee pig? I suggest that there alot of natural/normal things that could and should be tried. There might be alot of things that one should give up, eg., certain types of food, clothes we wear, cosmetics are the main ones.
Food – Stop the junk, including liquid candy (pop/soda). Stay away from fast food. Force oneself to eat healthier, even if you don’t like it. (that’s why it’s good for you)
Clothes – Choose natural fibers for your clothing. Ensure there is no chemicals in the material of the clothes.
Cosmetics – I suggest you check this out for yourself. There’s alot of cosmetics that are just real bad for you. To find out which ones, go to http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
These are only a few of the things, but most important that can affect the way one thinks, or is force to think by what they come in contact with everyday. Chemical reactions on the human body. Sounds strange, but true.
We all need to change so much…
I really hope you get justice for your sister used risperdal it gave me 7 side effects including akathisia i was going to kill my self just to end the suffering and after i quit the drug me schizophrenia got much worst all this companies care about is money.
I read your story…. Broke my heart. I am actually on meds for anxiety and made me stop
and think about if i should continue. You are writing a book or something about
it right? I will be sure to buy it.!
Oh my goodness, Lisa…this is the saddest story I have ever read! I really had
no idea this happened to you and your family! 1981, we were in 8th grade. It is
well known now that most antidepressants can cause suicidal thoughts. I’m so
very sorry your famliy had to endure such heartache! I think you are a very
strong person to be able to tell such… Read More a sad painful part of your
life and speak for your sister and make things right by her (if that can ever
really happen!) I wish you the best of luck in your quest to find peace and
justice for her and your family.
Beth
WOW…. I finally have the answer! After these last few years of thinking I was the one who was messed up and no one could help me and trying all different drugs and nothing working. Thank you……. About 4 years ago i attempted suicide by over dosing on medication I was a senior in college and thanks to my roommate for finding me in time i am still alive. The feeling of being empty and feeling like nothing you were doing in life was good enough… and feeling as though you were just here wasting space was all that ran through my mind. I began to not care anymore I used drugs, I drank….. and just to find out it was all the medications that they had me on. NO ONE should ever have to feel this way…..I am soooo sorry you had to go through with what happened!
I think these kinds of medicines are atrocious! I was doped up and drugged for many years they not only made Me very unhealthy, ill, pshycotic,suicidal, unavailable for My children,useless, ovreweight, gave Me sleep apnea, ibs, worsened and made My ocd totally uncontrollable, practically ruined My life. this issue is very critically important to Me!….sincerely, Cathi
I read your words with horror. The old tricyclics made me so physically ill I never stayed on them for long enough to be damaged, paroxitine had dominated my life since the 1990’s. It is the answer in the UK for everything, yet another drug, and more drugs but nothing that actually helps.
You must write your book, the truth must be exposed. You are incredibly brave and I wish that your knowledge had not come from such a terrible tragedy
Good luck
The sad thing is that drug manufactures never tell the real truth about what happens when there are to many drugs introduced to the body and they never will because it would effect the bottom line and for the most part we are just numbers to them and that is a fact.
There have been so many people that have died from using drugs that there doctor have given them for not just mental problems as in this case but so many other problems.
But to say that person took her own life is way over the top she was deeply depressed and she should have been watched much more closely by her doctors to make sure this would never have happened and that is a fact.
I think the doctors should have been blamed for this horrible act not the patient.
MAY GOD BLESS HER AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY NOW AND FOR ALL TIME AS I AM SURE HE WILL!!!
Lisa I too know that down side of certain drugs. Many of our veterans are guinea pigs. I know what my brother was put though because of the state he was in for many of his earlier years while on multiple anti depression drugs prescribed by VA doctors..I have been bringing attention to the many dangers of Legal Drug ever since.
All one has to do is watch the abusive commercials offering relief from this or that then you get the downside. This drug may cause death, liver or kidney damage. These commercials are sadistic since they are designed to be a disclaimer, used in court, should you need to sue, . In law it’s called when did you know and when did you know it…They are telling you the dangers so if you decide to use these drugs you are now responsible..
I am very suspect of corporations, doctors, etc, wanting TORT REFORM! If this law goes through we will no longer have any recourse and be at the mercy of the care giver..
