Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
By
[If this difficult article helps just one person, it is worth it. Please read to the end. Shared with permission by The International Coalition for Drug Awareness, a private, non-profit group of physicians, researchers, and patients.]
[Please know this is NOT a judgement of you if you or someone in your family is on one of the antidepressants or you are a pharmacist. It is also NOT a condemnation of all medicines, either, but rather it is a warning to stay aware of drug facts and dangerous side-effects].
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As John received revelation upon revelation sitting exiled upon the Isle of Patmos, he issued a very strong warning for us in our day. He told us that our entire world would be deceived (lied to) through the sorceries (perhaps many) that would come out of Babylon. (Rev. 18:23-24)
He went on to say that the end result of this deception would be the demise of prophets, saints and many good men. In other words, no one would be spared in this great deception by these sorceries. Remember that we were told that, if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.
So what’s this sorcery John warns of?
The Greek word translated as sorcery is “Pharmakeia” (φαρμακεία) which means “medicine from a pharmacy.” (The word pharmakeia is very much like our word for ‘drugs’).
What Does That Mean?!
Is it speaking of the drugs we find in those pharmacies on nearly every street corner now?
Is it talking about those same drugs with ads that run all day long on TV and in magazines everywhere we look?! Is it any wonder then that these prescription drugs are now being reported as the biggest drug problem in America today? Could it be that the whole world has been deceived about these drugs?
More Deaths Than 9/11…Every Week!
According to a 1995 study done by concerned pharmacists:
- Prescription drugs taken “as prescribed” rather than abused are the fourth leading cause of death in this country,
- They kill as many Americans every week as we lost on 9/11 in The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. (Stats: US News & World Report).
In light of this, we need to ask who the real terrorists are.
When we are in an international conflict over one week’s worth of 9/11 deaths, while all the others go unnoticed, slaughtered and buried right under our noses.
Is it any wonder the scriptures speak so sternly of sorcerers and sorcery?
Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry brought in more than $1 trillion last year, a number that’s grown every year since 2005.
Antidepressants and Study Bias
In January, 2008, we read in the New England Journal of Medicine that almost half of the studies done on one of America’s most popular group of drugs, antidepressants, were unfavorable...
…and yet when any of those unfavorable studies were reported to the public the results were presented as positive (favorable).
The study discovered widespread antidepressant bias!
They also said the studies indicated that there was “little evidence” these drugs which bring in nearly $200 Million per day were more effective than placebo in treating depression.
Deception much?
Deadly deception about antidepressants!
How deadly is it?
The most popular of these antidepressants, Effexor, has “homicidal ideation” listed as a side-effect. Others with this listed are Paxil, Lexapro, and Zoloft…
Cymbalta (and others) have suicidal ideation as a main side effect… and these tendencies can last for years after use.
Homicidal ideation is not just about killing someone, but it is having constant ruminating thoughts of killing and how to kill.
To see stories of antidepressants gone wrong, go to www.ssristories.NET where you will find a very long list of school shootings, loving mothers and fathers who have killed their children, children who have killed their parents, suicides, murder/suicides, female school teachers who have seduced male students, even well-respected ministers who have raped children, extreme out of character behavior, including violence, wild spending sprees, embezzlement, sexual promiscuity, exhibitionism, etc. – all are side effects of antidepressants.
Then the FDA announced that they have been investigating 9 various types of medications for the potential of causing suicide already used in millions of patients.
After learning that antidepressants increase suicidal potential by 2-3 times, suddenly the FDA officials realized that multiple classes of medicines might cause dangerous psychiatric problems including suicide.
Some of these include:
- acne (Accutane)
- hypertension (beta-blockers and calcium antagonists)
- asthma (Singulair)
- seizures (Celontin and Zarontin, phenobarbital and secobarbital)
- birth control (Norplant)
- high cholesterol (Statins: Mevacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Lescol, and Lipitor)
- swelling (corticosteroids: hydrocortisone, triamcinolone, prednisone, Flonase, Nasocort, Nasonex, Flovent, and Azmacort)
- heartburn and GERD (proton pump inhibitors)
- pain (codeine, morphine, Demerol, Percodan, and OxyContin)
- bacterial infections (many antibiotics messing up the gut biome)
- insomnia (Xanax, Valium, ProSom, Dalmane, Ativan, Restoril and Halcion)
How could these antidepressants produce such things?
