View Full Version : Kennedy and anti-depressants, ADHD, mood stabilizers, and "wellness/labor farms"
Kennedy has come out with some very strange messaging about mental health and medications and treatments for people including wellness/labor farms/camps and re-parenting for children with ADHD. Does anyone know how Big Pharma will do with these new ideas and possible policies? These seem even worse and bigger than the vaccine controversies.
I'm sure this will all work out fine.
iris lilies
2-20-25, 9:53pm
I'm sure this will all work out fine.
Snort.
yeah I caught some Kennedy nonsense about having people with neurological challenges work on organic farms, or some such thing. ��
That’s nice,Bobby. Good luck with that.
early morning
2-21-25, 6:32pm
If my second child does not get their antidepressant medications, I'm not sure how much longer I'll HAVE a second child. This crap Kennedy is spouting is frightening.
If my second child does not get their antidepressant medications, I'm not sure how much longer I'll HAVE a second child. This crap Kennedy is spouting is frightening.
It truly is.
My ex-wife, who I had been with for 40 years, was taken cold-turkey off her carefully-titrated assortment of medications for her bipolar disorder. By a new therapist who "didn't believe in medication, just lifestyle changes". She was also told by the therapist to "not tell her family" about the medication protocol changes. (I note that the therapist in question was not a medical doctor of any sort, just someone with a masters in social work.)
The sudden change was horrifying to witness, and impossible to live with.
This is why she is now my ex-wife.
She had to spend significant time in an in-patient psych center to recover enough to even function.
littlebittybobby
2-21-25, 8:47pm
okay---they need to use some remote, wide-open space(like Greenland or Utah or wherever), to build some secure camps to resolve the homeless problem and also the sociopaths that do-nothing for their keep in prison, and the non-christians and fanaticrats who hate America/love Ukrainia. Summa them can be put in uniform, and be dropped via parachute into the trouble spots, like Ukrainia; others can help in growing potatoes & rice & making license plates. Those attempting escape will be shot on site. That should work, until we weed out the undesirables. Oh yes---sterilization. That should be done, too. We don't need them reproducing. Nope.
I often wonder how Eunice Kennedy Shriver would feel about his asinine recommendations for the intellectually disabled. She dedicated a good part of her life to their well-being.
iris lilies
2-21-25, 9:20pm
I often wonder how Eunice Kennedy Shriver would feel about his asinine recommendations for the intellectually disabled. She dedicated a good part of her life to their well-being.
RFKJ talks about all the summers he spent at special Olympic camps and etc. so he considers himself quite knowledgeable about that population. A core assumption from his time working with Special Olympics is that there weren’t nearly as many ADHD kids and autistic kids and etc. back in”his” day so there must be an environmental cause of these conditions.
Hey, don’t shoot me. I’m just the Messenger passing on what I heard in that tedious 4 hour interview with him.
littlebittybobby
2-21-25, 9:22pm
okay---here is the high point oGreenland; somethinlike 12,000 feet. Yup. First ascent: 1935, And no--it wasn't a group of Haitians or Guatemalans, either. But, anyway---hope to see an American Flag flying from the peak, pretty soon.(see photo)6244
RFKJ talks about all the summers he spent at special Olympic camps and etc. so he considers himself quite knowledgeable about that population. A core assumption from his time working with Special Olympics is that there weren’t nearly as many ADHD kids and autistic kids and etc. back in”his” day so there must be an environmental cause of these conditions.
Hey, don’t shoot me. I’m just the Messenger passing on what I heard in that tedious 4 hour interview with him.
And that research and diagnostics have advanced since those days has never occurred to him. Duh.
littlebittybobby
2-22-25, 3:36am
OKAY, YOU GUYS; EASE UP ON RFK jr. He's been through a LOT. His uncle was murdered, his Dad was murdered, his cousin died in a plane crash, and another was sent to prison for allegedly killing a young girl, and each time The Media spoke of the case, they spoke of Michael Skakel as the "Kennedy Cousin". And then, more recently: RFK's ex-wife hung herself. So, yeah--that's a lot to deal with. Maybe it affects his judgement; maybe it doesn't. But, you've got to give a man who's been through SO MUCH not only sympathy, but help him up when he's down. Plus, he's got that funny voice thing(try vicks extra menthol cough drops, Jr), and prolly could be considered disabled, in that fashion. After all, a politicians' ability to gab and be understood, is his stock-in-trade. Sure is. I'll testify to this: the vaccinations I've had the last few years MAY'VE saved my life, but I felt worse afterward, and still do. So, don't discard his opinions because you consider him quirky. Nope.
flowerseverywhere
2-22-25, 7:53am
When DH was diagnosed with stage three cancer the treatment, surgery etc was difficult on both of us. We are caretakers for my MIL so the amount of physical and psychological pressure totally wore me out. I was a mess. I was given an antidepressant then a mood stabilizer. Finally I was able to pull myself up to a much better level of functioning. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t get the pharmaceutical help. At one point one was in ICU 75 minutes south and the other in a hospital 30 minutes north. Even with friends help, it was emotionally devastating.
