Originally published April 4 2005
Teen killer at Red Lake Indian Reservation school reportedly taking high doses of Prozac
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Investigators are questioning the role the prescription antidepressant Prozac might have played in the recent school shootings in Minnesota. In that attack, shooter Jeff Weise killed nine people and himself at his high school. His aunt, Tammy Lusier, says that he was taking about 60 milligrams of the drug per day. Studies have questioned the effect of Prozac on teenagers. Some experts believe it may enhance suicidal tendencies in adolescents.
As the victims are laid to rest from the horrible rampage that occurred at Red Lake Indian Reservation just days ago, which resulted in the deaths of 10 people, some are questioning the role Prozac may have played in this tragedy.
According to a recent story in the New York Times, Tammy Lussier, Jeff Weise's aunt, stated that, "They kept upping the dose for him and by the end, he was taking three of the 20 milligram pills a day.
Another relative of Mr. Weise, Lee Cook, said his medication had increased a few weeks before the shootings on Monday.
According to the American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information 2005, "FDA now states that it has determined that antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with major depressive and other psychiatric disorders", and states that, "FDA states that a causal relationship to antidepressants has been established in pediatric patients."
The text also notes that a study of over 4,400 children in short-term placebo controlled studies that the analysis revealed a greater risk of suicidal behavior or thinking in pediatric patients during the first few months of treatment.
In other words, those taking the antidepressants were at "twice the risk".
The FDA also notes that, "patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication be closely monitored for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, particularly during periods of dosage adjustment."
According to Drug Facts and Comparisons 2005, there are a number of possible side effects of Prozac.
The two boys entered the school with an arsenal of weaponry killed 12 people with many more injured before taking their own lives.
"If your intention is shooting the place up and dying as you do it, you can put the fantasy together," he said.
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