” ‘The current therapy of depression doesn’t seem to be
doing that much for depression, and certainly hasn’t broken the link between
depression and cardiovascular disease,’ he said in an interview
from Ann Arbor.”

“In fact, he said there’s some evidence that
certain antidepressants increase cardiovascular

death when they’re taken with beta-blockers.”

” ‘So we have sort
of a real challenge that the current treatment of depression doesn’t seem to be
that effective’.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gUXXTGCUSLny-RfZ24BUGVERK5zQ

Happy people have lower likelihood of heart attack, Nova Scotia study
indicates

By Anne-Marie Tobin (CP) – 17 hours ago

TORONTO ­ We
hear the advice “Don’t worry, be happy,” and “Smile, smile, smile” in upbeat
song lyrics. And when it comes to the health benefits of a sunny disposition,
they might be on to something.

A 10-year study that tracked more than
1,700 adults in Nova Scotia suggests people who are usually happy, enthusiastic
and content are less likely to develop heart disease.

The study,
published Thursday in the European Heart Journal, is believed to be the first to
show an independent relationship between clinically assessed emotions and
coronary heart disease.

“Being happy means you have less likelihood of
having a heart attack 10 years later,” said psychologist Karina Davidson,
director of the Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health at Columbia
University Medical Center in New York.

“What we don’t know yet is if
you’re not a happy person and you were to get an intervention to help you

increase your happiness, would that offset your risk?”

The team looked at
the association between positive affect – defined as the experience of
pleasurable emotions such as joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm and
contentment – and cardiovascular events in 1,739 adults in the 1995 Nova Scotia
Health Survey. Trained nurses interviewed the 862 men and 877 women.

“We
taped as they talked about their daily lives, what stresses them, how they
handle those stressors, and we then coded whether they had a lot of positive
affect,” said Davidson, who hails from Vancouver and began the research in 1995
while she was at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

“We had to wait quite a
few years as these people had heart attacks, and then we looked to see whether
being happy predicted fewer heart attacks, and indeed it did.”

The
researchers found that over the decade, participants with no positive affect
were at 22 per cent higher risk of heart attack or angina than those with a
little positive affect, who were themselves at 22 per cent higher risk than
those with moderate positive affect.

But Davidson notes that this is an
observational study, and rigorous clinical trials are needed to support the
findings.

A study would need to follow people with low levels of
happiness, and randomize them so that some receive usual care while others would
receive intervention from a trained professional to help identify ways to
increase joy and excitement in their daily lives.

“The key to adding
pleasurable or enjoyable activities to one’s life is that they also be heart
healthy,” Davidson noted.

“So if you can learn to enjoy going for a walk
after dinner, or going to the gym to do a regular routine, or you always enjoyed
hiking in your younger years and so you go on some hikes on a regular basis,
that will surely improve your heart health.”

One problem, she observed,
is that some people enjoy smoking, eating ice cream or other activities that
aren’t considered heart healthy – so they’d need to be steered away from
those.

Dr. Bertram Pitt, a cardiologist at the University of Michigan
School of Medicine, co-wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal and notes
that the relationship between cardiovascular disease and depression poses
intriguing research questions.

“The current therapy of depression doesn’t
seem to be doing that much for depression, and certainly hasn’t broken the link
between depression and cardiovascular disease,” he said in an interview from Ann
Arbor.

In fact, he said there’s some evidence that certain

antidepressants increase cardiovascular death when they’re taken with
beta-blockers.

“So we have sort of a real challenge that the current
treatment of depression doesn’t seem to be that effective.”

The study by
Davidson is important because it points out there may be some new approaches, he
said.

“I think if you can be happy and do things that make you happy, you
certainly can‘t lose, and you may have a great advantage in reducing your

cardiovascular risk in the future.”

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press.
All rights reserved

Is Lexapro to blame for Artie Lange‘s DUI?

years I would say that Lexapro is one of the worst. Giving it, or any other antidepressant, to someone with previous substance abuse problems is criminal! These drugs produce OVERWHELMING CRAVINGS for alcohol and other drugs. They can take those who have never touched these substances before & turn them into addicts almost overnight. (www.drugawareness.org/book-excerpts/ssris-and-alcohol) Antidepressants are notorious for producing mania/bipolar. One of the forms of mania is described as uncontrollable cravings for alcohol.

