My sons story by Glenna Todovich

Letter From Aaron's Mother - Glenna L. Todovich.
January 24, 2005

Aaron began on antidepressants at age 15 under the "care" of a pediatric psychiatrist. It's been so long ago, I can't remember the first SSRI he received. Over the course of ten (10) years and approximately
four (4) different psychiatrists, none of whom had the time to "TALK" to my son,
they would only see him for about ten (10) minutes and hand him anotherprescription.
Here is a list of antidepressants that I KNOW Aaron was on at one timeor another from age fifteen (15) until his death at the age of twenty-five (25).
There are also some meds I didn't know the name of, I just know that he carried
a backpack at one point, full of medications....HOW SAD IS THAT! The List:Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Luvox,Buspar,Serzone, Remeron (I think). He was also diagnosed with OCD at some point and put on RITALIN.The last one he was on EFFEXOR, the supposed "miracle" drug put him inthe hospital for two (2) weeks with:

Liver Dysfunction Aplastic Anemia Enlarged heart. My son was quite an intelligent young man, he graduated from YouthPerforming Arts School, a musician, he played piano, guitar, and saxophone. He attended Bellarmine College (now University) and graduated in 2000 with a BA degree; all the while working two part-time jobs and playing music. Over the years I saw his demeanor go on a roller coaster
ride depending on the Doctor's antidepressant of choice. Aaron told me finally that these medicines were destroying his brain (how strangely accurate was this). During about the last three (3) years of his life, he suffered several episodes where he would get totally off the meds and he even admitted himself to the psych ward of a local hospital at one point, he was there for a week (being treated with what else, more SSRI's). He went through an episode of "anorexia" quit eating and lost 60 lbs in two(2) months. The final straw was the Effexor episode, when he came out of the hospital and told me he was not going to take another anti-depressant.

Aaron had been off EFFEXOR for about six (6) months, but he complained that
he could no longer "think", carry on a conversation or enjoy himself with his friends.
He suffered paranoia episodes and he used to hold his head and plead,
please make the voices STOP.
He was obsessed with thoughts of suicide and on more than one occasion, he tried to off himself – HE TOLD ME. I tried to help him. I would talk to him every night on the phone, I didn't know what to do, where to go.
Then on Saturday November 7, 2003, we had lunch together and he had a strange FLAT, sad appearance on his face. He hugged me and I told him I loved him so much. On Sunday November 8, 2003, he tried to call me on my cell phone, I never got the call. My son disappeared. I searched for him for one (1) week. I prayed, I begged GOD to let me find him.
On Sunday, November 14, 2003 – I did find him. He had pulled his car into
a garage at some rental property we own and had gone to SLEEP.
He finally found his peace.

By Glenna L. Todovich Proud, Loving Mother of Aaron David Todovich

Mother’s Act could put all Americans on Antidepressants

The MOTHER’S Act is named for Melanie Stokes, who committed suicide in 2001. She was undergoing postpartum psychiatric treatment with a myriad of drugs in addition to electroshock therapy. Apparently they still use electroshock treatment. Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) brought this bill called the Mothers Act “Advancing America Priorities Act (S.3297) up before the recess in late July as part of the Coburn Omnibus Package. The bill’s lead sponsor is Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who has accepted more than $300,000 from pharmaceutical donors during the last election cycle. It is also co-sponsored by Senator Barak Obama (D-ILL), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) among others. The bill is designed to screen and treat pregnant and new mothers across the U.S. at risk for mental disorders. This could put virtually every mother and every child on anti-depressants (SSRI’s) in America (also see ssristories.com). Many of the groups backing the bill also receive funds from or have members working for pharmaceutical companies. The bill indicates the mothers must be “screened” for mental disorders during pregnancy. This ultimately could mean every mother would essentially have to see the “Psych” at a hospital during her pregnancy. The “Psych’s” who are fully backed by BigPharma could recommend every pregnant mother to take an antidepressant (SSRI) such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft etc. Presently almost 50% of all American’s are using some kind of prescription drug, and the most of these prescription drugs are antidepressants according to a recent report by the CDC (Center for Disease Control). BigPharma could have every American on one of their drugs.
According to Uniteforlife.org in January 2008, the New England Journal of Medicine published suppressed data from drug companies that proved antidepressants work no better than a placebo. Also data from the FDA MedWatch system, from 2004-2007, show an estimated 2,900 babies have died via spontaneous abortion because of SSRI antidepressants given to pregnant women. Studies demonstrate that antidepressants double spontaneous abortions and stillbirths and quintuple preterm births. Babies exposed to SSRIs in pregnancy have a six-fold increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), a potentially fatal lung problem. Nearly one third of women who take SSRIs during pregnancy have a baby who dies, is premature, or who has seizures. Your government is force feeding this atrocious bill to mothers and babies. Is this change you can believe in? This bill forebodes disaster to future generations. Please take action now and sign the petition below to stop this insanity. Humankind has had babies for 100’s of thousands of years without the need for drugs. Join us Stoprx.org and take action against the drug monopoly of your human rights.
Stop Foundation Inc. was formed to make the public aware of the effects of psychotropic drugs. We have a wealth of information including books and many alternative remedies you can pursue. Please review and sign the petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-dangerous-and-invasive-mothers-act

