Member-only story

How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications

Vincent Mitchell

·8.7k Followers· Follow

Published in Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How And Why To Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications

4 min read · 3 weeks before

100 View Claps

11 Respond

Save

Listen

Psychiatric medications are often prescribed to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disFree Download. While these medications can be helpful in the short term, they can also have serious side effects, including:

Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications

by Terry Huff

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1066 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	337 pages

Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness and drowsiness
Weight gain
Sexual dysfunction
Cognitive impairment
Increased risk of suicide

In addition to these side effects, psychiatric medications can also be addictive. When you stop taking them suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as:

Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression and suicidal thoughts
Insomnia and nightmares
Muscle aches and pains
Flu-like symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and debilitating, and they can last for weeks or even months. In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening.

If you are considering stopping taking psychiatric medications, it is important to do so safely and under the supervision of a doctor. Your doctor can help you develop a plan to gradually reduce your dosage and minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Why Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications?

There are many reasons why people may choose to stop taking psychiatric medications. Some people find that the side effects of these medications are too severe or debilitating. Others may find that the medications are not effective in treating their symptoms.

Still others may decide to stop taking psychiatric medications because they are concerned about the long-term health risks associated with these medications. For example, some studies have linked psychiatric medications to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and dementia.

How to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications Safely

In general, it is best to taper off psychiatric medications slowly over a period of several weeks or months. This will help to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

During this time, it is important to monitor your symptoms closely and report any changes to your doctor. If you experience any severe withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage or prescribe other medications to help you manage these symptoms.

Alternatives to Psychiatric Medications

There are a number of alternative treatments available for mental health conditions. These alternatives may be more effective and have fewer side effects than psychiatric medications.

Some of the most effective alternative treatments for mental health conditions include:

Therapy
Exercise
Diet
Supplements

If you are interested in trying alternative treatments for your mental health condition, talk to your doctor. They can help you develop a treatment plan that is right for you.

Psychiatric medications can be helpful in the short term, but they can also have serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms. If you are considering stopping taking psychiatric medications, it is important to do so safely and under the supervision of a doctor.

There are a number of alternative treatments available for mental health conditions. These alternatives may be more effective and have fewer side effects than psychiatric medications. Talk to your doctor to learn more about these alternatives.

Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications

by Terry Huff

4.3 out of 5