What happens when personal tragedy collides with systemic failure?
Drug safety advocate Kim Witczak joins Ian Bowen to share her harrowing journey from losing her husband to antidepressant side effects to becoming a leading voice for FDA reform.
On this episode, Kim reveals:
1. The shocking lack of transparency around medication risks.
2. How she turned grief into advocacy, leading to FDA-mandated "black box" warnings on antidepressants.
3. The hidden tactics Big Pharma uses to suppress side-effect data.
4. Why lawsuits are critical to uncovering sealed pharmaceutical documents.
5. How to advocate for yourself and loved ones in healthcare decisions.
Key Takeaways:
1. "I’m not anti-drug—I’m pro-information." Patients deserve full transparency about medication risks.
2. One person can change the system. Kim’s work proved individual advocacy can force billion-dollar industries to reform.
3. Listen to your intuition. If something feels off medically, ask questions and challenge assumptions.
4. Grief can fuel purpose. Kim channeled loss into saving lives through policy change.
5. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Sealed corporate documents revealed deliberate suppression of drug risks.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Kim’s story: A tragedy that sparked a movement
05:15 – The coroner’s question: “Was he on any medication?”
12:30 – The floating Bible: A sign that changed everything
20:45 – Suing Pfizer and winning: How lawsuits expose hidden truths
28:00 – The FDA’s flawed system: Who really controls drug approvals?
35:10 – Black box warnings: How Kim’s advocacy saved lives
42:20 – Practical steps to advocate for your health
50:00 – Finding purpose in pain: Kim’s message for anyone facing adversity
Connect with Kim Witczak:
Twitter: https://x.com/woodymatters
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimwitczak/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kim_witczak/
Website: https://www.kimwitczak.com/
Substack: https://acceptablecollateraldamage.substack.com/
Connect with Ian Bowen:
Website: https://thepositivepersistence.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen?
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk
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