With antidepressants, that answer can be as simple as explaining that antidepressants create a sleep disorder in which the patient acts out nightmares.
It is called a REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), and 80% of those being diagnosed with the disorder are taking antidepressants.
RBD is known to produce both murder and suicide. Acting out one’s worst nightmare. All a person has worked to achieve in life – all gone in the blink of the eye!
RBD is made worse during drug withdrawl.
This is why is it so important to avoid the worst of withdrawal by weaning EXTREMELY SLOWLY down off an antidepressant.
Wean EXTREMELY SLOWLY Off Antidepressants
As people begin to see the deception about the safety and effectiveness of these drugs and attempt to come off the drugs, I for one DO NOT want to witness what we will see! If there has ever been a situation in the history of this world where we have so desperately needed to adhere to the command to be our “brother’s keeper”, this is it!
In doing so, even if you are not the one taking the drug, the life you save may be your own or that of a loved one.
Why?
Because when someone goes psychotic in the withdrawal, they can do anything to anyone and it just might be you or your loved one.
(For information on safe withdrawal go to www.drugawareness.org to find the CD “Help! I Can’t Get Off My Antidepressant!)
Kim Crespi near Charlotte, NC, learned of antidepressant withdrawal all too painfully on January 20, 2006, when her husband David, a good strong Christian and wonderful husband and father, who was also a vice president of the local bank and well respected in the community, stabbed their four year-old twin daughters to death. David was months into an abrupt withdrawal from Paxil and had just started taking Prozac.
He and Kim were not aware that the FDA had just warned the year before that any abrupt change in dose of an antidepressant, whether going up or down (he had just done both), can produce suicide, hostility, or psychosis – generally a manic psychosis leading to a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.
Of course, it is not true Bipolar, but a drug withdrawal effect, yet so many have found they would be medicated for years for something (the Bipolar Disorder) they don’t really have. Is it any wonder that the diagnosis of Bipolar has increased by 4000% over a recent 10 year period when it was basically unheard of before SSRI antidepressants?
But why is all this happening to us? Where did we go wrong?
For the answer we need to turn to Isaiah 28:8 where, Isaiah, speaking of our day, says that we will rise up each day to get drunk (but he had already made it clear that this drunkenness would not be from wine or strong drink).
What would produce that drunken state then? When do people generally take their medications? First thing in the morning?
These are mind altering medications.
And what do the package inserts list as side effects? That is right – all the same effects one could expect from alcohol, but much stronger.
The Feeling Of Needing Drugs
Isaiah then goes on to tell us why people would suffer the feelings of needing drugs. He says that our tables are “full of vomit” and there is nothing clean there.
So, what is vomit?
Vomit is food that either has already had the nutrients extracted or food that cannot be used by the body and is expelled because of that.
And unclean? Look at the chemicals that have saturated our food supply.
So if our tables are full of vomit – food that has been depleted of nutrients or food that cannot be utilized where does that leave us?
We are nutrient depleted.
And where does nutrient depletion lead us?
It leads us to stimulants of any kind in order to force our bodies and brains to perform since they do not have the fuel or building blocks from nutrients to perform.
Perhaps the most obvious segment of society in which to see this is that which is most transparent due to the exposure they get – the entertainment industry. If you watch the lives of those in the business you generally see only two groups: health nuts or drug users. They either reach for nutrients to supply the building blocks they need to build energy levels they need to cope with their fast paced lifestyle or they use drugs to force their bodies/brains to keep up the fast pace.
One extremely critical point for all Christians to understand is the serotonin connection to spirituality.
Antidepressants, as well as the new atypical antipsychotic drugs, work by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. But 50% of the serotonin is metabolized by the pineal gland.
The Pineal Gland
What is the pineal gland?
It is the master gland of the body. Some think it’s the “seat of the soul” or our connection to spiritual thoughts. It is located right in the center of the brain behind the eyes.
If the Pineal gland is overloaded with large amounts of serotonin produced by these drugs, does it interfere with a spiritual connection?
According to patients using these drugs it does.
They continually report that they can no longer feel God.
One perfect example that comes to mind is that of Elizabeth Bush, the 14 year-old girl who shot her best friend at the private Catholic school they attended. Elizabeth’s hero in life was Mother Theresa. So how did she go from that point to a charge of attempted murder almost overnight?
