Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, let that sink in for a second.

You know, let that sink in for a second.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Taking an antidepressant will make you more likely to have a suicidal behavior than taking a placebo. Yet we use these drugs in people under age 25 all the time. It astounds me why we do that. Now, the reason these drugs can make people suicidal is that they can cause paradoxical effects.

Taking an antidepressant will make you more likely to have a suicidal behavior than taking a placebo. Yet we use these drugs in people under age 25 all the time. It astounds me why we do that. Now, the reason these drugs can make people suicidal is that they can cause paradoxical effects.

And so when I say paradoxical, I mean it's like a random effect that just happens to someone because they have the genetic susceptibility. And the example I usually like to use to explain this to people in a relatable way is you could have 10 people sitting around smoking a joint. Nine of them are giggling and they're laughing, they feel relaxed, and you get one person who becomes paranoid.

And so when I say paradoxical, I mean it's like a random effect that just happens to someone because they have the genetic susceptibility. And the example I usually like to use to explain this to people in a relatable way is you could have 10 people sitting around smoking a joint. Nine of them are giggling and they're laughing, they feel relaxed, and you get one person who becomes paranoid.

That's what happens with antidepressants as well. The majority of people are feeling emotionally numb, which is the intended effect of the drug. But you can get one person who starts to feel more depressed or even more aggressive. And... And if that's already an unhappy person and they start to have this paradoxical reaction where they feel even worse, that can push them into a suicide attempt.

That's what happens with antidepressants as well. The majority of people are feeling emotionally numb, which is the intended effect of the drug. But you can get one person who starts to feel more depressed or even more aggressive. And... And if that's already an unhappy person and they start to have this paradoxical reaction where they feel even worse, that can push them into a suicide attempt.

Yeah, yeah. Let me link it. And so, I mean, for me, I don't know how suicidal behavior might turn up in a dog. I imagine it could be self-injurious behavior. Maybe they start to bite their paws or their arms or they start to do something like that. But also, you know, what we've seen in humans is And this is in the drug labels.

Yeah, yeah. Let me link it. And so, I mean, for me, I don't know how suicidal behavior might turn up in a dog. I imagine it could be self-injurious behavior. Maybe they start to bite their paws or their arms or they start to do something like that. But also, you know, what we've seen in humans is And this is in the drug labels.

I mean, it has, you know, aggression, hostility, you know, all of these things are already in there. They've been observed to be these idiot, these paradoxical reactions. And And these side effects have led some humans to do terrible things like mass murder, people strangling their family members, killing their whole families and then turning the weapons on themselves.

I mean, it has, you know, aggression, hostility, you know, all of these things are already in there. They've been observed to be these idiot, these paradoxical reactions. And And these side effects have led some humans to do terrible things like mass murder, people strangling their family members, killing their whole families and then turning the weapons on themselves.

These have gone to courts of law where juries and judges have heard all of the evidence about what that person was like right before they got on the drug. how their behavior drastically changed, and then usually how their behavior got better when they removed the drug. Juries have heard these stories, and based on what we know about the drugs and the side effects, they have...

These have gone to courts of law where juries and judges have heard all of the evidence about what that person was like right before they got on the drug. how their behavior drastically changed, and then usually how their behavior got better when they removed the drug. Juries have heard these stories, and based on what we know about the drugs and the side effects, they have...

they have let people off who have essentially harmed other people during these things. They've also allowed people to sue companies. One man got $6 million out of SmithKline Beecham after a side effect resulted in the death of multiple family members by his father-in-law. This is a gentleman called Donald Schell. And so... We do know that these drugs can make some people unexpectedly aggressive.

they have let people off who have essentially harmed other people during these things. They've also allowed people to sue companies. One man got $6 million out of SmithKline Beecham after a side effect resulted in the death of multiple family members by his father-in-law. This is a gentleman called Donald Schell. And so... We do know that these drugs can make some people unexpectedly aggressive.