Withdrawal resources for

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Not sure if all of these links are still active (I haven't checked them in a

while) -

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SUPPORT FOR SAFE DRUG WITHDRAWAL

It is very important to never stop taking any psychiatric drug without having a

carefully laid out withdrawal plan. Stopping these drugs cold turkey or too

quickly can be very dangerous.

WITHDRAWING FROM PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS –

A RESOUCE GUIDE

Here are several links where you can access several different helpful withdrawal

guides. From what I've learned, what works well for one person may not

necessarily work for another.

http://www.truehope.com

Many participants find that they are able to completely eliminate their

psychiatric medications due to the reduction/elimination of symptoms while

taking EMPowerplus. Go to our " Success Stories " section to read inspiring,

first-hand accounts of the return to wellness many participants have

experienced.

HARM REDUCTION GUIDE TO COMING OFF PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS www.theicarusproject.net

Contact: orders@... or 877-787-5883

PROTOCOL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF SSRI ANTIDEPRESSANT

http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm

by Dr Healy MD, FRCPsych

North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine,

Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2PW, Wales, UK

COMING OFF PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS

http://lists.topica.com/lists/coming-off

http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/withdraw.htm

From this link you can order a copy of Lehmann's book with the same title

as his discussion group, " Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs " . I do not have a copy

of his book, so I've not read it and cannot provide you with a personal

recommendation; however, I admire and respect the work of this man.

WITHDRAWING FROM EFFEXOR (VENLAFAXINE)

http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/anti_depressants/withdrawal/venlafaxine.htm\

l

This is the withdrawal protocol developed by a man who wanted to help his

beloved wife withdraw from Effexor (Venlafaxine).

I have copied the following statement from his introduction:

" These notes were prepared from action taken on a programme of venlafaxine

antidepressant reduction based originally on information taken from various web

sites. This allowed simple and effective elimination of venlafaxine without

withdrawal problems. This approach could be used for eliminating other

medication which builds dependency. Section 6 also gives details of the

complementary activities, which were followed to overcome the depression, none

of which were recommended by any of the medical staff involved. Even when the

non-medical recipe had clearly worked, the consultant psychiatrist was still in

denial with regard to the benefits of the path we had chosen. "

Venlafaxine (Effexor) Withdrawal Index

1. Introduction

2. Avoiding withdrawal symptoms

3. Stages of withdrawal

4. Successful reduction

5. Reduction instructions

6. Drug half life

7. Activities for depression recovery

8. Depression, relaxation & hypnotherapy

9. Bacterial infection & serotonin

10. Dietary supplements for depression

11. Venlafaxine dosages to avoid withdrawal symptoms

http://www.truehope.com/_help/help.asp - TRUE HOPE

Many participants find that they are able to completely eliminate their

psychiatric medications due to the reduction/elimination of symptoms while

taking EMPowerplus. Go to our " Success Stories " section to read inspiring,

first-hand accounts of the return to wellness many participants have

experienced.

HELP – I CANT GET OFF MY ANTIDEPRESSANT

http://www.drugawareness.org

There is a link on this site where you can order Dr Ann Blake-'s CD which

provides safe withdrawal guidelines. It's called, " Help, I Can't Get Off My

Antidepressant " . Her book, " Prozac – Panacea or Pandora " also offers

information on safe withdrawal and ordering information is available from the

link above.

HOW TO GET OFF DRUGS SAFELY – THE ROAD BACK

http://www.theroadback.org

If you have ever tried to taper off psychotropic medication and had difficulty,

if you are ready to attempt this for the first time, the decision you make at

this moment in time is critical for your well-being. You definitely understand

this is you have tried to quit psychotropic medication before.

The Road Back taper program has been successful for over 10,000 people over the

past 6 years. The man who developed the program, Jim Harper, claims " ...you do

not have to suffer through withdrawal side effects " with this program.

SAFE HARBOR

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com

Thousands of people around the world have recovered from mental disorders and

now enjoy the simple pleasures of a drug-free life. Most were told this was

impossible.

Many others have been able to significantly reduce their dependency on

psychiatric medication. Commonly these people find that underlying their

" mental " disorders are medical problems, allergies, toxic conditions,

nutritional imbalances, poor diets, lack of exercise, or other treatable

physical conditions.

This site has testimonials, over 100 articles, and the Web's only directory of

alternative mental health practitioners. You can also get information from their

bookstore, support groups, email lists, and sign up for their free monthly

newsletter.

MAKING SENSE OF COMING OFF PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS

http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Making+sense/Making+sense+of+coming+\

off+psychiatric+drugs.htm

From the link above, you can access an entire E-book, free of charge titled

" Making Sense of Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs "

WEANING OFF AN SSRI: PLANNING

http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum_2/PanicDisordersF/WeaningOffAnSSRI.Planni\

ng.html

This response submitted by B. Keys, JD, PhD on 4/23/99.