I am so sorry for your loss and for the misery you and your sister were put through because she was not in safe hands when prescribed a drug for depression..
Take heart dear lady you are not alone in this fight. You can learn more about my activist site here__ http://www.DareToDreamNetwork.net and the many issues we pursue..
The Truth about drugs must be the goal. Drugs do kill. Especially the legal variety…
Barbara/founder/dtdn
Thank you for sharing your sister’s story and helping others to understand the potential risks for some medications. Being well informed about risk factors may help save others as well as help other families understand their loved ones’ suicides. There are often physical reasons for mental health issues.
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
http://www.Care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI
As with all drugs, but esp. psych drugs, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you work closely with your psychiatrist & therapist! If you aren’t “safe” you should even be watched MORE CLOSELY. I do believe prescription drugs are a necessity for some conditions, and with monitoring ARE safe & helpful in the treatment of all kinds of mental conditions!
I know that the closer my daughter works with her psych/therapist, the happier she is, and the more they’ve pulled her from some very serious, very deep issues. But…she follows her pill regiment to a “T”, and there is always a need for adjustment – which is why it is so imperative that a skilled doctor is aware of how she is doing.
She hasn’t always been as happy as she is today. We’ve gotten her through some incredibly rough times, and there so easily could be a backslide without her taking both her medicines & regiment of health, eating regularly & reducing her stress with much seriousness.
I can also say that despite medicine, doctor’s care, and watching 24/7….there is ALWAYS a chance that someone who is driven to commit suicide will find the opportunity and chance to do so. My favorite nephew was one of those. Alcohol & steroids also didn’t help in his case.
I have known peoplle who were prescribed Tofrinal and it also made them suicidal, as well as chnge their personality from happy to nasty and vindictive. It is sometimes precribed for disorders
such as bed wetting and with the same side effects. Lloyd.,Connolly.
Lorraine,
Your story is is so close to mine. My father killed himself by walking in front of a train in 1981. Only after I had been prescribed Lexapro and wound up with all kinds of problems, 2 DUI’s, 3 drunk in publics (where I called the police on myself!) and a suicide attempt was I able to make the connection between my father’s suicide and anti-depressants. I am 40 years old now, I was also 13 when he killed himself. He was a school teacher and the last time I saw him was in the school lunchroom. I saw him sitting alone and decided to sit with my friends and not him. My mother never told us the outrageous extent to which he was drugged. He was given over 12 psychotropic drugs over 3 years, including Imipramine (Tofranil or Elvavil) and I believe Xanax and other tranquilizers. Only last year, she told me this when I asked her. I had known that he had taken anti-depressants but not what kind or how many. He sufferred from akathasia, he would lay on the couch all day for months and say he was “too nervous” to do anything. He was becoming paranoid and asked my mother if she thought the neighbors could hear them talking inside the house and if they were saying he was a homosexual. He was hospitalized 8 times in the year before he killed himself and killed himself 2 days after being released for the last time. I never knew about these side effects or how many drugs he was given until I had my own experience with Lexapro. I have lived for 27 years, just like you, waking up every day, thinking “why, why, why” I’ve always had this nagging feeling that I should be doing something but don’t know what. For 27 years, I have been my own judge, jury, and executioner of anything in my life that would make me happy. I have let people treat me like a doormat, because I decided they were all better than me because I caused my father to do that by abandoning him that day at lunch (which I logically knew wasn’t true but I still felt that way.) I developed terrible fears that something would get me in the end and I would die a horrible painful death, my child or husband would be killed in a car accident everytime they went somewhere without me and it would be my fault for letting them go alone. I was OCD and would check for fire hazards everytime I left the house for work so my dog would not die in a fire. I called my house 20 times a day from work to make sure it wasn’t burned down. I had anorexia and bulimia when I was a teeanager and had terrible nightmares until I was 23. It’s very sad because I also have 4 brothers and a sister. Once I made this connection to the drugs, my OCD and fears have all but dissapeared. Maybe he can finally rest in peace.
Dear Lori..
Sept. 22, 2009 will mark the 28th anniversary since we lost you….