I called her attorney when this happened and told him what happened was likely the result of the use of one of these antidepressants. He did not show much interest, but said he would check. Then the following week Elizabeth was interviewed on 20/20 and asked this very question of how did she go from Mother Teresa as her hero to shooting her best friend at school. Her reply was that she could “no longer feel God anymore.”
I called her attorney the following morning and told him I no longer had any question about whether or not his client had been on an antidepressant nor any question about its contribution to causing this tragedy. With that new evidence about her inability to feel God anymore, in my mind, I knew. At that point he asked me to hold for a minute and when he returned he said through the rustling of papers, “Paxil. Is Paxil one of those drugs?”
Severed From the Spiritual?
Not only can these drugs produce physical death, but also spiritual harm.
Where did we go wrong?
Clearly we have underestimated Satan and his potential to pull us into his web of deceit.
Just because he is evil, does not mean he is stupid. He has much knowledge. Not more power than we do, because we do have the strength to overcome all with the help of the Savior. But we must be constantly aware of his cunning craftiness when it comes to his power to deceive.
This awful situation in which we now find ourselves is a call for humility and faith and a reminder to always turn to the Savior in ALL things rather than trusting in the arm of flesh.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” ~Romans 8:1
For additional information on serotonin and antidepressant medications along with additional information on the great deception of “Pharmakeia” that John spoke of see Ann Blake-Tracy’s book, Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? – Our Serotonin Nightmare.
See original article by Ann Blake-Tracy.
Update: Additional critical information:
Whistle-blower Dr. Candace Pert, whose research make SSRI antidepressants possible, served for 13 years as Chief of the Section on Brain Biochemistry, Clinical Neuroscience Branch, at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). http://new.drugawareness.org/i-am-alarmed-at-the-monster-ssrisnri-antidepressants-i-created-dr-candace-pert/
Next is a radio interview with whistle-blower Dr. John Virapen who is the one responsible for BUYING the approval (yes he paid a bribe in Pharmas’ behalf ) to get these drugs on the market. Listen to him admit it all in this first radio interview he did in the United States in 2010: http://new.drugawareness.org/meet-dr-john-virapen-the-man-who-bought-prozacs-approval/
WITHDRAWAL HELP:
You can find the hour and a half long CD on safe and effective withdrawal helps here: http://store.drugawareness.org/ And if you need additional consultations with Ann Blake-Tracy, you can book one at www.drugawareness.org . Also, go here for Low Cost or Free Rehab Options.
Ann Blake-Tracy has testified as an expert witness in Prozac and other SSRI-related court cases around the world.
Some of the more high profile cases she has worked on would be the Columbine & Red Lake School shootings, Andrea Yates – the Texas mother who drowned her five children, Princess Di’s death, the murder/suicide of the royal family of Nepal, etc.
Jacque’s Update: Facebook and social media platforms are cracking down on Conservative/holistic health content. Many of you have complained that you never see our content in your news feeds on social media. There’s only one way to fight back — and that’s by joining my FREE newsletter.Click here.
Charlotte Moore
LORD help us all. So many children are on drugs too. This is so sad.
Anonymous
I’m anything but a chemist. Both of my children (now teens) have been on different drugs for seizures and migraines. (One does have epilepsy; both have migraines.) I know that drugs are often used for multiple problems, so I don’t know if the drugs were SSRIs or not. I do know that the side effects listed included suicidal ideation. Both children are now off the migraine meds, but the anti-epileptic drugs will have to wait. You said you were a medical professional. Would you please email me? I have some questions that I can’t ask publicly because I have a couple family members that stalk me online. I know you can’t give me medical advice, etc., but I would like your help finding resources to research. Thank you.
Janet
You might have already pursued a Naturopathic doctor, but it sounds like a whole-foods plant based diet would help with both things, and getting them checked for food sensitivities, too. My husband’s nephew is lying semi-comatose in ICU right now after years of self-medicating, and now an overdose. I am so glad that God is bigger than all of this, yet it is still sad and I’m mad at the devil who stole most of this man’s life on earth.
Jacqueline
Janet, I am so sorry to hear that about your husband’s nephew. It does make one mad that these things happen! I am praying for him now.
Hugs!