COMING OFF PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS

http://www.p.lehmann.berlinet.de/withdraw.htm

www.bpe.berlinet.de/htdocs/coming-off-1-350.pdf

Lehmann (ed.)

Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics,

Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and Tranquilizers

BEYOND PROZAC – HEALING MENTAL DISTRESS

http://www.pccs-books.co.uk/product.php?xProd=112

A wonderful, caring physician (Terry Lynch, MD), in Ireland has just published

this book:

PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO WITHDRAW FROM ANY PSYCHIATRIC DRUG WITHOUT THE HELP OF A

TRAINED PROFESSIONAL.

HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL REFERENCES FOR YOU:

Walsh, Ph.D.,

http://www.hriptc.org

Pfeiffer Treatment Center, Warrenville, IL

America's largest nutritional mental health center.

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Neil Nedley, MD

www.drnedley.com

Dr Nedley offers a 10 day residential treatment program every year that is very

effective at a price far below most other drug withdrawal programs. Contact his

office for information on when his next program will be offered.

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DIRECTORY OF ADDITIONAL PHYSICIANS WHO CAN ASSIST WITH SAFE DRUG WITHDRAWAL:

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/directory/list.asp

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO HELP YOU

*Free self confidence course

http://www.self-confidence.co.uk

*Psychology & personal development resources

http://www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk

*The depression learning path

http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk

*Free panic attacks course

http://www.panic-attacks.co.uk

*Come and join the chat...

http://www.uncommonforum.com

PLEASE KNOW AND REMEMBER –

1. PSYCHIATRIC " DISORDERS " ARE NOT MEDICAL DISEASES.

In medicine, strict criteria exist for calling a condition a disease: a

predictable group of symptoms and the cause of the symptoms or an understanding

of their physiology (function) must be proven and established. Chills and fever

are symptoms. Malaria and typhoid are diseases. Diseases are proven to exist by

objective evidence and physical tests. Yet, no mental " diseases " have ever been

proven to medically exist.

2. PSYCHIATRISTS DEAL EXCLUSIVELY WITH MENTAL " DISORDERS, " NOT PROVEN

DISEASES.

While mainstream physical medicine treats diseases, psychiatry can only deal

with " disorders. " In the absence of a known cause or physiology a group of

symptoms seen in many different patients is called a disorder or syndrome.

Harvard Medical School's ph Glenmullen, M.D., says that in psychiatry, " all

of its diagnoses are merely syndromes [or disorders], clusters of symptoms

presumed to be related, not diseases. " As Dr. Szasz, professor of

psychiatry emeritus, observes, " There is no blood or other biological test to

ascertain the presence or absence of a mental illness, as there is for most

bodily diseases. "

3. PSYCHIATRY HAS NEVER ESTABLISHED THE CAUSE OF ANY " MENTAL DISORDERS. "

Leading psychiatric agencies such as the World Psychiatric Association and the

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health admit that psychiatrists do not know

the causes or cures for any mental disorder or what their " treatments "

specifically do to the patient. They have only theories and conflicting opinions

about their diagnoses and methods, and are lacking any scientific basis for

these. As a past president of the World Psychiatric Association stated, " The

time when psychiatrists considered that they could cure the mentally ill is

gone. In the future, the mentally ill have to learn to live with their illness. "

4. THE THEORY THAT MENTAL DISORDERS DERIVE FROM A " CHEMICAL IMBALANCE " IN THE

BRAIN IS UNPROVEN OPINION, NOT FACT.

One prevailing psychiatric theory (key to psychotropic drug sales) is that

mental disorders result from a chemical imbalance in the brain. As with its

other theories, there is no biological or other evidence to prove this.

Representative of a large group of medical and biochemistry experts, Elliot

Valenstein, Ph.D., author of Blaming the Brain says: " [T]here are no tests

available for assessing the chemical status of a living person's brain. "

5. THE BRAIN IS NOT THE REAL CAUSE OF LIFE'S PROBLEMS.

People do experience problems and upsets in life that may result in mental

troubles, sometimes very serious. But to represent that these troubles are

caused by incurable " brain diseases " that can only be alleviated with dangerous

pills is dishonest, harmful and often deadly. Such drugs are often more potent

than a narcotic and capable of driving one to violence or suicide. They mask the

real cause of problems in life and debilitate the individual, so denying him or

her the opportunity for real recovery and hope for the future.

>

> Hello, I'm trying to get off of zoloft. Is there anyone here who got off this

ssri after ten+ years? I'm afraid I will never be as happy as when I was on it,

but I think it is wreaking havoc on my body. Anyone out there?  

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