Your Drug May Be Your Problem, Revised Edition: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications

I take issue with Publisher's Weekly for saying the authors are dogmatic. Unfortunately, few people understand what is going on with the drug industry unless they've been caught up in the hell of drug discontinuation themselves. Many publications are afraid to speak out against the powerful drug companies. Some of these are supported by drug advertisements. Few doctors see what is happening because they are doublebooked, getting their patients in and out. Psychiatrists prescribe drugs all too easily. And many patients who take psych drugs are not supervised by their doctors to check for adverse affects. I salute Breggins and Cohen for taking risks to go against the powerful status quo. Because of them, people who have developed an accidental dependence on these drugs have somewhere to turn to figure out what to do. I tried the drug Effexor once, and I felt like jumping out the window. My doctor told me to keep taking it for two weeks to see if I adapted. I couldn't get through another day. I am also one of many who stumbled upon the drug Klonopin. I took it for a few months only, and it has taken me over two years to discontinue the drug. I'd previously taken tranquilizers with no problem stopping. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get violently ill while tapering off these drugs. I have met others in a similar situation who've been diagnosed "bi-polar" because the withdrawal symptoms from these drugs make people appear crazy. Consumers and their doctors need to learn the truth about these drugs. And Your Drug May Be Your Problem tells it like it is. After discussing symptoms caused by various psych drugs, the book explains how to taper with the 10 percent method and goes over symptoms of withdrawal. The authors give guidance to help therapists use other tools besides treating their patients with drugs. And finally, there are some great suggestions on how a depressed or anxious person may get back on track. Your Drug May Be Your Problem is a courageous book that will enlighten readers who have given control of their minds and bodies to their doctors, drug companies and the FDA.

I read ALL of Dr. Breggins' books this year. Now I have experience in this field. Book and Family Mental Issues. and Self. With Meds and without meds. This book Rang True ! I believe For a Fact that with most meds and these psych meds For Sure that a little bit goes a long way. and that psych meds are Way Over Prescribed ! Too many and Too Much Dosage. and this keeps people sicker and longer ! (and easier to manage) which is very sad to me. Big Pharma is Sick ! Deranged. Out for $$$. Out for the Kill. really. I almost despise them when it comes to the Amounts that are prescribed. and really most of this **** shouldn't even be produced or available. It is truly sickening to me. I think That Dr. Breggin gets it Right. Excellent books. And very good at helping us understand Mental / Emotional illness in ourselves and loved ones ! or Unloved Ones ! I would say Your Drug Is Most of Your Problem. Find a Good (Affordable) Listener. And talk away ! They are Priceless in the end. The sooner you do the better off you will be and stay ! Children should NOT be put on psych meds Most of the time. Quit messing with our brains. Like I said rings true to me !

Breggin definitely has a strong and outspoken position against psychiatric drugs. He presents many insights on psychiatric that are difficult to find elsewhere. He has objection to the affect many psychiatric drugs have in slowing down, tranquilizing the mind, making individuals feel "not themselves", that lose part of your mind or use of it when on strong psychotropic drugs. He believes that it is more important to make changes in your life, fight your way through it rather than depend on psychiatric drugs. Breggin's wording is often politically incorrect, his facts are sometimes accurate, sometimes he makes sweeping statements based on his perspective that may not be entirely true in all cases. To the extent that the psychiatric world makes sweeping claims about the alleged effectiveness of medication, Breggin skews in the opposite direction. In the opinion of this review, Breggin's side is closer to the truth, but he would do well also to present both sides of the issue and promulgate his ideas more reasonably, substantiate claims with more documented proof, which there often is beyond anecdotal accounts. If he did that he would attract less enemies. Breggin also comes across egotistical referring to his explanations as "my" theory that others expounded on and got the credit. He would do better to stick to expounding his ideas than taking credit for himself. In any case, Your Drug May Be Your Problem presents strong reasons to reconsider taking psychiatric medications, and to cast a shadow of doubt on 21st century psychiatry with its emphasis on labeling and drugging. That one of the motivations for such an approach, when there are many other approaches that are more valid and effective, is economics, that is big money for Big Pharm, is, at this point, indisputable. That Big Pharm manipulates or hides data in order to get psychiatric drugs on the market or expand their markets is also well-proven, not only by Breggin, but by a larger body of evidence, since the time this book was written. While Breggin is dogmatic, he also raises many potent arguments.

I have read some of the books written by Dr Breggin, including the previous editions of this one and I am now reading his latest book "Brain Disabling Treatments in Psychiatry". In "Your drug may be your problem" both Breggin and Cohen explain what exactly these drugs do to the body and mind and give comprehensive information invaluable to start a meaningful collaboration with your psychiatrist if you are under treatment and wish to quit these drugs to recover your life. I have had the disgusting experience of witnessing psychiatric drug damage unfolding upon people - sometimes with fatal results - in various UK psychiatric hospitals over the last 12 years, thus I can identify well with the dangers Breggin points out. From this experience, I recommend the book to anyone - whether as a professional or patient - having a link with this profession. I very much like the unbiased and uncomplicated explanations. The only minus points in the book are that you get the impression it is written for americans whereas it has made the bookshelves in many parts of the world, plus the lack of professional points of contact and treatment in Europe and elsewhere from professionals who believe that there is a life without drugs and that drugs do not resolve emotional problems, they worsen them. Some patient readers would be glad to know where to go for help locally without having to travel to New York to find a sympathetic professional.

Ce livre a été écrit il y a une quinzaine d'années (c'est la deuxième version). Juste à l'époque où j'ai commencé à prendre un anti-dépresseur (si j'avais su!!) Depuis 13 ou 14 ans et après avoir "testé" plusieurs molécules, je n'ai jamais pu décrocher plus de quelques semaines ou mois, à cause des symptômes de sevrage... Et pourtant je n'ai jamais arrêté brutalement. Ce livre relativement facile à comprendre avec l'aide de Word Reference m'apporte enfin des explications et me donne l'espoir de pouvoir arrêter le Séroplex, en descendant par paliers de 10%, même si cela me prendra un an voire davantage. Il me confirme ce que j'ai expérimenté pendant toutes ces années, à savoir que les AD ne soignent pas, mais créent de toute pièce un déséquilibre chimique dans le cerveau, dont on ne sait pas s'il sera réversible. Ils altèrent la personnalité et leurs effets secondaires sont débilitants. Dans mon cas: tension à 9 d'où fatigue permanente, déprime, absence de motivation, émotions émoussées, anxiété, absence totale de libido. Je suis une victime des AD (c'est moi qui avait voulu essayer à l'époque je précise, pas de pathologie lourde, juste un fond anxio-dépressif), mais cet ouvrage parle de tous les médicaments psychiatriques dont l'usage augmente constamment, y compris chez les enfants. J'espère que vous serez nombreux à le lire si vous êtes concernés, la barrière de la langue est finalement peu importante. Je le recommande vivement!!

A must read for anyone on pscychriatist medicine and for parents.

Loads of useful information, practical advice, which I can apply to my own situation immediately. Good to see the alternatives to drug therapies.

Ottimo acquisto per chiunque si trovi ad affrontare gravi problemi da uso di psicofarmaci. Leggetelo e forse riuscirete a curarvi con più consapevolezza. Scritto molto bene in un inglese comprensibile anche ai profani del settore