Barb
Thank you so much for sharing this. We have been aware of the dangers of these drugs for years. We had a very dear elderly family member who took his own life while on an anti-depressant. This was someone who had survived the Great Depression, combat in WWII and several bouts of cancer. He was a strong Christian with a wonderful family and very positive attitude and was a respected and trusted leader in his community. He loved life and there is NO WAY he would have ever considered suicide if he’d been in his right mind. I also work with public school children and have been very alarmed at the increasing numbers of them who are medicated from a very young age. They take drugs to wake up in the morning and other drugs to make them sleep at night. I fully agree with your assessment that this fits perfectly with the apostle John’s warnings. America has welcomed this development with open arms and, if you think about it, it could very well lead right to one world government and the ushering in of anti-christ, as the first step to this would by necessity be the disarming of the citizenry. As you stated, we must be constantly vigilant against the snares of the enemy.
Mauryn
“I hate that I am often warning of things!” PLEASE DONT STOP! Your ‘warnings’ are much appreciated!!
“I hope this will be helpful somehow, some way.”VERY VERY MUCH!
Thank you so much for sharing all this info. Some of us don’t have the wherewithal to access this. I really enjoy reading your posts. Always!
I know that the Lord upholds every single child of his and by HIS strength we will overcome. I will be praying for as many as are suffering from this. May the Lord preserve & protect us & all our loved ones in Jesus name, Amen!
Gail Golden
You make some good points.
Regarding unclean foods. The Bible is very clear on what is clean and unclean, so by your own thesis, it is best to avoid these foods also.
Jacqueline
Gail, I had not thought of that, but you make a great point! Unclean!!
Blessings, friend! J
Angie Abella
I agree that medications are often over prescribed. Even hubby,who does psychiatric nursing/behavioral home health, believes that if one does need medication, to only use what is absolutely lowest amount in order to be able to live a normal life. I myself use celexa in low dose, it seems to really help in handling the stress and such that comes in our household of special needs. If I can handle the stress better, I can better serve my family, read my bible and focus, etc. Our kids have their own meds, used for various issues that come with autism spectrum, and I’ve seen good and bad depending on kid and medication. Oldest nearly died from one that had side effects of lowering heart rate (we didn’t know he had an abnormally low normal heart rate as it is). We have doctors that work with the kids, who each want to see them on as little as possible but still be able to function in the environments they are in daily, like school, public places, home, etc. I’d love to see the day they don’t need it anymore. Whether that will happen, I don’t know.
I fully agree too that we need to know about each med used. Side effects, contraindications, etc. Most doctors don’t tell about that. It takes researching ourselves most of the time, using the nursing books, apps, etc to check them out. We want to be fully informed so we can make good decisions. We also monitor for the side effects, if any, that come with a med. We’ve seen the physical side effects of respirdol and quickly asked Dr to dc, with explanation, and they obliged. The kids are old enough they can tell us when something doesn’t feel right as well, that helps a lot.
Jacqueline
Angie, I love your informed and wise (cautious) approach to meds. I am thankful to know your story and can pray for you and yours now. I am a special needs buddy at our church and love it and the children so so much. The program allows families to get out and worship and have decompression time. I am always learning something and it gives me perspective I would never have otherwise. God bless you, dear Mama!!! xoxo J
Judy
I have been on Zoloft for over 25 years. Last year after 35 years of marriage my husband left our family, unexpectedly. Well, the Lord’s timing was perfect as my mother needed more care so me and my 2 grown children moved in with her and it has been a blessing for all of us! Two months ago I was feeling really good and decided to go off the Zoloft cold turkey, I actually did pretty well. Within weeks I was feeling emotion again, true emotion. I was feeling Christ as though He were right with me at all times…it was incredible. Sadly, after 6 weeks of being off it I spiraled down in one afternoon to being a catatonic state. My daughter immediately got my pills and I started back on them. I was on a high dosage so I am keeping the dosage very low but I still crave the feeling of being off of them and actually having emotions again. I truly do not know what to do. I did not feel suicidal, I liken it more to feeling like I want to just evaporate, I know it’s a mix of paranoia, fear and self loathing. (the self-loathing is a very temporary feeling, just while I’m in that pit)
So, what do I do? I really want to be off the meds but not worry and scare my kids to death.
When I read that the meds keep you from God I remembered how wonderful I was feeling off the meds. I cried, because I was feeling again, I was feeling so close to my Lord and now I can’t get there again.
