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Withdrawal from psychiatric medication is a subject that is seldom talked about and rarely addressed by health professionals. The silence and the taboo surrounding the topic deprive us of crucial information. Many people don't even dare to talk to their doctor or loved ones about diminishing their medication for fear of their reactions. Isolated and lacking information, some will taper in risky ways.

Why do people want to reduce or come off their medication?

There are a host of reasons:  

  • Some side effects are painful or unbearable  

  • The possible risks to long-term health are significant

  • Medication doesn't work for them or isn't effective

  • The situation that triggered the difficulties has changed

  • They have developed alternative and satisfying ways to deal with their situation

  • They want to know themselves without the effect of medication  

  • They prefer to adopt approches that act on the causes and the source of the problems, not only on the symptoms.

 

To come to the decision to reduce medication, several factors must be taken into account. The GAM personal guide is an excellent tool to consult for anyone considering reducing or coming off their psychiatric medication.  See the next section, Effects of withdrawal to find out more.

EXPLORING FURTHER


Websites

Inner Compass Initiative  

 

The Withdrawal Project  

 

Stopping antidepressants  

 

Surviving Antidepressants

 

International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal

 

Mad in America-  Drug Withdrawal Resources  

 

Mind Freedom - Coming off psychiatric medication  

 

Tapering Strip  

 

Lets Talk Withdrawal  

 

Will Hall

WARM Network


Articles

Going off antidepressants  

 

The Challenge of Going Off Psychiatric Drugs  

 

Stopping antidepressants: Exploring the patient's experience  

 

Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms shouldn't be mistaken for return of illness  

 

Many People Taking Antidepressants Discover They Cannot Quit  

 

How to Quit Antidepressants: Very Slowly, Doctors Say 


Researchers Provide Guidance for Reducing and Stopping Psychiatric Drugs

'I was sobbing uncontrollably': Patients say antidepressants difficult to quit


Videos

Gaining Autonomy and Navigating Psychiatric Medication: Olga Runciman and Celine Cyr in conversation

Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Town Hall 1 - Introducing the Series

 

Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Town Hall 2 - Exploring the Science  

 

Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Town Hall 3 - Post-Withdrawal Experiences  

 

Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Town Hall 4 - The Psychiatric Drugging of our Children  

 

Coming Off Psych Drugs: A Meeting of the Minds (on coming off psychiatric medication)  

 

Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs Workshop with Will Hall  

 

Mark Horowitz, MBBS, PhD: Researching Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal


Podcasts

Podcast Let's Talk Withdrawal  

 

The Naked Scientists - Coming off Antidepressants

Antidepressant withdrawal: why has it been ignored for so long?


Books

The Antidepressant Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safely Overcoming Antidepressant Withdrawal, Dependence, and "Addiction". Joseph Glenmullen

 

A Straight Talking Introduction To Psychiatric Drugs (Second Edition): The Truth About How They Work And How To Come Off Them . Joanna Moncrieff  

 

Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families . Peter R. Breggin  

Psychotropes, réussir son sevrage. Peter Lehmann

Withdrawal from Prescribed Psychotropic Drugs. Peter Lehmann 


The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counseling and Psychotherapy. Special Edition: Withdrawal from Prescribed Psychotropic Drugs . Directed by Peter Lehmann

Guides

BENZODIAZEPINES: HOW THEY WORK AND HOW TO WITHDRAW  

 

Harm reduction guide to coming off psychiatric drugs  

 

Guide to getting off psychotropic drugs by reducing the harmful effects  

 

Tapering and stopping antipsychotics  

 

The Psychotropic Withdrawal Handbook

 

Guidance for Psychological Therapists. Enabling conversations with clients taking or withdrawing from prescribed psychiatric drugs  

 

A short guide to what every psychological therapist should know about working with psychiatric drugs 

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WITHDRAWAL

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