I dont understand why OTC cough medications are not required to have [a warning] regarding SSRI medications.
I need to share my frustration and disappointment with someone who might understand. 2 1/2 years ago, my 20-year-old son, Tom, died of malignant hyperthermia as the result of serotonin syndrome as the result of being on TWO SSRI medications plus having been given permission by a pharmacist to take a childs dose of OTC cough syrup (due to a bad cold) at bedtime. We later found out the cough syrup became the 3rd serotonergic medication.
My son was a diagnosed schizophrenic but had been functioning quite while for almost 2 years. He was a full-time college student on the deans list, who worked part-time at UPS, and he was also taking guitar lessons. He owned his own car and transported himself around. He was also beginning to become more sociable. But then after taking a childs dose of the OTC cough medicine two nights in a row, he collapsed at work. His temperature shot to 107 degrees and one by one all of his organs shut down, his blood stopped clotting, and sadly he passed away about 8 hours later. (The hospital emergency room did NOT give him the antidote for malignant hyperthermia.)
We have been through 2 attorneys including one that was recommended by Andy Vickery. Both decided not to continue with our medical malpractice suit. They stated that they were told by other psychiatrists that it is not out of the norm to have patients on more than one SSRI medicine, as along as they are closely monitored. They also stated that since he has been on the 2 Saris for over a year that it would be hard to prove that they caused my sons death and as far as the pharmacist stating the small dose of OTC cough medicine would be okay, that would just be our word against his.
The last attorney also informed me that juries do not give out big awards to the parents of adult children (so basically they werent going to waste their time if they didnt think it would turn out to be worth their time financially.) With all I have heard about the potential problems taking just one SSRI drug can cause, I find it hard to believe that it not considered out of the norm to have patients on more than one version of this type of drug. I also dont understand why OTC cough medications have a warning about MAOI drugs but are not required to have one regarding SSRI medications.
Thanks for allowing me to vent my frustrations.
Marcia
MarciaLSz@aol.com
5/31/2002
This is Survivor Story number 22.
Total number of stories in current database is 48
