Withdrawal & Discontinuation: Different Animals?
14 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // July 9th, 2008 // 9:15 am
Earlier this year, the FDA approved Wyeth’s Pristiq antidepressant, a version of its older Effexor pill, which has caused some patients to complain of what is called withdrawal syndrome, a reference to difficulties discontinuing the med. But in a recent interview with PsychCentral, Phil Ninan, a Wyeth medical affairs vp for neuroscience, tries to make a distinction while discussing Pristiq.
Withdrawal symptoms, he maintains, are caused by physiological dependence, and points to alcohol and sleeping pills as examples. By contrast, he says discontinuation doesn’t involve such dependence, but does require the brain to readapt. Both are mentioned in the Effexor labeling, but not for Pristiq. So is he simply parsing and prevaricating? Or is this more than semantics? Either way, patients are simply are trying to get off the med.
PsychCentral: There’s been more talk in recent years about greater concerns about withdrawal syndrome. And so I was wondering what the research has shown what the withdrawal profile on Pristiq looks like compared to other drugs in its class.
Ninan: First of all, I think, one should distinguish what is a withdrawal syndrome from what we would call discontinuation symptoms. Withdrawal is traditionally associated with medicines that one has got physiologically dependent on. And there is a whole set of not only symptoms, but physiological changes that occur that can be potentially dangerous.
You see that with alcohol, you see that with benzodiapams, the anti-anxiety and sleep medications that can cause physiological dependence. And you see that with pain medications, particularly opiates and that class of medications. So, those can be medically problematic and potentially dangerous in some people.
We should distinguish that from discontinuation symptoms, where those medical risks are not present. And these are not medicines that you become physiologically dependent on, but you can get adaptive changes that have occurred, that then the body and the brain needs to readapt to not having those medications onboard.
And you see this with blood pressure medications where if you suddenly stop certain blood pressure medications you can get a rebound increase in blood pressure that is very transient. And you see that with several other medications. You see that if you take Benadryl on a regular basis and you suddenly stop taking the Benadryl, there are rebound symptoms that could occur.
So, what we have here are discontinuation symptoms that have been reported with antidepressant medications that get out of the system very quickly. And most medicines that get out the quickest are more likely to have discontinuation symptoms, because the brain is not having a chance to adapt to not having that medication occupy the receptors in the brain.
And the longer you’re on the medication, the more the adaptation has taken place, and therefore the more likely you are to have the discontinuation symptoms. So, we know that there were medicines that were the biggest culprits in terms of having discontinuation symptoms. Effexor was one. Paxil is the other.
And Prestiq being an active metabolizer effecter and also having a fairly short half-life, we would expect would have the potential to discontinuation symptoms. And that is exactly what we have found in our clinical trials.
So, these discontinuation symptoms can be anything from just physical kinds of symptoms, which would be things like dizziness, headaches, nausea, those kinds of symptoms that are common side effects of these medications to symptoms that might be unique.
So, patients who are coming off Effexor and Paxil have described various words like “brain shivers” and things like that, which we consider to be under a term called paresthesia, which are physical symptoms that you might be having within your body. And you can also have associated anxiety depressive symptoms.
Now unfortunately, the scales that we use to measure these are not very good. Because what we find is that anywhere from 20 to 30 percent of patients who are on placebo are also demonstrating some of these symptoms. And so there’s the high level of noise in the mechanisms that are standard in the field to try and measure these symptoms.
What we find is that what happened in our studies is when we discontinued these medications rapidly, was that a substantial number of people had these discontinuation symptoms. So, when we started tapering the medication, a number of these patients who were having discontinuation symptoms were reduced. But, they were still present.
And so we would recommend clinically that if a patient is planning to stop the medication, they should do it under medical supervision so that they’re being guided about what are the mechanisms that you can use to reduce the discontinuation symptoms, so that they don’t cause excessive distress, and they can be managed medically.”
Here is the complete interview with PsychCentral
Dan
Current Depression Medications: Are Drugs Such As SSRIs More Beneficial Than Deadly For the Patients?
Presently, for the treatment of depression and other what some claim are other types of mental disorders, as some claim certain mental disorders are somewhat questionable, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the drugs of choice by most prescribers today. Such meds, meds that affect the mind are called psychotropic medications. SSRIs also include a few meds in this class with the addition of a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor added to the SSRI, and these are referred to SNRI medications, which combined with SSRIs, are the number 1 top therapeutic class of prescriptions presently. While there are several available SSRIs presently, two SNRIs available are Cymbalta and Effexor. Some consider these classes of meds a next generation mood enhancer after the benzodiazepine hype decades ago, as there are similarities regarding their intake by others, yet the mechanisms of action are clearly different, but not their continued use by others. Furthermore, regarding SNRIs, adding the additional agent of norepinepherine is presumed to increase the effectiveness of SSRIs by some.
