Mothers who take antidepressants while pregnant are more likely to have children later diagnosed with autism, according to a review from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and several past studies. These drugs, known as SSRIs (or serotonin reuptake inhibitors), are some of the most popular prescriptions in the U.S. and they come with a host of horrific side effects. Potentially causing autism in children is only one reason why you should think twice before taking them.
According to a 2010 US government survey, 1 in 10 American children now has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—a 22 percent increase from 2003. ADHD makes it hard for children to pay attention and control impulsive behavior. About two-thirds of the children diagnosed with ADHD are on some form of prescription medication, and according to data recently released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), ADHD drugs such as Ritalin, Vyvanse, Strattera, and Adderall (and their generic equivalents) were responsible for nearly 23,000 emergency room visits in 2011. This is a more than 400 percent increase in ER visits due to adverse reactions to such drugs in a mere six years!
Arguably the most prestigious medical journal in the world, the New England Journal of Medicine regularly features articles over which pharmaceutical companies and their employees can exert significant influence, a Washington Post investigation has found. Over a year-long period ending in August, about two-thirds of the articles on new drugs published in the Journal were co-written by employees of the companies that made the drugs, a Post analysis has found. The Journal's reliance on industry research, despite notable examples of potentially lethal bias, reflects the ability of pharmaceutical companies to shape science and influence what doctors prescribe for their patients. Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/as-drug-industrys-influence-over-research-grows-so-does-the-potential-for-bias/2012/11/24/bb64d596-1264-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html
ASTREIA'S NOTE: I've know this for many many years, having used statistical and policy analysis in assessing health care issues. If you have such interests, please read the whole article. Otherwise I will quote below and after that summarize in my own words what happens - and how they got away with it.
