Episode 139: Antidepressants Medication Side Effects: Kim Witczak's Journey to Drug Safety Advocacy

Visibly Fit with Wendie Pett

In this episode, my guest, Kim Witczak, shares her personal story of how her husband's death by suicide led her to become an advocate for drug safety. Her husband Woody's sudden death was linked to an adverse reaction to antidepressant medication. Despite having no history of depression or mental illness, Woody was prescribed Zoloft for insomnia, which led to a tragic outcome.

Kim's journey has taken her from personal tragedy to the forefront of healthcare reform. She played a pivotal role in getting the FDA to add black box suicide warnings to antidepressants and has tirelessly worked to raise public awareness about the flaws in our drug safety system through her organization, WoodyMatters.com.

In our conversation, Kim emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making when it comes to medication. She challenges the narrative that life shouldn't be hard and questions the quick-fix culture that often leads to the overprescription of powerful drugs.

Furthermore, Kim shares how her faith has provided her with strength and resilience throughout her advocacy journey. She's committed to reshaping the medical industry to prioritize people over profits.

So, get ready to be inspired and take action. Tune in now and let's make a difference together!

Chapters

[00:00] - Podcast Episode Preview

[01:07] - Introduction to Visibly Fit Podcast

[01:49] - Pharmaceutical Commercials and Side Effects

[03:00] - Kim's Background Story and Advocacy

[06:16] - Kim Becomes an Accidental Advocate

[09:17] - Woody's Adverse Reaction to Zoloft

[11:02] - The Tragic Outcome of Woody's Medication

[13:08] - Antidepressants and The Possible Link To Suicide

[16:40] - FDA Approval Controversies

[18:40] - Marketing and Lack of Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Industry

[21:25] - Harm Caused by Medications and the Call for Accountability

[25:27] - The Need for Advocates in Healthcare

[29:25] - Kim's Faith and Grief Journey

[33:10] - A Sign of Hope: The Floating Bible

[39:55] - David vs. Goliath: Advocating for Change

[42:54] - Encouragement to Share Personal Experiences for Change

[44:12] - Unselling Sickness and Challenging the System

[45:47] - Conclusion and Invitation to Visibly Fit Program

[47:38] - Wrap-up and Gratitude

Resources mentioned:

Woody Matters website

Selling Sickness

Visibly Fit 7-Week Accelerator Program

Connect with today's guest:

Kim Witczak is a leading global drug safety advocate and speaker with over 25 years of professional experience in advertising and marketing communications. She became involved in pharmaceutical drug safety issues after the sudden death of her husband due to the undisclosed drug side effects of an antidepressant.

Kim co-founded Woodymatters, a non-profit dedicated to advocating for a stronger FDA and drug safety system. She co-created and organized the international, multi-disciplinary conference Selling Sickness: People Before Profits conference in Washington, D.C.

In 2016, she was appointed Consumer Representative on the FDA Psychopharmacologic Drug Advisory Committee and is on the Board of Directors of the National Physicians Alliance and MISSD (Medication Induced Suicide Prevention in Memory of Stewart Dolin.)

She is an active member of the DC-based Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition making sure the voice of non-conflicted patients and consumers is represented in healthcare/FDA-related legislative issues.

P.S. If you're just checking out the show to see if it's a good fit for you, welcome!

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