Adverse reactions can be worse: the deaths of Brynn & Phil Hartman & Andrea Yates’ 5 children. Then there’s the man in Palm Beach who after years of a happy hetrosexual life ran off to NY for a sex change operation after starting an antidepressant. He returned to his wife extremely remorseful & with no idea why he did what he had done.

Paragraphs 2 & 3 read:  “ Artie Lange was noticeably quieter than usual on Monday morning’s broadcast, only peppering the on-air conversations with an occasional joke or cutting remark.  About two hours into the broadcast,Artie Lange finally broke his silence about Friday’s DUI.  After stating that: “for once I’m actually doing something sensible and listening to my lawyer and not talking about it,”  Artie Lange went on to tease the audience with a few details of the incident that catapulted him to the top of Google Trends on Friday, despite The HowardStern Show having been off air for a full two weeks.”

“ Artie Lange insists that he blew a 0.0 on the Breathalyzer test that he was given at the scene of the accident. Artie Lange also reported that he was also given a urine test at the police station.  Artie Lange states that there were no illicit drugs in his system, and that all the analysts will find that could possibly explain his erratic driving is the antidepressant Lexapro.”

http://www.examiner.com/x-11279-Howard-Stern-Examiner~y2009m7d13-Is-Lexapro-to-blame-for-Artie-Langes-DUI

Is Lexapro to blame for Artie Lange‘s DUI?

July 13, 9:05 AM

At long last, The Howard Stern Show returned to the air live this Monday morning.  With the abundance of celebrity news to catch up on and current box office topper “Bruno” in the studio, Howard Stern Show fans really only wanted to hear about one thing: Artie Lange’s DUI.  After proclaiming that he had been clean and sober for months, ArtieLange was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Friday after a fender bender in Tom’s River, New Jersey.

Artie Lange was noticeably quieter than usual on Monday morning’s broadcast, only peppering the on-air conversations with an occasional joke or cutting remark.  About two hours into the broadcast, Artie Lange finally broke his silence about Friday’s DUI.  After stating that: “for once I’m actually doing something sensible and listening to my lawyer and not talking about it,”  Artie Lange went on to tease the audience with a few details of theincident that catapulted him to the top of Google Trends on Friday, despite The Howard Stern Show having been off air for a full two weeks.

Artie Lange insists that he blew a 0.0 on the Breathalyzer test that he was given at the scene of the accident.  ArtieLange also reported that he was also given a urine test at the police station.  Artie Lange states that there were no illicit drugs in his system, and that all the analysts will find that could possibly explain his erratic driving is theantidepressant Lexapro.

Artie Lange spoke openly about his struggles with depression in his recent bestselling book “ Too Fat to Fish.”  Inthe past, the comedian has rejected the idea of taking antidepressants to treat his mood, despite his willingness to dabble in the spectrum of illegal substances.

But could Lexapro really be to blame for Artie Lange’s DUI?  Fans, friends and family members of Artie Lange are all thinking the same thing: the whole story sounds too fat to fishy.  In Artie Lange’s defense, the official website forLexapro lists among the drug’s safety precautions: “Patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that Lexapro does not affect their ability to engage in such activities.”  Although Artie Lange did not state how long he has been taking Lexapro, he did report that he started it “recently.”

Artie Lange has stated that he has “a lot to say” about Friday’s DUI arrest, and that he is looking forward to talking openly on the subject once his lawyer approves it.  Artie Lange is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, July 17th.

Author: Liz Brown

Paragraph 8 reads: “Sanchez and Buchholtz lived together during the pregnancy and the first two weeks after their son was born, Buchholtz told the Express-News. The paper reported that an infection complicated Sanchez’s recovery from giving birth, and she was required to use a catheter for about a week. That setback darkened her mood, and she was soon diagnosed with postpartum depression.”

Paragraphs 9 & 10 read: “She moved out of the couple’s shared home July 20. On Saturday, she showed up to see Buchholtz at his parents’ house. She became agitated when he told her he needed a copy of the baby’s birth certificate and Social Security card, Buchholtz told the paper.

Sanchez ran out of the home with her son in a car seat, threw the car seat into the front passenger seat of her car and sped away without buckling him in, the paper said. She left behind a diaper bag, her purse and her medication.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j65NeeVH5ihfMyvu7qiBZWQBV-kgD99NHC180

By PAUL J. WEBER (AP) – 1 hour ago

SAN ANTONIO ­ Relatives of the Texas mother of a 3 1/2-week-old boy found dismembered in his bedroom said she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and postpartum psychosis, and the father of the slain baby said he wants the woman executed.