Some Definitions:
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter thought to be associated with mood. The hypothesis was first suggested in the mid 1960s that this neurotransmitter may play a role in moods and emotions in humans. Yet to this day, the serotonin correlation with such behavioral and mental conditions is only theoretical. In fact, the psychiatrist’s bible, which is known as the DSM, states that the definite etiology of depression remains a mystery and remains unknown with complete certainty. So a chemical imbalance in the brain is not proven to be the cause of mood disorders, it is only suspected as a result of limited scientific evidence. In fact, diagnosing mental diseases such as depression is based on subjective assessment only, as interpreted by the prescriber, so one could question the accuracy of such diagnoses.
Norepinepherine is a stress hormone, which many believe help those who have such mood disorders as depression. Basically, with the theory that by adding this hormone, the SSRI will be more efficacious for a patient prescribed such a med, as suggested earlier.
And depression is only one of those mood disorders that may exist in certain patients, yet possibly the most devastating one. An accurate diagnosis of these mood conditions lack complete accuracy, as they can only be defined conceptually, so the diagnosis or impression concluded by the patient’s doctor is dependent on subjective criteria, such as questionnaires and patient observation. A social patient history is uncertain and tricky as well, some have said. There is no objective diagnostic testing for depression. Yet the diagnosis of depression in patients has increased quite a bit over the past few decades. Also, few would argue that depression does not exist in other people to the degree that the affected patient believes their mental condition is presently. Yet, one may contemplate, actually how many people are really depressed? What is believed is that if one is disabled or impaired from a mental paradigm, treatment is necessary and appropriate with medication.
In Time magazine’s June 16th 2008 cover story, it was reported that the military personnel in the Iraq war are pounding down SSRIs often. Every time there is a new war, there is a new drug, it seems.
Several decades ago, less than 1 percent of the U.S. population were diagnosed with depression, some have said. Today, it is believed that about 10 percent of the total population in the United States have or have experienced depression at some time in their lives that may vary in severity and longevity. Why this great increase in the growth of this condition remains unknown and is subject to speculation.
What is known is that the psychiatry specialty is the one specialty most paid to by certain pharmaceutical companies for ultimately and eventual support of their psychotropic meds that they currently promote to these doctors, as this aspect of the pharmaceutical industry clearly desires market growth of these products.
Regardless, SSRIs and SRNIs are the preferred treatment methods if depression or other mood disorders are suspected by a health care provider. Yet these meds discussed clearly are not the only treatments, medicinally or otherwise, for depression and other related and suspected disease states.
Over 30 million scripts of these types of meds are written annually, and the franchise is around 20 billion dollars a year now, along with some of the meds costing over 3 dollars per tablet. There are about ten different SSRI/SRNI meds available, many of which are now generic, yet essentially, they appear to be similar in regards to their efficacy and adverse events. The newest one, a SNRI called Pristiq, was approved in 2008, and is believed to be launched as a treatment for menopause. The first one of these SSRI meds was Prozac, which was available in 1988, and the drug was greatly praised for its ability to transform the lives of those who consumed this medication in the years that followed. Some termed Prozac, ‘the happy pill’. In addition, as the years went by and more drugs in this class became available, Prozac was the one of preference for many doctors for children. A favorable book was published specifically regarding this medication soon after it became so popular with others.
Furthermore, these meds have received upon request of their manufacturers additional indications besides depression for some really questionable conditions, such as social phobia and premenstrual syndrome. With the latter, I find it hard to believe that a natural female experience can be considered a treatable disease. Social phobia is a personality trait, in my opinion, which has been called shyness or perhaps a term coined by Dr. Carl Jung, which is introversion, so this probably should not be labeled a treatable disease as well. There are other indications for certain behavioral manifestations as well with the different SSRIs or SRNIs. So the market continues to grow with these meds. Yet, it is believed that these meds are effective in only about half of those who take them, so they are not going to be beneficial for those suspected of having certain medical illnesses treated by such meds. The makers of such meds seemed to have created such conditions besides depression for additional utilization of these types of medications, which is a process known as disease mongering. Drug companies that make these medications are active and have been active in forming mutual relationships with related disease- specific support groups, such as providing financial support for screenings for the indicated conditions of their meds- which includes the screening of children and adolescents in particular, I understand. As a layperson, I consider such activities dangerous and inappropriate for several reasons.