I miss you still… like it happened only yesterday….
I AM SORRY I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU AT THE TIME YOU WERE IN TROUBLE..I DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
I AM SORRY IT TOOK ME YEARS TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT.
FINALLY THE TRUTH HAS SURFACED, AND I WILL MAKE SURE
YOUR STORY IS HEARD.
YOUR MEMORY AND SPIRIT WILL LIVE ON….
MAYBE YOUR STORY WILL SAVE A LIFE?
MAYBE IT WILL GIVE CLOSURE TO OTHER FAMILIES LEFT IN THE DARK LIKE OURS WAS FOR ALMOST 3 DECADES?
MAYBE GOD PICKED YOU…TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD?
I’M NOT SURE..BUT I DO KNOW…
NOW FINALLY YOU CAN REST IN
PEACE.
WATCH OVER MOM FOR US…I TAKE COMFORT KNOWING YOUR TOGETHER
WE ALL MISS YOU BOTH.
I KNEW YOU KEPT YOUR PROMISE TO ME, AND NOW I KEPT MINE TO YOU.
THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU WILL BE HEARD!
LOVE ALWAYS YOUR LITTLE SISTER
LISA
Ripsister, I am desperately sorry for your loss. The first time I became
aware of psychotropic homicide and suicide danger was when I attended a talk
given by Dr. Anne Blake Tracy. She paints a grim picture and it’s all true.
Both my brother and sister are addicted to various psychotropics and nothing
I have said has swayed them from their stance that the “doctor is in charge,
not you.” However, it is not “justice” that you are seeking for your sister.
The only way justice MIGHT happen – and it is no comfort at all – is if the
specific doctor or the specific pharmaceutical agent that were involved in
her death had to spend time in jail. What might give some comfort is the
feeling that perhaps someone else will be saved from the same fate because
they pay attention to your warning and don’t get hooked in the first place.
I constantly talk to people about the dangers of psychotropics. It seldom
does any good.
Today, more than 20% of the people in the United States are on some form of
psychoactive drugs. I see the psychotropics as one of the most worrisome
problems during the collapse of civilization as we run low on oil, as
climate changes continue, and as the economy continues to disintegrate. It
takes an existent economy and a dollar that can be spent to get these drugs
into the people who are addicted. As much as I’d love to see no more
psychotropics on the market, since these drugs actually change the brain’s
chemistry and it takes a long time to get free of them, there is going to be
hell to pay if the supply is suddenly cut off (for instance China stops
giving the US any credit for purchasing power since the feds are currently
spending 200% of tax income) and 20% of our population is suddenly going
through instant withdrawal. It could get really, really nasty.
The message here is simple as far as I’m concerned. Allopathic medicine is
good for only one thing: trauma care. Psychotropics are bad news.
Fluoroquinolones are disastrous. How many other drugs out there will
eventually be discovered as doing more harm than good? Take chemotherapy for
example. Poison the body to heal it? Makes no sense to me. I think the
primary message I’m getting here is that in order to maintain health, people
need to turn their backs on allopathic medicine entirely. Medical doctors
are great in an emergency room and in the aftermath of a severe heart
attack. Other than that – leave us alone!
Sunday, September 20, 2009 11:09 AM
I am so prud of you!!!!! You did it. It will come to pass. People will know that all meds, and I say ALL MEDS are not good for anyone. They cause so many problems in so many ways. Our bodies were not made to take in all these chemicals. The pramacuital companies need to stop telling people to take this crap. And doctors need to stop as well. there are so many natural ways to help cure or deal with all illnesses.
That is what needs to be put out there. God made all things, and all things have a purpose. We as a whole have to use what we have on the plants to help cure all that is out there.
It can be done, but the government wont let us due to money, money, money they will lose in the process. That has to change and everyone has to fight together for it to pass.
Thank you for sending this to me. I think about you alot and your family.
Keep in touch,
Steph
It hit me hard I’ve been on a number of them for years. I’m 54 years old. I take Celexa in the morning, and 300mg of seroquel at 7:00 p.m.
