Deprescribing

"All psychiatric drug classes are recognized to cause withdrawal effects when stopped that may be misinterpreted as relapse of the initial condition necessitating treatment. Patients commonly report that their withdrawal symptoms are misdiagnosed as relapse of the condition for which the drug was originally prescribed, or as a new-onset mental health disorder."~ Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids, and Z drugs by Mark Horowitz and David Taylor Dear 

Up to 50% of people who reduce their psychiatric medications will experience withdrawal effects. 

Some people are able to safely reduce and stop medications without any issue.

However, the recommendation is for everyone is to do a slow, gradual, and medically supervised taper. 

What exactly are withdrawal effects? 

They are physiological and psychological symptoms that occur upon reducing or stopping psychiatric medications. 

Our bodies and brains adapt to the presence and use of psychiatric drugs. 

Even though most people are misinformed that these powerful drugs "will change your brain chemistry" but they are "not addictive". 

That's far from the truth. 

For withdrawal symptoms to occur you need only physical dependence which occurs with long term use. 

This is different than "addiction"...

Which has the component of compulsion, craving, impulsivity, secrecy, shame etc. 

As suppose to a physical dependence that develops due to the use prescribed drugs for long periods of time. 

Withdrawal symptoms are evidence of physical dependency. 

Below I've listed some of the most common withdrawal symptoms. 

There are a plethora...and some can be severe and alarming! 

- dizziness

anxiety

- impaired concentration 

- headache 

- irritability 

- insomnia 

- low mood 

-suicidal ideation

- fatigue 

- brain zaps (sensation you're being given voltage of electricity in the brain) 

- depersonalization/derealization (a sense of dissociation/disconnection from reality) 

- delirium 

- hallucinations 

This is by no means all inclusive list. 

And you may experience something on this list or something very different.  

Hence it is highly recommended you do not suddenly stop or heavily reduce psychiatric medications. 

Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild such as a caffeine withdrawal to fatal and life threatening in the case of benzo withdrawal for example. 

What has been your experience with the use of psychiatric medications? 

Have you ever attempted a taper? How did it go? 

In my next email I will go further in to why a someone might want to consider tapering. 

Unfortunately, deprescribing is something that is not done often or well in psychiatry.

People are left on a toxic concoctions of drugs for months, years, and decades. 

This often results with serious health consequences such as metabolic syndrome, memory/concentration issues, and permanent damages.(ie: brain tissue loss, and PSSD - post ssri sexual dysfunction) 

"Mental health professionals should care if their patients have metabolic syndrome. Ignoring it is like ignoring a bacterial infection in a patient with a fever and simply recommending Tylenol to reduce the fever."

Dr. Chris Palmer on X 

Doctors know how to prescribe cocktails of drugs to clients but do not know how to safely taper them. 

And what is the long term outcome of staying on psychiatric medications?  

Why might it be a good idea to get a regular medication review and discuss tapering with your prescriber? 

I will discuss these further next week.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. 

Please hit reply and share. As well forward this information to those who would benefit.  

Until next time, we continue in earnest solidarity!

Warm Regards,

Neseret Bemient, BScN

Holistic Mental Health Advocate

PS: If you are ready to stop struggling and start living the life you want starting today, you can click on the link below and schedule 

a 30 minute discovery/consultation session 

to see if we're a good fit to partner. 

I only have a limited number of spots for this month. I would love to support you 

take charge of your mental health and witness your transformation. 

https://calendly.com/returntowholenessnow/30min

BIG DREAMS

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~