Danger and concerns by others with these psychotropics primarily involves the adverse effects associated with these types of meds, which include suicidal thoughts and actions, violence, including acts of homicide, and aggression, among others, and the makers of such drugs are suspected to have known about these effects and did not share them with the public in a timely and critical manner. While most SSRIs and SNRIs are approved for use in adults only, prescribing these meds to children and adolescents has drawn the most attention and debate with others, such as those in the medical profession as well as citizen watchdog groups. The reasons for this attention are due to the potential off-label use of these meds in this population, yet what may be most shocking is the fact that some of the makers of these meds did not release clinical study information about the risks of suicide as well as the other adverse events related to such populations, including the decreased efficacy of SSRIs in general, which is believed to be less than 10 percent more effective than a placebo. Paxil caught the attention of the government regarding this issue of data suppression some time ago, this hiding such important information- Elliot Spitzer specifically was the catalyst for this awareness, as I recall. Furthermore, that drug is in the spotlight once again years later. Some believe the drug maker knew about possible risk to the youth as early as 1991.
And there are very serious questions about the use of SSRIs in children and adolescents regarding the possible damaging effects of these meds on them. For example, do the SSRIs correct or create brain states considered not within normal limits, which in effect could cause harm rather than benefit? Are adolescents really depressed, or just experiencing what was once considered normal teenage angst? Do SSRIs have an effect on the brain development and their identity of such young people? Do adolescents in particular become dangerous or bizarre due to SSRIs interfering with the myelination occurring within their still developing brains? No one seems to know the correct answer to such questions, yet the danger associated with the use of SSRIs does in fact exist. It is observed in some who take such meds, but not all who take these meds. Yet health care providers possibly should be much more aware of these possibilities, possibly, along with the black box warning now on SSRI prescribing information for the youth that has existed since 1994.
Finally, if SSRIs or SNRIs are discontinued by a patient without medical supervision, withdrawals are believed to be quite brutal, and may be a catalyst for suicide in itself, as not only are these meds habit forming, but discontinuing these meds abruptly, I understand, leaves the brain in a state of neurochemical instability, as the neurons are recalibrating upon discontinuation of the SSRI or SNRI that altered the brain of the consumer of this type of med. This occurs to some degree with any psychotropic med, yet the withdrawals can reach a state of danger for the victim in some classes of meds such as SSRIs and SNRIs, it is believed.
SSRIs and SRNIs have been claimed by doctors and patients to be extremely beneficial for the patient’s well -being regarding the patient’s mental issues where these types of meds are used, yet the risk factors associated with this class of medications may outweigh any perceived benefit for the patient taking such a drug. Before these medications mentioned were developed, doctors praised trycyclics, another class of anti-depressants, in a similar manner some time ago. Considering the lack of efficacy that has been demonstrated objectively with the newer psychotropics, along with the deadly adverse events with these SSRI and SSNI meds only recently brought to the attention of others, other treatment options should probably be considered, but that is up to the discretion of the prescriber.
It is my hope that such a prescriber rules out possible other etiologies for their patients’ mental conditions before they conclude that such a patient is suffering from true mental illness requiring the medications mentioned earlier, such as asking their patients about life stressors and other medications these patients have taken in the past, for example. Because at times, a doctor can in fact do harm without intent.
“I use to care, but now I take a pill for that.” — Author unknown
Dan Abshear
Author’s note: What has been written is based upon information and belief
truthman30
“Discontinuation” is Marketing language , it has nothing to do with informing patients about the effects of coming off or stopping an Anti-depressant. It’s a softer way to say “Withdrawal”, withdrawal implies addiction and “addiction” is related to “dependence”. The pharmaceutical industry invented the phrase to disguise this.
The term “side effect” itself is a euphemism for “direct effects” which the drug has on the patient..
There are no real “side effects” , all the effects of a drug ingested are in fact “Direct effects” of the drug.
The phrase “Side effect” downplays the impact of the direct effects and it also implies that these effects are insignificant, which couldn’t be further than the truth, as has been proven with the SSRI drugs …
Laurie
“And so we would recommend clinically that if a patient is planning to stop the medication, they should do it under medical supervision so that they’re being guided about what are the mechanisms that you can use to reduce the discontinuation symptoms, so that they don’t cause excessive distress, and they can be managed medically.”
