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Widow Discusses Husband's Suicide After Taking Anti-malaria Drug

Aired August 23, 2002 - 10:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us to discuss the concerns over Lariam is someone who claims to be a victim, and recently settled a lawsuit with its manufacturer, Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffman- LaRouche -- Linda Perry's husband committed suicide after taking the prescription and spiraling into a psychosis. Both Linda Perry and some health experts say that neither patients nor doctors are being adequately warned of the drug's dangers.
And Linda Perry is joining us today to discuss this.

Ms. Perry, good morning thank you for being with us.

LINDA PERRY, WIDOW: Good morning, thank you for having me.

KAGAN: First could you tell us how you and your husband came in contact with the drug?

PERRY: We planned a 30th wedding anniversary trip as tourists in Africa that was to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, both interested in nature and wildlife -- and we were advised to take Lariam by our personal physician, by the CDC, and that is what we did.

KAGAN: I completely understand the situation. I traveled to Africa for first time myself this spring, and I know they go in and they give you a whole list of diseases that you might confront and what you need to do about it, and malaria is right there at the top of the list.

PERRY: That's correct.

KAGAN: So when they suggested Lariam, as many, many people taking this, did they talk to you about my possible side effects?

PERRY: My physician was not real familiar with the drug, as most physicians are not. So when I went to fill the prescription of the pharmacy, I asked the pharmacist to explore it for me. And then I also called the health department, international travel section here in Cincinnati and asked them about it. No one informed me about the neuro-psych effects; in fact, I was instructed to make sure I took the entire dose because of the nature of the malaria organism.

KAGAN: And so you and your husband go off on what sounds it was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.

PERRY: That's correct.

KAGAN: But what happened? When did you start noticing problems?

PERRY: We noticed the first symptomology after the fourth dose. We were in the mountains in Africa. It was cold. It was still winter there. And we both started to have these bizarre dreams. The only way I can describe it is psychedelic dreams and a lot of diaphoresis, a lot of sweating.

KAGAN: And I think a natural reaction, people will say, well, then, why didn't you just stop taking the drug?

PERRY: I think we would have, but we were are both health care providers, and I think that worked to our detriment because we know, for example, that if you are going to take antibiotics, you need to complete the series -- plus what had been told to us by the community here, the medical community here which was make sure you complete the dosage.

KAGAN: And so you come back from the trip -- and what happened in the month after that?

PERRY: Those symptoms continued for my husband: He continued to have dreams and the sweating. And over a period of time, he started to lose weight. And by October, he had a complete physical-mental collapse.

KAGAN: And tragically, this ended in suicide.

PERRY: In January.

KAGAN: And with all due respect, Ms. Perry, and with respect to your situation, how do you know that it was drug that led to your husband's problems? Isn't it possible that there was other mental illness there?

KAGAN: Absolutely -- that is absolutely impossible. My husband was in perfect health. He had a physical before he went to Africa. And he had no history of any kind of psychiatric problem. He was a successful businessman. He was well respected in the community. He was in excellent mental and physical health. He was known as Mr. Integrity in his company. He was the father of seven. He was happy go lucky. There was never any sign of illness in him prior to his taking Lariam.

KAGAN: And so you sued the drug company?

PERRY: That is correct.

KAGAN: And you settled that lawsuit.

PERRY: We had a settlement resolution, yes.

KAGAN: Are you able to tell us the terms of that settlement?

KAGAN: No, I cannot do that.

PERRY: I appreciate that. Beyond the settlement, what would you like to achieve? Clearly, you want to get the word out. That's why you're here with us today and speaking out. Beyond that, what would you like to see happen?

PERRY: A few things. I think that the medical community needs to be more informed about the hazards of this drug, especially with the increasing international travel. I would like to see an examination of this drug in relationship to our veterans -- I am a veteran -- both for what happened at Fort Bragg, Somalia had problems, the Canadians have had problems, the Brits have had problems -- and of course, this drug was developed and used first in Vietnam, and I think there should be study as to the long-term psychiatric effects in our Vietnam veterans and were they involved in using Lariam.

Plus, just to alert the public to the dangers of this drug. We had no warning whatsoever that this could happen. If we had, myself and my physician would have watched my husband a lot more closely. We do not know that this could happen. We accepted that the fact that he was a normal, healthy man. No way would he would ever contemplate -- myself or his doctors -- that he would ever do this. That was to our disadvantage.

KAGAN: It is important to be protected when you travel to dangerous places. I do know from my own experience that there are other drugs today that you can take to protect yourself.

PERRY: That is correct. And if you are going to recommend Lariam, then you need to tell people about what can happen and to stop taking the drug if this kind of symptomology continues to develop, not continue to take it.

KAGAN: Linda Perry, thank you for sharing your story.

PERRY: Thank you for having it.

KAGAN: We appreciate your time.

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