Judy
Janet
You can’t quit cold turkey because the body is expecting these drugs in your system. Work with a natural doctor toward your goal of getting off it, but weaning slowly, so your body gets used to less of it over time. I’d also guess that increasing your wellness with healthy eating, walks/exercise, friendships and talk therapy, if necessary would be beneficial. That’s rough to scare your kids like that, but it also teaches us all that God is in charge, no matter what happens to our loved-ones.
Heather Stover
I started taking Zoloft for postpartum depression with my son. Before I started taking it I could barely function and everything took so much effort. After about 2 weeks on the Zoloft I could actually think clearly,function normally,and actually felt like myself again. Antidepressants are not always bad!
Jacqueline
Yes, I understand. I give a caveat in the post to address that there are people like yourself who do well, Heather. I am so thankful it works well for you. Praise God!
Blessings,
Jacqueline
Jo
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much For sharing! My husband recently went off Effexor after 16 years on. It has the worst side affects going off but what are natural remedies for antidepressants? He is a strong believer in the Lord, but going off these meds seems almost worst then being on. They make it catastrophic getting off to get healthy. He is taking John’s warts (can only take it for 1 year) and natural options. But what else are we missing? He still feels foggy and gets depressed easily. We are praying for answers and I know finding your blog is no mistake. Thank you for any recommendations.
Jacqueline
Jo, I will email you now! I feel the Lord is in this, too, and there is help! Hugs, ~Jacqueline
Anonymous
How can I find out if the prescription I am on causes these symptoms? My doctor started me on Prozac years ago after a bad bout of postpartum depression. I eventually weaned myself off it because as I complained to my doctor I could not feel anything, could not even cry if I needed to. I later was placed on anti anxiety meds instead. This particular medication allows me to once again have emotion as the Prozac did not allow me to even feel happiness… I always felt numb. I’d like to find out information about the med I’m on now (Wellbutrin) to make sure it is not in this dangerous category. Any guidance on how to do so would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for getting this important message out, God bless. ❤️
Jacqueline
Hi, Anonymous!
What you can do is search the name of the drug “Wellbutrin” and side effects and you will see articles that you can read:
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/wellbutrin-side-effects.html
Prozac: https://www.drugs.com/sfx/prozac-side-effects.html
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Blessings,
Jacqueline
Amanda
This article makes me so sad. After struggling with depression for over 25 years, I went on an antidepressant. The main reason I didn’t take one earlier is because of teaching in the church. I struggled with daily suicidal thoughts, anger, crying, etc. I could no longer function. I look back on that time as such a dark time in my life where I am so disappointed in myself as a mom. I had tried natural options with no success. I know natural options can work and do work for some people, but I fear when Christians shame others for taking antidepressants. I know your heart is just to inform others of what the side effects of antidepressants can do, but after spending years in churches and listening to teachings against antidepressants, it hurts me greatly to read this article. It takes me back to the years when I would not take medicine for depression. Years that I wasted of my kid’s lives because I couldn’t function. We need to be aware and mindful of the stories you shared, but we need to remember that many people who are taking antidepressants weren’t really living before they started taking them either.
Simona
Jacqueline, do you have a list of natural remedies to try for depression, anxiety? Thank you!
Jacqueline
Simona, I will email you with the most foundation thing to do.
I have a natural list for insomnia and natural antihistamines but not for depression.
AS an RN, I do know something better that works for all of them, though. ~J
Kristin
Could you send me the list too, please? I have gone from 100 mg to 50 mg of Zoloft and hope to be completely off it soon. Thank you and God bless you for posting articles that address these issues!
E
The prayer I prayed before bed last night with my boys was that the Lord would please show me things that will help my husband come off of 20 years of ssri use!!
We are already supplementing with some special-order holistic-dr-recommended vitamins, but I feel that there is more we can do…then this article post came up FIRST thing this Sunday morning for me to read! Praise the Lord He answers prayer!!
Jacqueline
E, I have some ideas for your husband if you are looking for something that is “first, do not harm natural”!
It is not easy, but you can get him VERY slowly off the meds IF he is willing to work with the situation and is motivated!
xoxo J
Rachelle
Hi Jacqueline! Appreciate you so much! What a blessing you are! Is there anything you recommend for someone who has low serotonin levels and suffers with clinical depression? I also think there are effects from a concussion to that relates to this suffering. How to help without medicine? I know God can heal!!! Thank you!