Lisa….I am so terribly sorry for your tragic loss of your sister –
myself having lost a beautiful 18 year old daughter to
antidepressant-related suicide, I can truly understand your
pain and want of justice. Unfortunately the newer selective serotonin
re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are no better or worse than the older tri-cyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in terms of safety or efficacy – they all have the same problems and reportedly only work -at best 50% of the time. So for at least half of people who
take antidepressants (TCAs or SSRIs) it is all risk (of adverse
effects) with no benefit. If your sister ended her life after abruptly
stopping a TCA then it was most likely due to the severe form of
akathisia that some people experience. Akathisia has been previously
described as an inability to stay still – a kind of
physical agitation. Psychiatrists first noticed this adverse effect
with the introduction of the first-generation of anti-psychotic drugs
(at that time usually only prescribed to schizophrenics) in the 1950s
But with the wide spread use of anti-depressants – especially
now with SSRIs – it is now recognized that there is a terribly more
severe form of this side effect – if the drug abruptly stopped –
which will literally drive some people to suicide and in some cases
homicide – a kind of inner torture as described as
follows:
“Akathisia, remains > virtually unknown. Akathisia has been described
as a unique form of inner torture that, prior to the development
of psychiatric drugs, probably never existed. Knowledge of the side
effect, however, has been around for a while.”
Suicide Reference Library – Richard Grandpre-2002
Although there are some new theories why this severe form of akathisia
only happens to some people (related to metabolism) – the cause is
elusive. Problem is that the drug manufacturers try to keep this awful
side-effect secret – most patients are never warned of this when first
prescribed.
my very best wishes to you on your journey
Thk u for sharing this very important and horrible part of your life!! It is a essential peice in the evils of our economy in modern day so called civilisation!! We have much to still progress on. And one of them is the dictatorship by psychologists, psychyatrists, scientists and so called phycisians.
I am sorry this happened to you!!
You are truly courageous, and loving. Congratulations on getting your
story out there, never giving up. God bless you.
I’ve had a very bad experience a long time ago with Zoloft, (amongst other
meds); have been thru horrible times observing med reactions of relatives and
friends…caused by lethal medicines. Now again… another very very horrible
time, with a mate who’s affected by Levaquin….. topped off by other meds
that they tried on him, which prolonged and accellerated the agony.
If only more people could be steadfast in their compassion and caring.
Every day I pray for justice and for the greedy apathetic ones to get a
conscience.
You are truly courageous, and loving. Congratulations on getting your
story out there, never giving up. God bless you.
I’ve had a very bad experience a long time ago with Zoloft, (amongst other
meds); have been thru horrible times observing med reactions of relatives and
friends…caused by lethal medicines. Now again… another very very horrible
time, with a mate who’s affected by Levaquin….. topped off by other meds
that they tried on him, which prolonged and accellerated the agony.
If only more people could be steadfast in their compassion and caring.
Every day I pray for justice and for the greedy apathetic ones to get a
conscience.
> Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 2:42 PM
And the apostles did not let them forget what was done to Jesus.
Keep the faith.
Love in King Jesus,
Chuck
i ADMIRE YOUR PERISTANCE IN FINDING OUT THE TRUE CAUSE OF YOUR SISTER/S SUICIDE. lET US HOPE THAT THIS GETS PUBLISHED FAR AND WIDE THROUGH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. nEIGHBOR, mARGARET
“All these years you would not let it go”- you did not care what people
thought of you- you did not give up!
Many people told you to move on and let it go- and you couldn’t!
NOW WE UNDERSTAND WHY!
From Kevin Kelly (friends for over 20 years)
7:38 am PDT, Aug 24, Scott Callahan, New Hampshire
I hope this petition gets the word out on how much antidepressants can induce suicidal, erratic, abnormal, and aggravated behavior. A calm, reserved, and caring individual doesn’t suddenly get homicidal or suicidal within the course of a month; however, add a drug into the mix and these reactions are possible. Whenever someone commits suicide, murder, or suddenly becomes “crazy,” the first thing investigators, doctors, or police should ask is “was this person on or withdrawing from any medication?” It seems that with the power and influence doctors and drug companies have, they can continue to deny that these drugs don’t induce such behavior, and can also do a good job of making the citizens believe them, too. But, like with tobacco, which doctors initially shamefully endorsed, there’s a movement growing that’s alerting potential patients about the truth of these drugs. Sorry to hear about your sister. I hope Lorraine’s story will help get the word out.