Yet doctors continue to deny “discontinuation” and encourage a weaning schedule that is much to fast for most long term users of ssri/snri drugs AND tell patients is “fine to just stop taking it”.
This interview makes “discontinuation” sound like a few days of not feeling well, when in reality it can be months of devastation.
DV Jr
This isn’t just semantics. There is a fundamental difference between withdrawal symptoms, which are associated with controlled substances that have addictive properties, & discontinuation symptoms associated with psychoactive drugs like these.
That said, these discontinuation symptoms can be very hard to deal with & treat. Withdrawal is better understood & tends to follow a predictable pattern. The industry & some physicians need to take these discontinuation symptoms more seriously than they apparently do.
truthman
“This isn’t just semantics. There is a fundamental difference between withdrawal symptoms, which are associated with controlled substances that have addictive properties, & discontinuation symptoms associated with psychoactive drugs like these”
DV Jr..
Have you ever been on an SSRI drug like Paxil?
Have you ever experienced the “discontinuation” - “withdrawal” effects of missing a dose of these drugs?
Have you ever witnessed a friend or family member go through hell trying to taper of an SSRI?
If not, then I suggest you watch these videos ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnBaXAKwghg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsZ_tuH4VDQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfQUTHrWnRk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99RWfNVJKlo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CZQg3qw_x8
The fact of the matter is, the “medical language” used to describe the “side effects” and “withdrawal” from psychiatric drugs has long been known to be deceptive and misleading..
The phrase “Discontinuation syndrome” was created by the pharmaceutical industry, this is a well known fact..
We can all play with words and definitions until we find an appropriate description in order to suit our agenda…
http://books.google.com/books?id=7Zim_CSAINcC&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=discontinuation+syndrome+invented&source=web&ots=d2XTA1KKw-&sig=6Y5gpR05_NTbquzCSpvx9Xe0D68&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result
Unfortunately, the lines between definitions become blurred when applied to SSRI drugs…
The term “withdrawal” is now commonly used by psychiatrists and the drug companies themselves in regards to the effects of coming off SSRI drugs..
If this was not accurate and it was “discontinuation” which occurred and not “withdrawal” , then why would they change it to the correct terminology? And more importantly , why did it take them so long to use the correct terminology?..
Quick answer? .. Profits…
They created “discontinuation” syndrome because the word “withdrawal” would have scared doctors and patients away from the drug..
You say “There is a fundamental difference between withdrawal symptoms, which are associated with controlled substances that have addictive properties, & discontinuation symptoms associated with psychoactive drugs like these.”
What is the fundamental difference? ..
I can honestly say that, the first time I tried to get off Paxi, I felt like a a Crazed Crack Addict…
The withdrawal effects were so severe that I forced a friend of mine to drive me to the doctor to get a prescription, I was agitated, upset and felt like my brain was being squeezed through a pin hole. My body was beginning to spasm, sweat and shake as the withdrawals were kicking in, and this just after 2 says without Paxil. My friend still talks about it to this day, even though it was over 6 years ago, he said I was like a mad “junkie” , those were his words..
Are these not drug seeking behaviors? ..
Yes,of course they are, the only difference between controlled “street” drugs and addictive psychoactive SSRI drugs is one is legal and dispensed by a pharmacy and the other is gained illegally through a criminalized dealer…
When an individual becomes physically and psychologically dependent on any chemical substance in order to function, then that is an ADDICTION..
And even though the individual may become aware that the substance is harming them but continues to take it due to either psychological , physical dependence or both, then that is ADDICTION..
And when that Substance is removed and it affects the individual in a detrimentally physical and psychological way then that amounts to WITHDRAWAL…
And when that individual cannot bear the pain of that WITHDRAWAL because of the effects of the drug leaving the physical body then that means the body has become ADDICTED and DEPENDENT on the substance..
SSRI drugs exhibit all the characteristics of “controlled drugs” such as Crystal Meth , Heroin and Cocaine ..
On the subject of craving, many have said that SSRI drugs to not cause this, yet, many people cannot come off due to the psychological addiction and the physical torture of withdrawal…
People do seek out the drug in order to stop withdrawal effects..
This is clearly “drug seeking behavior” and this is clearly an example of DEPENDENCE and ADDICTION
Just like nicotine or any other highly addictive drug, the SSRI drugs cause a physical dependence, the “Craving” attributed to SSRI’s is much more subtle and deceptive because the warnings are played down.. Everybody knows nicotine and alcohol are poisonous substances which can cause addiction and dependence, but not everyone is warned about the the dangers of SSRI drugs..
