Psychiatric drug dependence (addiction) and withdrawal reactions

All psychiatric drugs have the potential to cause withdrawal reactions, including the antidepressants, stimulants, tranquilizers, antipsychotic drugs, and “mood stabilizers” such as lithium. When the individual’s condition grows markedly worse within days or weeks of stopping the psychiatric drug, this is almost always due to a withdrawal reaction. However, misinformed doctors and misled parents, teachers, and patients think this is evidence that the individual “needs” the drug even more when what the patient really needs is time to overcome the drug’s contrary effects on the brain and body.
 
This topic is covered extensively in Dr. Breggin's newly-updated medical textbook, Brain-Disabling Treatments in Psychiatry. A number of detailed case stories illustrating dependence and withdrawal appear in Medication Madness . More details and a very accessible discussion for the non-specialist is found in Dr. Breggin's Your Drug May Be Your Problem, co-authored with David Cohen, which summarizes important information on each of the commonly-prescribed psychiatric medications in an easy-to-read format: the hazards of drugs in general, details of potential withdrawal reactions, and specific suggestions on how to withdraw safely are covered. All three books contain guidelines for safely withdrawing from psychiatric medications.
 
 
 
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Dr. Peter Breggin and Colleagues
Launch New Reform Organization &
Annual Spring Conference
 

Peter R. Breggin, MD is no longer affiliated with the Center for the Study of Psychiatry, informally known as International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, which he founded and led from 1972-2002, and Dr. Breggin will not participate in its conferences.   Dr. Breggin and his colleagues will hold their new annual spring conference April 8-10, 2011.  Details are available at http://www.empathictherapy.org.

 

 

WARNING!

Most psychiatric drugs can cause withdrawal reactions, sometimes including life-threatening emotional and physical withdrawal problems. In short, it is not only dangerous to start taking psychiatric drugs, it can also be dangerous to stop them. Withdrawal from psychiatric drugs should be done carefully under experienced clinical supervision. Methods for safely withdrawing from psychiatric drugs are discussed in Dr. Breggin's books, Brain-Disabling Treatments in Psychiatry: Drugs, Electroshock and the Psychopharmaceutical Complex (New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2008) and Medication Madness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Suicide and Crime (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2008).