I am lucky DH is thriving now, and we have a lot of help with MIL. I hired people to clean both houses (they even change the sheets) and do the lawns. I hired caretakers for MIL. I ordered groceries online and had them load them into the car for me. I have no idea what people do that cannot afford the luxury of the services I could. It almost broke me.
iris lilies
2-22-25, 12:43pm
Flowers what a difficult time that was for you! I’m sorry you went through that but I’m glad you came out on the other side. OK. still, you don’t know the toll it took on you for sure, at our age it’s doubly hard.
edited ad column by this I mean, sometimes repercussions of stress don’t show up until later, so I hope you will be OK.
gimmethesimplelife
2-22-25, 3:49pm
As I posted in another thread.....my Mother needs this type of medication to function. Realistically if these meds are banned she will have no other option but to flee the United States. She is more than welcome to stay indefinitely with my in laws in Colonia Kennedy (a very American appearing quasi upscale part of Nogales MX) and perhaps will live with us in Ecuador depending on how our immigration efforts unfold.
In my Mother's case there is no real other option but to flee. I'm just surprised that this day has taken so long to get here, given the truth of the United States of America. At least I voted for Kamala. Rob
gimmethesimplelife
2-22-25, 3:52pm
I'm sure this will all work out fine.At least it looks like I have a fair chance at Ecuadorian residency/eventual citizenship.....a chance to put this insanity behind me for good. Rob
Coincidentally, Rob, I was looking at furniture today in a furniture store--Ashley's. I mentioned to the sales rep that there was an Ashley's right by me in NJ, and she off-handedly said that a close relative had just moved to Cuenca, Ecuador, and told her that she should move to Cuenca also, because there's an Ashley's there and she could continue to work! Apparently there are a lot of expats in Cuenca.
littlebittybobby
2-23-25, 1:21am
okay---guess what? a delectable and yummy dish that Equadorians favor is fresh, plump guinea pig! Oh, boy; does that ever sound good! Maybe, if you kids are lucky, there'll be drive-through fast-food joints serving Guinea Pig McNuggets? Just another thing ta look forward to. Yup. But yeah--see photo.6246
flowerseverywhere
2-23-25, 7:54pm
Flowers what a difficult time that was for you! I’m sorry you went through that but I’m glad you came out on the other side. OK. still, you don’t know the toll it took on you for sure, at our age it’s doubly hard.
edited ad column by this I mean, sometimes repercussions of stress don’t show up until later, so I hope you will be OK.
thank you Iris. I don’t know what people do that have jobs, children or limited finances. But nothing is sadder than seeing young people, emaciated and weak fighting their fight.
life isn’t fair, but some people are dealt a horrible hand. As retirees we did not have to worry about losing insurance or jobs. I wish theire could be a Medicare for all type plan, but I have little hope current social security and Medicare will survive as we know it. Unbearably cruel.
gimmethesimplelife
2-24-25, 1:37pm
thank you Iris. I don’t know what people do that have jobs, children or limited finances. But nothing is sadder than seeing young people, emaciated and weak fighting their fight.
life isn’t fair, but some people are dealt a horrible hand. As retirees we did not have to worry about losing insurance or jobs. I wish theire could be a Medicare for all type plan, but I have little hope current social security and Medicare will survive as we know it. Unbearably cruel.I'd agree it's unbearably cruel BUT I do see silver linings. More Americans will be selling up and fleeing to one of the many better countries - such will no longer be an outlier's actions and will become respected as common sense. Also, the world in general will continue to see America as it truly is - perhaps leading to less unnecessary consumption? It's going to be a nightmare to remain in the US - it will become more and more trendy to kick the United States to the curb. This can only be a good thing for the planet overall. Rob
gimmethesimplelife
2-24-25, 1:39pm
Coincidentally, Rob, I was looking at furniture today in a furniture store--Ashley's. I mentioned to the sales rep that there was an Ashley's right by me in NJ, and she off-handedly said that a close relative had just moved to Cuenca, Ecuador, and told her that she should move to Cuenca also, because there's an Ashley's there and she could continue to work! Apparently there are a lot of expats in Cuenca.Thank You, Catherine, for your uplifting and supportive post! Rob
iris lilies
4-21-25, 9:14am
RFKjr has announced we will know the cause of autism by September.