Otty Sanchez, 33, is charged with capital murder in the death of Scott Wesley Buchholtz-Sanchez. When authorities found the infant’s body Sunday, Sanchez told officers the devil made her do it, police said.

“She was a sweet person and I still love her, but she needs to pay the ultimate price for what she has done,” the baby’s father, Scott W. Buchholtz, told the San Antonio Express-News Monday. “She needs to be put to death for what she has done.”

Relatives and Buchholtz told the newspaper Sanchez’s mental health deteriorated in the week before her son’s death. Buchholtz, who called his son “baby Scotty,” said she often talked about how she needed to see a counselor. Sanchez told detectives she had been hearing voices.

Otty Sanchez’s aunt, Gloria Sanchez, told The Associated Press that her niece had been “in and out” of a psychiatric ward, and that the hospital called several months ago to check up on her.

Sanchez was hospitalized Tuesday with self-inflicted stab wounds and was being held on $1 million bail. Police have said she does not have an attorney. Authorities found the baby with three of his toes chewed off, his face torn away and his head was severed.

Otty Sanchez’s sister and her sister’s two children, ages 5 and 7, were in the house at the time, but none were harmed.

Sanchez and Buchholtz lived together during the pregnancy and the first two weeks after their son was born, Buchholtz told the Express-News. The paper reported that an infection complicated Sanchez’s recovery from giving birth, and she was required to use a catheter for about a week. That setback darkened her mood, and she was soon diagnosed with postpartum depression.

She moved out of the couple’s shared home July 20. On Saturday, she showed up to see Buchholtz at his parents’ house. She became agitated when he told her he needed a copy of the baby’s birth certificate and Social Security card, Buchholtz told the paper.

Sanchez ran out of the home with her son in a car seat, threw the car seat into the front passenger seat of her car and sped away without buckling him in, the paper said. She left behind a diaper bag, her purse and her medication.

Buchholtz’s mother called 911, and a sheriff’s deputy investigated the incident as a disturbance, according to court records. The next day, authorities said, she killed her son.

Officers called to Sanchez’s house at about 5 a.m. Sunday found her sitting on the couch screaming “I killed my baby! I killed my baby!” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said.

McManus described the crime scene as so grisly that police officers barely spoke to each other while looking through the house.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

“Get Off the Pharm”

Written & Performed by Phil Garrison of Five Branches University

(c) 2008
Two versions of a rap I did back in 2008 for my Pharmacology class at Five Branches University.

Lyrics (c) 2008 Philip G. Garrison
Produced by Philip G. Garrison

www.archive.org/details/GetOffThePharmLearn More

http://fbupharmacology.pbwiki.com/Get-Off-the-Pharm

Click on “Read more…”

lyrics: (c) 2008 Philip G. Garrison

Five Branches

http://www.fivebr
anches.edu/

my other musical projects

http://www.myspace.com/wavespan

http://www.myspace.com/creepingbanditos

1st Verse

I went to the Doc to see what’s wrong with me,

He turned out to be a pill-pusher MD,

As he reached for his pen with the drug name on it,

I said, “Stop right there, mon frer, I don’t want it!”

He said, “You must be crazy,” as I broke for the door,

Crashed into somebody, and landed on the floor,

With a slutty type of woman lookin’ down at me,

She had the names of different drugs displayed on her bikini.

She said, “Hey Doc, I was hopin’ you were free,

‘Cause I’m the new Rep’ from the drug company.”

I thought, “Damn…this has gone too far,”

As I raced out the door and hoped into my car.

Turned on the radio, tryin’ to catch the news,

But…all that did was just give me the blues.

With a story of a mom who killed her whole fami-ly,

(While) she was on the same drug the Doc had tried to give me.

An S-S-R-I that made her crazy in the head,

Like Eric Harris was takin’ when he shot those kids dead.

So before you take a drug that might mess up your dome,

Think about Columbine and Google serotonin syndrome,

The human brain is more than just a chemistry lab,

‘n’ drugs can cause hallucinations like an LSD tab.

But drugs are big business in the U-S-A,

So they try to push ‘em on you even if you’re okay.

2nd Verse

Before we get into hardcore pharmacology,

Let me break down some terminology…

An agonist is a drug with a response that may be

An increase or decrease in cellular activity,

(But) this all depends on the receptors it binds to,

Receptors all do different things: let me remind you.

Antagonists still bind, but their job is opposite,

Nothing can bind to the receptor where they sit

Efficacy is the degree of maximal effect,

Like…how hard a person tries to earn your respect.

