Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families

I purchased the book in order to give me more information when I wean my patients off any psychotropic agent. I am frustrated (and so are patients) by how many drugs patients are prescribed to deal with psychiatric symptoms. Dr. Breggin has researched the drugs thoroughly and has taken the time to write about the side effects and problems the patient's brain experiences on the drug. This helps me as a physician to understand even more what symptoms to look for while the patient is on the drug and how serious the side effects from weaning might be. This is not information I will get from the pharmaceutical industry. And I want medically sound information, not simply information to scare me or my patient. I am grateful for Dr. Breggin's knowledge and skill in teasing out the pertinent facts for doctors as well as patients. Excellent reference book! I know I will refer to it repeatedly.

Evidence WHY it is important to consider withdrawal of medications. Discusses issues and problems of long term psychiatric medication. Prepares the physician, family, and patient for realistic issues and difficulties with withdrawing the medication. Emphasizes the trials and tribulations that one will have to face during withdrawal as well as the safest way to start decreasing dosages. Wonderful & necessary addition to any physicians personal library. Very Useful. Since benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and sleep medications are prescribed so frequently. Note: Supportive nutritional and supplement therapies are not discussed.

This is a great book, especially if you want to SLOWLY come off of your meds. Shows the ins and outs of what you may face and addresses it quite clearly and thoroughly. I've been off all my meds for 6 months and I've been doing better than ever when in the past I had struggled so much that I had returned to taking the psych drugs. Never again! And this book will show you the right way to go about coming off your psych meds safely. Remember that coming off requires a slow taper. Personally, it took me 5 months to taper. The book teaches that it may take longer or less than that and will tell you the safest way to get off the meds. Can't say enough for Dr.Breggin or this book!

The information on how these drugs affect the brain is good. Its clearly written and easy to understand. The part on withdrawing from the drugs is seriously lacking. "The Ashton Manual" is much more informative on how to discontinue psychiatric drugs and symptoms of withdrawal.

Very informative

OH MY GOD! This is a blessing from God! Just what I needed to know! This book should be mandatory reading for all healthcare professionals, and students alike, and anyone related to a person who is taking psychiatric drugs. So powerful from the very first lines of the book. Such a vast vault of knowledge! Just what I was looking for! Awesome! Totally Recommend this to everyone!

This is a very informative book for someone who is taking themselves off these ridiculous medications. Easy to read for non-professionals. This book truly provides insight on what psychiatric drugs do to your brain. I wish I could have been this informed 18 years ago. I first saw Dr. Breggin on the documentary American Addict 2 and it was then that I knew I had to read his books. The book isn't cheap for a reason. This is a serious issue.

My personal experience agrees with Breggin's negative view of antidepressants however given the heterogeneous nature of "depression" I don't think it is safe to conclude that they don't work for "depression." Additionally, it is not logical to conclude that depression has no pathological basis given that antidepressants are not any more effective than placebo. I think possibly depression is similar to migraines which have no known pathology either and yet are accepted an abnormal condition by neurologists. Despite agreeing with his negative view regarding drugs it is hard to say whether the drug created the problem or just exacerbated it. For example I have had a tendency toward psychosis(measured by MMPI) for much of my life however it wasn't until I tapered off of Wellbutrin that I experienced a florid psychosis which landed me in the hospital. I have also had chronic depression since age twelve and have had problems with my memory, focus, energy, sleep, appetite and motivation for many years prior to taking medication in my early twenties. Has the medication made these problems worse? I'm not so sure. His perspectives on psychiatric research are worth taking into consideration in order to have a more balanced view of "mental illness". The amount of times that Breggin refers to his own research seemed excessive.

This book sets out clearly the case for prescribing less psychiatric medication for shorter periods. Peter Breggin has built a reputation for kindness, empathy and single minded commitment to his patients. He believes that most psychiatric medication does more harm than good and recommends that it should usually be reduced and discontinued. There are many practical tips for clinicians and patients wanting to follow his lead. His dedication to his work shines through.

If you are looking for a book to understand how to withdraw from anytipschotics and antidepressants this is the book fir you and your doctor.

Wonderful book for psychiatric drug withdrawal. Rarely such good books are seen in literature with humane approach towards patients and their families.

1980年代に「脳なき精神医学」的治療として批判された精神分析的精神療法は新興の薬物療法にとって代わられた。その後の精神医学は神経精神薬理学と画像診断学の進歩とともに生物学的な方向に進んでいったが、「心なき精神医学」として、モノアミン仮説・受容体仮説から成る薬物療法は不信感を抱かれるに至り、薬物療法偏重であったこれまでの精神科治療は曲がり角に来ている。Open Dialogueなどの代替療法とされていたものが次世代の主流となるのかもしれない。本著は、長年このような流れに警鐘を発してきたP.R.Bregginによる最新刊であり、急性期、慢性期における向精神薬の減薬の意義・退薬兆候・減薬を補完するものとしての精神療法に触れている。彼に対する批判もあるが、希死念慮を抱いた女性患者さんへの係わり方を読んでいると真摯な臨床家という新たな印象を受けた。米国人らしく、退薬兆候には薬物療法、退薬への情緒的精神的反応には精神療法と二分しており、その鑑別が困難な印象を受ける面もあるが、黙々と多剤処方を支えてくれていた薬剤師、これまで薬物療法とは一線を画していた臨床心理士を始めととするセラピスト達、当事者やそのご家族に読んでいただきたい著作である。

This book is a must for anyone on meds or considering taking. Way too many people are over medicated, the book and myself encourage you to either reduce the dose if unable to get off completely or stop altogether, only you can decide its your quality of life. At least reducing doses to minimal amounts down to quarter or half pills can result in drastic improvement in cognitive function