Let me relieve the suspense for ya’ll and just cut to the chase (we don’t need no stinking’ research time):
the cause is….vaccinations!
thank meeeeee
Now to be serious, I cannot imagine the clown show going on at HHS or CDC or whatever agency is charged with coming up with the answer to Autism, the answer that will satisfy RFK jr. What could the methodology possibly be?
RFKjr has announced we will know the cause of autism by September.
Let me relieve the suspense for ya’ll and just cut to the chase (we don’t need no stinking’ research time):
the cause is….vaccinations!
thank meeeeee
Now to be serious, I cannot imagine the clown show going on at NHS or CDC or whatever agency is charged with coming up with the answer to Autism, the answer that will satisfy RFK jr. What could the methodology possibly be?
Good question... "The devil can cite research to serve his purpose". Scientific method be damned.
frugal-one
4-21-25, 4:12pm
Good question... "The devil can cite research to serve his purpose". Scientific method be damned.
Are there any qualified people who filled cabinet posts?
Are there any qualified people who filled cabinet posts?
Dr. Oz? (joking)
No guesses how it might turn out, but I'm putting the promise into the same bucket as I'm going to make groceries more affordable on day 1. Vaccines is a good guess.
60 minutes had a scary update on bird flu in yesterday's program. A person could probably search up the program if interested. The woman interviewed said that basically all of the people studying it had be let go and the Moderna work for a vaccine had been halted by Trump. Actually the whole program was interesting. The second segment featured a Nobel prize winner saying AI could potentially conquer all diseases in the not to distant future. The last feature was on the Monarch Butterfly, which was equally as interesting.
iris lilies
4-21-25, 7:59pm
Are there any qualified people who filled cabinet posts?
I don’t know about that, but whoever wrote the executive order “Defending Women Against Trans Ideology…”that came out on January 20, 2025 knew their stuff. It said exactly what it should say covering exactly what it should cover.
I’m amused that Donald himself uses the word “gender “when he means sex which is in conflict with his own executive order .
So he really needs to read his own executive order.
frugal-one
4-22-25, 2:43pm
You, obviously, are a trans phob. I have not previously responded to your over the top ranting posts but wish you would stop. Let everyone live the life they want!
iris lilies
4-22-25, 5:59pm
You, obviously, are a trans phob. I have not previously responded to your over the top ranting posts but wish you would stop. Let everyone live the life they want!
Popularly known as “TERF!”
frugal-one
4-23-25, 4:42am
Popularly known as “TERF!”
yes… trans phob.
iris lilies
9-6-25, 12:00pm
RFKjr has announced we will know the cause of autism by September.
Let me relieve the suspense for ya’ll and just cut to the chase (we don’t need no stinking’ research time):
the cause is….vaccinations!
thank meeeeee
Now to be serious, I cannot imagine the clown show going on at HHS or CDC or whatever agency is charged with coming up with the answer to Autism, the answer that will satisfy RFK jr. What could the methodology possibly be?
well, here we are in September. Do we know the cause of autism yet? It’s vaccines, right?
well, here we are in September. Do we know the cause of autism yet? It’s vaccines, right?
Maybe he wasn't specific about which year? Possibly it's all the toxins in Trump's favorite processed foods (credit to Jimmy Kimmel for that one)?
The Trump administration is planning to release a report this month that will reportedly link use of the common painkiller acetaminophen (sold under the brand name Tylenol) during pregnancy, as well as certain vitamin deficiencies, to autism spectrum disorder, despite lacking the scientific research to back up such claims.
This is just the latest controversy surrounding the actions of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr....
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/09/06/nx-s1-5532143/hhs-responds-to-report-about-autism-and-acetaminophen
Hmmm, just amazing that all the researchers and scientists haven't made that connection in all their years of work.��
So which is it--vaccines cause autism? Or Tylenol? Hmm.. Maybe it's peanut butter and jelly during pregnancy but only if you eat it on pita chips.