What is the difference between an SSRI “addict” kicking and screaming in withdrawal for the relief of their “medication” crutch and an irritated and angry smoker trying to quit cigarettes , the only differences are ones of substance and context…
The part of SSRI/Psych med addiction is that the patient is usually in a very vulnerable position prior to becoming addicted and dependent, and the patient is usually totally unaware of the dangers, so in essence many become unwilling ,misinformed addicts to drugs which they cannot come off. Drugs which are destroying their lives, their minds and their bodies, drugs which are marketed as “treatments”. Ask anyone who is or has been on an SSRI drug a long time, and you will get the same answer… “If I had of known , I would not have chosen to take this drug”..
The SSRI addiction and dependence epidemic is worse than any “illegal” Narcotic epidemic in a number of ways..
Firstly, it is largely ignored by GP’s , psychiatrists and the pharmaceutical industry because it opens up a can of worms which holds them all liable and accountable for mass fraud and damage on an unprecedented human scale.. and secondly those prescribed it are and were “Unwilling” addicts to begin with.. They were not granted with “informed choice” .. This is a terrible tragedy which shakes the very foundation of the hippocratic oath which is “first do no harm”…
Most addicts of street drugs begin taking cocaine, speed and heroin etc in order to escape, to get “high” or to “numb” the pain of their existence..
SSRI’s are prescribed to “boost” or “lift” people out of “depression”, or to “numb” them emotionally ..
So the context is similar..
Only the legality is different..
SSRI’s do give a high and that high can cost people their lives and Just like street drugs the “come down” can be hell..
Paxil is in fact, closer to a Narcotic than most peeople realize, and it could be argued that the whole class of drugs are just as dangerous..
http://truthman30.wordpress.com/category/the-seroxat-links-seroxat-story/seroxat-link-1-hypnotic-narcotic/
Frank (BSc, PhD)
I do think that the term “readapt” is a loose definition that, one might assume, is an attempt to force a distinction between withdrawal and discontinuation. Nicotine is, without doubt, an addictive drug and upon discontinuation the body must “readapt” by up or down-regulating various neurotransmitters and/or their receptors. How then do we define whether smoking causes withdrawal symptoms or discontinuation syndrome?I think this is purely semantics. More effort should be spent by Pharma companies on full disclosure of side effects and less on rewriting the medical dictionary in an effort to be more marketing friendly.
Ruth
“The industry & some physicians need to take these discontinuation symptoms more seriously than they apparently do.” You are so right, DV Jr. The other end of these often tragic stories is the start-up period of numerous drugs, including SSRIs. Many families I know lost their children to hanging, or their spouses to self-inflicted shooting right near the beginning of taking the drug. My daughter was suicidal for months on Lamictal, and I see that the FDA is about to require black box warnings for 11 new drugs, including all the anti-convulsants.
Seldom if ever do doctors bring up these highly dangerous effects, let along warn a family to watch carefully at the onset of a drug and provide a realistic, if hard, tapering program getting off a drug. As for Pharma talking about this, tell me when?
anonymous
Arguments over whether patients are going through “withdrawl symptoms” or “discontinuance symptoms” are another snow job by PhARMA to distract from the human suffering and tragedy that occurs when one stops ingesting a chemical substance that affects the brain.
By calling patient suffering “discontinuation symptoms” rather than “withdrawl symptoms,” Ninan is trying to create a distinction without a difference the better to keep people from realizing that on patent pharmaceutical cash cows pose risks and problems that can be as great or greater than alcohol, nicotine and street drugs.
Time and time again, PhARMA shows by word and deed that the only two thing that matter to them are 1) profits and 2) sidestepping liability for the physical and emotional suffering (including death) which others endure because of inadequately tested and often illegally marketed drugs.
Reading Phil Ninan’s soliloquy reminded me of something my mother taught me as a child; she said truth only needs a simple explanation while a lie needs an elaborate one. The only side effects that really concern Phil Ninan and his ilk are the ones that affect their salaries, bonuses and perks.
truthman30
“Arguments over whether patients are going through “withdrawl symptoms” or “discontinuance symptoms” are another snow job by PhARMA to distract from the human suffering and tragedy that occurs when one stops ingesting a chemical substance that affects the brain”
I couldn’t agree more anonymous..
