TOXSICK is a documentary film that follows the recovery of a musician that spent 5 years housebound and needed 35 ambulances after taking a medication as prescribed, and her search for answers for herself and the millions of others on this class of medication. The film explores the bigger picture of the little-known risks with prescribed benzodiazepines, whilst exploring what it takes to rebuild a life from the ground up.
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Emma Hames was a 23 year old musician and trainee teacher, who contracted a virus whilst on a placement. After spending a year not breathing properly due to undiagnosed asthma as a result of the virus, Emma started having panic attacks. Once doctors realised her lung capacity was at 60% they immediately started her on a treatment protocol of steroids for her lungs. It was around this time that doctors in Europe also told her
"IF YOU WANT YOUR LIFE BACK, TAKE THESE"
whilst offering her the anti-anxiety medication (Bromazepam - a Benzodiazepine) to calm her under-oxygenated, and over-sensitised central nervous system.
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After being on the anti-anxiety drug for 4 years, Emma then discovered that these drugs are not meant to be prescribed long term, and that she should've been prescribed it for 1 week maximum - despite asking to come off it within the initial weeks of taking it, but being refused by doctors at the time.
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"INSTEAD OF DOCTORS PRESCRIBING IT SHORT TERM, AND GUIDING ME SAFELY OFF OF THE MEDICATION WHEN I ASKED, THEY INCREASED MY DOSAGE UNTIL I WAS IN THE DANGEROUS POSITION OF TOLERANCE WITHDRAWAL"
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What followed next was 5 years of isolation, torturous symptoms and finding out in 2019 from another doctor that she was lucky to have survived the anti-anxiety medication. She then told Emma:
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'WE'VE POISONED YOU BUT NOW THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT"
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From 2019 Emma began researching the drugs (Benzodiazepines) and finding out that 1 in 4 Americans are on this class of medication (full global stats unknown)- now being coined 'the next Opioid Crisis'. Reading similar stories to hers - with patients not being believed by doctors-, and often being further harmed by being given other medications that compound the issues, she wanted to make this film to help raise awareness of this issue and help those suffering.
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Having found that music and creativity helped her survive those 5 years Emma decided to set herself the challenge of writing the soundtrack for the film, as a way to process the hard-hitting truths of this issue. With her first two songs making it onto BBC Introducing in the UK, the stage is set for the film to start taking off, and for this to be a personal but global investigative story laced with creativity like no other.
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The film is currently in pre-production.
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