I seem to recall a time when the latest con spiracy was that amalgam tooth fillings caused autism or some other disorder. I worked with a guy who had actually all his old fillings pulled out and replaced. Maybe the theory will return now that places are discontinuing fluoride and cavities will abound.
iris lilies
9-7-25, 1:41pm
I seem to recall a time when the latest con spiracy was that amalgam tooth fillings caused autism or some other disorder. I worked with a guy who had actually all his old fillings pulled out and replaced. Maybe the theory will return now that places are discontinuing fluoride and cavities will abound.
Amalgam tooth fillings, a combo of metals, are considered problematic due to releases of
mercury. They are banned in Europe.
i don’t know anything about the connection to autism, but I wouldn’t want my young child to have a mouthful of amalgam fillings. At my advanced age, one such filling or two would not be of concern to me.
Amalgam tooth fillings, a combo of metals, are considered problematic due to releases of
mercury. They are banned in Europe.
i don’t know anything about the connection to autism, but I wouldn’t want my young child to have a mouthful of amalgam fillings. At my advanced age, one such filling or two would not be of concern to me.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_amalgam_controversy
I believe they are no longer common anyway due to other modern materials, but most of us probably have many, at least since gold became uncommon. You might already have more than a few.? I've not noticed problems with mine other than the radio transmissions that come through late at night. There were environment issues around mercury and dental office waste.
iris lilies
9-7-25, 3:02pm
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_amalgam_controversy
I believe they are no longer common anyway due to other modern materials, but most of us probably have many, at least since gold became uncommon. You might already have more than a few.? I've not noticed problems with mine other than the radio transmissions that come through late at night. There were environment issues around dental office waste.
I have only one filling that is 60 years old so yes, it is probably that mixed metal.
Your have good teeth. Both of my paternal grandparents and possibly my maternal grandmother had all of their teeth pulled and dentures. It's a good thing the science of dentistry has advanced beyond that practice.
The last dentist I saw said two of my four decades old amalgam fillings needed to be replaced. She used some sort of polymer that is tooth-colored. It seems like our current American culture is obsessed with teeth compared to others. Perfectly white and straight. The great thing about getting old is that it's too late to worry about all these things that are supposed to be bad for us.
Uh, I know a lot of autistic kids. Most were diagnosed before they even had all their permanent teeth.
iris lilies
9-8-25, 9:52am
Uh, I know a lot of autistic kids. Most were diagnosed before they even had all their permanent teeth.
Ah, but what if it is the mercury poisoning from the teeth of their pregnant mothers that caused this!?
Just kidding.
I guess it could be, thanks for mentioning that. We just don't know about all the effects for all the people in all the treatments we throw at people. And yet we live a lot longer than we used to, of things that used to kill us sooner.
I guess it could be, thanks for mentioning that. We just don't know about all the effects for all the people in all the treatments we throw at people. And yet we live a lot longer than we used to, of things that used to kill us sooner.
I was just talking to a guy yesterday who I hadn't seen around for a while. He told me he had had surgery for a glioblastoma. Here he was riding his motorcycle and seemed like his usual weird self!
In 1997 my brother-in-law died from a glioblastoma four months from his diagnosis, surgery and all. He never again looked as vibrant as this guy, who acknowledged how fortunate he is.
One of the things RFK., Jr. has come up with and seems to have gotten ont Trumps radar is the banning of most drug ads on television. I'm not sure how large the audience is for network TV these days, but from what I've watched the drug and lawyer ads are non stop and annoying, aside for just seeming wrong. I suppose there are ways to make this a bad thing, but it seems like a good thing on the surface.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/health/fda-drug-advertising-warning-letters.html
gimmethesimplelife
9-23-25, 9:50pm
You, obviously, are a trans phob. I have not previously responded to your over the top ranting posts but wish you would stop. Let everyone live the life they want!Thank You. Rob
catherine
9-23-25, 11:08pm
One of the things RFK., Jr. has come up with and seems to have gotten ont Trumps radar is the banning of most drug ads on television. I'm not sure how large the audience is for network TV these days, but from what I've watched the drug and lawyer ads are non stop and annoying, aside for just seeming wrong. I suppose there are ways to make this a bad thing, but it seems like a good thing on the surface.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/health/fda-drug-advertising-warning-letters.html
I got my market research job just when the FDA permitted direct-to-consumer advertising, in the late 1990s. In fact, it was great timing, because when I broke out of the typing pool, I was assigned to the consumer/patient projects because I had zero background in science, and the company president thought starting in consumer would be the best way in rather than having to navigate discussions with doctors. I remember working on ad campaigns for Celebrex, Detrol, Enbrel, Vioxx, Fosamax, Finacea, and many others. The thinking went that advertising to patients would empower them to "ask your doctor about XYX" which in theory meant they would take a more active role in their health.