# 35:
“OMG I could feel your pain reading this. How Gut-Wrenching! I’m glad you were
finally able to find the cause behind all of this. Lisa, I’m sure your sister
is very proud of you and all you have done. I wish you much success in
spreading the word and I hope you are able to help others that had similar
experiences.”
7:38 am PDT, Aug 24, Scott Callahan, New Hampshire
I visited the website and was really moved by your story. I am sorry
about what happened to your sister. Are you working on a book project
about her?
Hope to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Marvin Spencer
Publishing Consultant
Sales & Marketing Department
i know a lot of people and can get it out into the world. i met millions doing the business and yes i will get your story wherever it has to go. all my love and prayers..lori
from PA
My Name is Patrick and would like to help you Spread the word about the story.. I would like to make a video telling People the story with You… and i can Post it on Your site for you to… I would do this all for FREE Because of the Love you have not just for your family but for others to… If you want to take me up on this offer at any time- sooner the better- for other Family’s we can do so at your convience… Thanks for your time today.. Patrick
Lisa,
Congratulations on finallyl getting your story published, I know it might not ease the pain, but just finally to know why? has to put a lot questions behind you, and your family. I hope you are doing well.
Karen (NY)
I am so sorry about your sister’s death. I too took Imipramine about 8 years or so ago for a dizzy disorder, I found that it caused me intense anxiety and slow spins at night when I tried to sleep. I think I lasted about 2 weeks on it. I did not like that drug at all either. I do not know what might have happened to me had I stuck with it but the ADR’s were not worth it.
lisa that is so good……so sad but yet so good….i am very proud of you for putting it out there and i will pass it along. (Lori in PA)
I’m sorry to hear about your sister.
But it is good on your discovery of the drugs.
I’m glad you’re out there screaming about it!
Best, Ken
Years have passed ..the pain of the memories i have had leading up to her sudden death never faded. However..Now with this truth that I knew was always somewhere out there to be found It finally surfaced. I have found my answer to her death.
I know with not one reasonable doubt, the evidence I have, the dates of events etc..
I am 100% sure this drug ‘INDUCED” suicidal thoughts, the sudden stopping of the drug through her into the sudden withdrawl, which in turn…lead her to take her life.
NOT MAKING A CONCIOUS DECISION TO DO SO..
MY SISTER WAS POISONED BY A LEGAL DRUG, SHE DID NOT GIVE CONCENT OF TAKING A CHANCE OF THE “HIDDEN” BUT KNOWN BY THE DRUG COMPANIES SIDE EFFECTS OF A DRUG GIVEN TO HER FOR MERE STRESS.
THE CONCEALED INFORMATION “SUICIDAL INDUCED THOUGHTS” AS WELL AS THE “WITHDRAWL” SYNDROME THEY CALL IT TODAY..WHICH ACTUALLY MEANT THAT YOU COULD FALL INTO SUCH A DEEP DEPRESSION …YOU MAY JUST END YOUR LIFE! THIS WAS NOT SEEN BY ANY OF THE VICTIMS…THE FAMILIES , OR EVEN DOCTORS….UNTIL DECADES LATER!
NEXT TIME YOU HEAR A COMMERCIAL FOR ANY AND ALL ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS- STOP AND LISTEN!
WHEN IS SAYS MAY INCREASE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
THAT IS WRONG AND SHOULD BE CHANGED TO… “MAY INDUCE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS” WHERE THERE WERE NONE BEFORE!
PLEASE THINK OF NOT ONLY MY SISTER BUT THE COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO SOON BECAME VICTIMS OF SUICIDE …..BECAUSE IT WAS “INDUCED” AGAINST EACH PERSONS WILL- THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THEM…PEOPLE SIMPLY THOUGHT THEY WERE LOSING CONTROL NOT EVER CONNECTING IT TO A “SAFE” PRESCRIPTION DRUG GIVEN TO THEM TO HELP WITH THE NORMAL DAY STRESSES OF LIFE.
PLEASE..SPEAK OUT!