Is Michael Savage right about autism diagnosis

BigPharma the legal drug pusher

Michael Savage a popular national radio talk show host stood by his remarks saying that "there is no definitive medical diagnosis for autism” but it's an epidemic created by "greedy, corrupt medical/pharmaceutical establishment." It was during his July 16th broadcast that he stated “99 percent of the cases” were due to lax parenting and the kids needed to be told "don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot." Michael Savage remarks could be harsh, and many autistic parents differ in their opinion. Seems like the backlash is more towards Mr. Savage and conservatism and not about autism, the alarming increasing diagnosis, and BigPharma’s role.
Pharmaceutical companies have been increasing their market share in many areas. According to, Health, United States 2004 Almost half the U.S population uses some kind of subscription drug. The recent health data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics and dozens of other Federal health agencies, academic and professional health associations, and international health organizations. Another study by CNS Drugs has done a survey of doctors office visits and found the use of antidepressant pharmacotherapy had increased 147% (16 million to 40 million) from 1990-1998.
A recent article from CNN July 2007, According to a (CDC) government study antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. They're prescribed more than drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches. In its study, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in visits to doctors and hospitals in 2005. Of those, 118 million were for antidepressants. High blood pressure drugs were the next most-common with 113 million prescriptions. Dr. Robert Goodman, an internist in New York City, says the real force behind skyrocketing antidepressant prescription rates is pharmaceutical marketing to doctors and to consumers. "You put those two together and you get a lot of prescriptions for antidepressants," he said. These are alarming numbers of people being diagnosed antidepressants.
Are Americans that depressed? Is the only remedy a pill? Has BigPharma found another means to diagnose and drug with autism? Certainly more research is necessary, but why are drugs the American solution? Drugging a child has got to be the last option for a parent There are many questions we should all be asking long before taking a prescribed drug. It should not be the quick and easy solution. It is not the solution in other countries like India, and China, where homeopathies are the prevailing solution. Is this nation depressed, with rising diabetes and heart disease? Is this is part of the American dream? Now doctors are increasingly subscribing drugs for autism. Department of Education annual reports to the US Congress from 1992-2000 Autism diagnosis increased 435% BigPharma, big money, and bye, bye America. Welcome to America the drug capital of the world.
Stop Foundation Inc. is a non profit organization and it was formed to inform people of better solutions to antidepressants, and the alarming effects of these drugs. The company can be reached on the web at www.stoprx.org

Resolution 2008-Internally Green

You may think this title may be regarding an organic diet. It is much broader than that. There have been a number of recent murders linking antidepressants use in US and abroad in 2007. Many recall the mass murder at Virginia Tech where Cho Seung Hsi killed 32 fellow students and faculty in April. Media reports indicate he was using antidepressants. There is the Mall Shooter, Steve Hawkins who killed 8 and wounded 5 just before Christmas. It was reported by a number of news organizations that he was suicidal before the mass murder and he had been prescribed antidepressants. In November there was a rare school massacre in Finland where Pekka-Eric Auvinen was reportly on an SSRI seroxat More and more vivid evidence of the potential danger of these antidepressants as a cause of suicides, and mass murder. These incidents certainly terrorize the nation and the world, but the attention is on international terrorism and not pharmaceutical drug influenced terror. Is it not terror or just a teenager gone bad? Don't you think more scrutiny should be pointed at these drugs? Our political leaders are concentrated on world and state issues that will get votes, and the nation's attention passes quickly after a mall or school killing. I believe the most overlooked domestic and global issue of 2007 has been the link of mass murder, suicides, and antidepressants. The pharmaceutical ads always show a happy demeanor and smile of their (actor) users, but the victims parents of child suicide and murder victims are certainly not smiling. This is the time of year for personal change. I think we all should resolve to look closely at this link in 2008, and highlight the scrutiny of these drugs effects. There are many natural alternatives to antidepressants so one can resolve to be "internally green". You can find more information on this subject at www.stoprx.org and additional links via my site.