Posted by bhodges on May 16, 2005, at 14:58:50
Hi – doing my once a year post to update the board on RemedyFind.
A little background. Remedyfind is a free and unbiased site (not sponsored by any drug companies etc.) that lets individuals rate the effectiveness of the treatments they have used for specific health conditions. I started it 3 years ago to try to find help with treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, social anxiety and depression (which I’ve had for some 20 years.) After doing the CFS section I realized the same approach could also work for other chronic health conditions, and so the site has now grown to cover some 45 conditions and has some 80,000 members and newsletter subscribers.
After a number of requests I’ve just this week added a section for withdrawal and switching strategies for antidepressants (I plan to add similar sections for other med classes like benzodiazipines etc.). I am still in the progress of adding more withdrawal strategies etc., but I believe I have the basics for Effexor, Paxil etc. withdrawal (though I would love to get any other suggestions.) All of the treatment options can be seen by clicking the “All Remedies” heading. Here is the page for
Drug Dependency / Withdrawal: Antidepressants -
http://www.remedyfind.com/hc-DW-Antidepressants.asp
I want to make it clear that I am not in any way against antidepressants. In fact I’ve been on them myself for about 12 years (Effexor mostly). When the right AD and dosage are found, I think they are one of the true revolutions in modern medicine. But I did feel like I had to add this section after seeing literally hundreds of ratings on the use of antidepressants for anxiety and mood disorders which mentioned horrible side effects when trying to withdraw or change medications. It just seems appalling to me that there isn’t some guide to help us as we withdraw from or change AD’s. I’ve tried to create listings for various withdrawal strategies – both conservative and aggressive – as well as listings for changing from one AD to another. Suggestions on things I’ve missed are most welcome.Obviously everyone is different, and what works for one person who is withdrawing from an AD won’t necessarily work for another, but my hope is that certain trends might show themselves over time, and after hundreds or thousands of patient ratings. In the future we will be adding features that allow users to view ratings according to specific diagnoses and subtypes, as well as according to gender, age etc.. In the meantime, members say that it is simply helpful to hear other parent / patient accounts of what has, or hasn’t, worked for them.
We’d be honored by any withdrawal strategies you care to share – good, bad or ugly! As the section is brand new I’m just trying to get word out to as many individuals / groups as possible. The site is free and members can be as anonymous as they would like - you choose your own member name and your contact information is not shared with anyone.
All the best,
Brett Hodges
Founder / Editor
poster:bhodges
thread:498551
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050424/msgs/498551.html