There is no argument, these drugs cause withdrawal, in some cases the withdrawal can be severe to the point of disabling the persons ability to function..
truthman30
Oh and one last thing , Most drugs are psychoactive , If SSRI’s are considered psychoactive, then they are in the same company as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin..
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/psychoactive-drugs/#1
DV Jr
truthman,
A close reading of my post would have revealed the sentiment that discontinuation symptoms are simply a different animal from withdrawal–and may actually be worse for some people. As I said, “Withdrawal is better understood & tends to follow a predictable pattern.” When doctors are tapering a patient off OxyContin, for instance, they have a pretty good idea of how the patient’s body will react, because narcotics are the oldest drugs around. There are well established procedures for how this should be done & what to expect.
With SSRIs, I’m afraid that doctors don’t have this same level of understanding. Reactions seem to vary from patient to patient & we don’t have decades of experience to refer to. This is the distinction I was making. And I don’t feel like anyone’s interests are well served by conflating a syndrome that’s well understood, like withdrawal, with one that’s clearly not, like whatever you want to call this. If anything, this leads to a false sense of security that the medical community has a handle on something that it apparently doesn’t.
truthman30
“With SSRIs, I’m afraid that doctors don’t have this same level of understanding. Reactions seem to vary from patient to patient & we don’t have decades of experience to refer to. This is the distinction I was making. And I don’t feel like anyone’s interests are well served by conflating a syndrome that’s well understood, like withdrawal, with one that’s clearly not, like whatever you want to call this. If anything, this leads to a false sense of security that the medical community has a handle on something that it apparently doesn’t.”
My apologies , the sentiment wasn’t very clear when I first read what you had written ..
But, I would be interested to know your opinion on “discontinuation” and “withdrawal” , in my view “discontinuation” is a soft euphemism which pharma created to play down the seriousness of “withdrawal” from SSRI’s?.. What is your take on this?
Also, surely if pharma had been honest when these drugs were first licensed and admitted the “withdrawal” syndrome as opposed to disguising it with different wording such as “discontinuation” then doctors would have been aware of what to expect when their patients were coming off these meds? ..
It is obvious to me that if Pharma had admitted the dangers of these meds from the beginning they would not have sold so well, and in the case of Paxil I would even go as far as to say, it would never have been licensed by the drug regulatory boards..
The sad side of this is, while the medical community gets caught up in distinguishing “withdrawal” from “discontinuation” , “recurring depression” from “withdrawal” symptoms and symptoms of the “condition” from “side effects of the drugs many people are being harmed in the process…
The pharmaceutical industry seems to forget that when SSRI drugs are prescribed , the effects are being experienced by people, and the effects are impacting on these peoples lives..
It’s very easy to get caught up in statistics , medical terminology and words, but behind these words are people experiencing them…
Apart from “withdrawal”-”discontinuation” there are many other effects of SSRI drugs which can cause extreme distress, pain, confusion and dire consequences for the individuals prescribed them..
These effects are also disguised in confusing terminology ..
Akathisia is one such common effect of SSRI drugs, I have experienced it myself, it is a state of extreme inner restlessness, confusion and irritability. Depersonalization is another , the manifestation of this effect is extremely dehumanizing, it leaves the patient in a state of identity and personality crisis. De-realization is another. These experiences are in many ways subhuman, yet they are very common with SSRI drugs. Surely when weighing up the benefits of prescribing an SSRI to an already fragile, hurt, vulnerable and confused patient , doctors should be aware and warn patients that these drugs will have these effects..
Of course the industry covers itself by including them now on Patient information leaflets, but how many doctors, let alone patients fully understand the meaning and signs of manifestation of these effects? ..
Medicine should never be about attacking an “illness” with a chemical whilst forgetting about the impact of that chemical on the patients whole and complete being …
Soma
When doctors are tapering a patient off OxyContin, for instance, they have a pretty good idea of how the patient’s body will react, because narcotics are the oldest drugs around.
sandy
I have been in withdrawal now for a few years firt from celexa and then effexor was taking them at the same time for years.
While withdrawal may be predictable from other drugs it is not predictable quitting these drugs. The after affects of quitting whatever you want to call it are completely unpredictable follow no set timetable or rules. That is what is so hellish about it recovery can seem to be taking place for wks or months then bam you are right back to the beginning it just keeps repeating. I am told by others that 2-3 years to recover is a fair estimate. Since I am only at one year all I can say is I am not done yet. I hope for a full recovery from not only withdrawal but all the negative effects the drug did to my body over the last several years.
I would like to see less energy covering butts and more directed to releive patient sufferring. I can dream can’t I.