I haven't done DTC ads in a while--the last major ad campaign I worked on was Shingrix. Pharma spends billions of dollars to advertise to patients, so it is effective. But is it ethical? Is it misleading? Are drug ads in the best interest of the patient? I am not opposed to DTC ads, but I do object to the fact that the money spent on them would be better used to reduce drug prices for the patient.
I feel so much more secure, empowered, and informed when they tell me not to take xyz if I'm allergic to it. Or to tell my doctor if I have internal bleeding, etc.
Total CYA blathering and so annoying. They spend billions on ads instead reducing costs. I have never had to "ask my doctor" about any drug. She's pretty on top of what I might need already.
I agree that an office visit and doctors advice should be the first line of treatment recommendations. I have questioned my doctors advice and looked up things from reliable online source, like say the Mayo Clinic, rather than a TV ad. Aside from being annoying, the TV ads seem to portray happy good looking people with what I wonder are exaggerated promises for serious conditions. Maybe a bigger issue is that for some conditions there is no discussion of lifestyle changes or other alternate treatments that could be a better option than medications being promoted.
Banning the ads would probably be a big loss of income for the TV networks. It hasn't some up again for a while, so maybe it was just Trump flapping his jib.
iris lilies
9-24-25, 7:51am
I got my market research job just when the FDA permitted direct-to-consumer advertising, in the late 1990s. In fact, it was great timing, because when I broke out of the typing pool, I was assigned to the consumer/patient projects because I had zero background in science, and the company president thought starting in consumer would be the best way in rather than having to navigate discussions with doctors. I remember working on ad campaigns for Celebrex, Detrol, Enbrel, Vioxx, Fosamax, Finacea, and many others. The thinking went that advertising to patients would empower them to "ask your doctor about XYX" which in theory meant they would take a more active role in their health.
I haven't done DTC ads in a while--the last major ad campaign I worked on was Shingrix. Pharma spends billions of dollars to advertise to patients, so it is effective. But is it ethical? Is it misleading? Are drug ads in the best interest of the patient? I am not opposed to DTC ads, but I do object to the fact that the money spent on them would be better used to reduce drug prices for the patient.
You worked on the Shingrix ad campaign? Cool!
I have a good immune system and for years didn’t get flu shot or any of those inoculations and actually didn’t even go to the doctor for over a decade. But – I heard through discussion of friends there was a shingles inoculation and when I heard that, it stuck in my brain because I knew I was going to get that if I got nothing else.
I see DTC ads and sometimes I don’t even know what malady they’re talking about.
Aside from being annoying, the TV ads seem to portray happy good looking people with what I wonder are exaggerated promises for serious conditions. Maybe a bigger issue is that for some conditions there is no discussion of lifestyle changes or other alternate treatments that could be a better option than medications being promoted.
Yes, the FDA does look at that. For instance, when I worked on Celebrex, I remember its original name was "Celebra" and it was rejected by the FDA because it sounded too much like "Celebrate." As for the happy people, I used to get so frustrated with the campaign development process because let's just say that pharma execs aren't that creative. The ad agency would develop some really good, out-of-the-box concepts, but what pharma would go with would be the smiling grandma throwing a ball to her dog on the beach. Every time.
Although I don't know if any of you remember that weird commercial with the insomniac sitting at the kitchen table and being visited by Abe Lincoln and a spaceman? That was the one out-of-the-box ad campaign I worked on. Unfortunately it was weird in the wrong ways. And the drug was wrong too--it was an insomnia drug which met its primary endpoint in Phase III clinical trial, but only barely. By that time the campaign had already been developed. Not only that, but it is a melatonin receptor agonist, which means that it builds up in your system over time. No insomniac wants to take an insomnia pill for a week before it starts working. Ambien and Lunesta were out at around the same time, and they beat that drug's clock. You can still get it, but the company doesn't put any marketing dollars towards it.
The network news programs might disappear without their drug ad revenue. Maybe that is Trump's plan since he doesn't care for their slant. Growing up, I recall my pharmacist mother had stacks of industry journals that featured drug ads promoted only to the medical trades. IMO, that is how it should be.
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