In 1975, at age 20, Fiona was diagnosed with myoclonic epilepsy and prescribed Nitrazepam. She was given no information about the drug and there was no patient information leaflet in those days. She had an adverse reaction almost immediately becoming hyperactive, losing a great deal of weight and attempting to take her own life. She was referred to psychiatry and prescribed many different antidepressants.
As a result, her 20s were blighted with depression, agoraphobia, mono phobia, hospital admissions and further suicide attempts. She gradually learned to cope with the way she felt, struggling through her 30s, 40s and 50s, in very poor health, having no understanding of the damage done by prescription drugs. She felt isolated and lonely every single day not realising it was the effects of the Nitrazepam.
Fiona always believed that her myoclonic epilepsy would be for life, that she needed the Nitrazepam and that she must have some sort of depression which she was destined to live with. She gave up looking for answers. At age 59, she was advised to stop taking Nitrazepam by her GP and tapered off 5mg over 3 months. She had a delayed reaction of six months before becoming desperately ill and bedridden, spending 4.5 years mostly in bed. It has now been 5 years since completing her taper and she can only walk a short distance and requires a walking frame and wheelchair when outdoors. Her long-term memory is poor. Most of the worst symptoms have gone. She spends every day campaigning for recognition and services for drug dependent and damaged patients in Scotland and the UK.