Potency is similar but with a slightly different bent,

The amount of drug needed to produce a response of fifty-percent.

I went…to the pharmacology class,

Chillin’ out at school with my man Chris Ras.

The subject is vast–and requires concentration…

Like the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation,

Like Beta-2 receptors cause broncho-dilation,

If you give epinephrine to a member of the population.

And Beta-1 causes heart rate to get tachy,

‘Cause your body responds like you’re under attack, see?

And while we’re on the subject, one last thing I’d like to mention,

Beta blockers are the drugs often used for hypertension.

And if you’re unclear about how they work,

It’s like being stuck in line, while some big fat jerk,

Ties up the on-ly available cashier,

You don’t get the simile, let me make it more clear:

The cashier is the receptor and the jerk is the drug,

And my rhyme’s so tight, you might say it’s snug.

3rd Verse

I rock from A-to-Z: from Advair to Zocor,

Even though I pass on Flomax, I still flow more,

Than a river, non-toxic to your liver,

My delivery’s so cold it makes a polar bear shiver.

Don’t ingest Celebrex–I wrecks ill text,

You must hit the Prednisone, ’cause you look all vexed,

Whack cats sleep on this, like they’re dosed on Ambien,

Real heads peep on this, ’cause they know I came to win.

(If) MCs step I leave ‘em dead like IV’s of Levophed

My rhyme’s like Oxycontin, many fools addict-ed.

I come harder than a senior on a dose of Viagra,

Take on drug companies, watch ‘em fall like Niagra.

Just hit you with the facts, illest rapper on wax,

Val-i-um and Xa-nex try to help you relax,

But…trouble comes when it’s time for cessation,

Symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and agitation.

You know how they roll, they say, “Take your medication,”

In every doctors office, in this medicated nation,

You’re probably better off just to take a vacation,

Or find another way to reach a state of elation.

Vaccination is a controversial topic we’ve discussed,

Many Doctors these days make you think they’re a must,

But your child’s life depends on in whom you place your trust,

That’s why I educate with the rhymes I bust.

Verse 4

Many people in our country have some type of chronic pain,

While it is their loss, it’s the drug companies gain,

They got: codeine, and morphine, and Vicodin too,

And depending on the pain, one of these drugs they’ll sell you.

Or…they might try an NSAID instead,

‘Till you pass black stools, ’cause you upper GI bled,

They inhibit prostaglandins, thus reducing inflammation,

But injure the GI and decrease platellete aggregation.

Cortio-steroids also work for many types inflammation,

Decrease of immunity is an important consideration,

A course of just 10 days, will suppress it for a year,

So if you have an infection, yell it in the doctor’s ear.

If you’re scheduled for surgery, you better tell them too,

‘Cause if you catch an infection, man, you might be through,

Inhibition of phagocytosis by neutrophils is serious

Cushing’s syndrome and psychosis: side-effects you might experience.

Heart disease is a cause of many deaths per year,

So drug companies try to use this fear,

If cholesterol is high, they want to put you on Statins,

But the ones who benefit are the ones who own the patents.

People need more education and nutrition advice,

Improper intake of food is a national vice,

So before you’re on a drug that makes you pay the price,

Change your life-style and diet, no need to think twice.

Digitoxin is a heart-drug from the foxglove plant,

For Congestive Heart Failure when you start pant,

Lasix helps water retention: another a goal of therapy,

As is improvement of cardiac contractility.

They work by inhibition of the Na-K pump,

But they still have side-effects so you still might crump,

‘Cause they mess with the way that your heart goes thump,

Better save yourself now and take that junk-food to the dump.

5th Verse

By now I hope you’ve learned just a little bit more,

About the nature of the game, I came to settle the score,

Anti-biotics that you’re on, create microbial war

You could become a casualty, without knowing what for.

Do your research, wake up, and make a choice for your health,

‘Cause the person you save — just might be yourself,

Don’t spend another dollar of your hard earned wealth,

For another empty vial on the medicine shelf.

You might think I’m a cynic for the rhymes I drop,

I’m just givin’ you the facts, and I just don’t stop,

Now you know who’s the master of medical hip-hop,

Rock mics skill-fully, when I flip I never flop.

You must be a sheep, if you’re still on the pharm,

I tried to liberate your mind, and reveal potential harm,

I guess maybe you’re just in a pharmaceutical haze,

Like the latest drug craze, I leave you all in a daze.