Article Detail

Breggin (2016). Rational Principles of Psychopharmacology
for Therapists, Healthcare Providers and Clients.
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy

The Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy invited me to do an overview article about my work in the field of psychopharmacology and psychiatric drugs, including my critique of adverse drug effects (side effects). My peer-reviewed report came out in 2016 as the lead article in the January issue.

The article discusses basic principles of psychopharmacology, harmful effects of psychiatric drugs, and better alternatives. Here is a summary of the subjects covered:

I. Medication Spellbinding (intoxication anosognosia) or how psychiatric drugs often make people believe they are feeling or doing better in their lives when they are actually losing their quality of life.

II. The Brain-Disabling Principle of Psychiatric Treatment, or how psychiatric drugs have their effect by causing rather than creating biochemical imbalances, and ultimately by reducing brain function, leading to feelings of emotional anesthesia or apathy and more occasionally euphoria without an actual improvement in the quality of life.

III. Chronic Brain Impairment (CBI) or how persistent exposure to psychiatric drugs causes permanent deficits in the function of the brain and mind, and sometimes apathy or shrinkage of the brain with cell death.

IV. A Survey of Alternative Non-Drug Treatments from anxiety, depression, psychosis (“schizophrenia”) and other psychiatric diagnoses.

V. A Survey of Serious Adverse Effects of Psychiatric Drugs by Category

A. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS, including SSRIs (selective serotonin uptake inhibitors) and other, such as:

Celexa (citalopram)
Lexapro (escitalopram)
Luvox (fluvoxamine)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Prozac and Sarafem (fluoxetine)
Zoloft (sertraline)
Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Effexor (venlafaxine)
Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)
Remeron (mirtazapine)
Symbyax (Prozac plus Zyprexa, an antipsychotic drug)
Viibyrd (vilazodone)
Vivalan (viloxazine)
Wellbutrin and Zyban (bupropion)

B. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF STIMULANTS FOR ATTENTION DEFICIT

Adderall, Adderall XR (amphetamine mixture)
Desoxyn (methamphetamine)
Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine)
Focalin, Focalin XR (dexamethylphenidate)
Ritalin, Metadate, Methylin, Concerta, Daytrana (methylphenidate)
Vyvanse (lisdextroamphetamine)
Strattera (atomoxetine; not addictive; warning: very stimulating; suicide risk)

C. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SEDATIVE, HYPNOTIC, AND ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS (TRANQUILIZERS AND SLEEPING AIDS)

Ativan (lorazepam)
Klonopin (clonazepam)
Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
Serax (oxazepam)
Tranxene (chlorazepate)
Valium (diazepam)
Xanax (alprazolam)
Miltown (meprobamate)
BuSpar (buspirone; not addictive)
Benzodiazepine Sleeping Aids
Dalmane (flurazepam)
Doral (quazepam)
Halcion (triazolam)
ProSom (estazolam)
Restoril (temazepam)
Non-Benzodiazepine Sleeping Aids
Ambien (zolpidem)
Intermezzo (zolpidem sublingual tablets),
Lunesta (eszopiclone)
Rozerem (ramelteon; not addictive)
Silenor (doxepin; not addictive, a sedative antidepressant)
Somnote (chloral hydrate)
Sonata (zaleplon)

Breggin (2016). Rational Principles of Psychopharmacology for Therapists, Healthcare Providers and Clients.

D. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS (NEUROLEPTICS)

Abilify (aripiprazole)
Clozaril (clozapine)
Fanapt (iloperidone)
Geodon (ziprasidone)
Invega (paliperidone)
Latuda (lurasidone)
Risperdal (risperidone)
Saphris (asenapine)
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Symbyax (Zyprexa plus Prozac)
Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Haldol (haloperidol)
Trilafon (perphenazine)

E. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH SIMILAR HARMFUL EFFECTS TO ANTIPSYCHOTICS

Compazine (prochlorperazine)
Inapsine (droperidol)
Orap (pimozide)
Phenergan (promethazine; weak neuroleptic effects)
Reglan (metoclopramide)

F. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LITHIUM AND OTHER DRUGS USED AS MOOD STABILIZERS

Depakote (divalproex sodium; antiepileptic drug)
Equetro (extended-release carbamazepine; antiepileptic drug)
Lamictal (lamotrigine; antiepileptic drug)
Lithobid, Lithotabs, Eskalith (lithium)
Catapres (clonidine; antihypertensive drug)
Neurontin (gabapentin; antiepileptic drug)
Tegretol (carbamazepine; antiepileptic drug)
Tenex (guanfacine; antihypertensive drug)
Topamax (topiramate; antiepileptic drug)
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine; antiepileptic drug)