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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Hlar on May 12, 2005, at 18:12:57
Scott,
I can't help but notice from reading previous threads that you seem very knowledgeable about withdrawal. If I'm not being too personal,have you had experience with psychiatric drug withdrawal yourself? Just curious.Hlar
Posted by SLS on May 12, 2005, at 22:12:11
In reply to Question for SLS, posted by Hlar on May 12, 2005, at 18:12:57
> Scott,
> I can't help but notice from reading previous threads that you seem very knowledgeable about withdrawal. If I'm not being too personal,have you had experience with psychiatric drug withdrawal yourself? Just curious.
>
> Hlar
Oh, yes. Brain zaps and all.I have several motivations for posting here. Number one is the hope that I can extrapolate my own successes with discontinuing various antidepressants to the general population in order to ease or prevent suffering. I am not convinced that I can, though. There aren't too many people whom have tried a flexible dosing strategy to discontinue their medication. I can only describe what worked for me. Much of it is simply common sense and a bit of self-experimentation.
I wish more people had the good fortune to stumble upon this site before attempting to discontinue their SRI antidepressant. It is frustrating to read about the suffering of people who have already elected to stop taking their medication abruptly - "cold turkey". It can be terribly destructive.
- Scott
Posted by Hlar on May 13, 2005, at 5:30:38
In reply to Re: Question for SLS, posted by SLS on May 12, 2005, at 22:12:11
Hi Scott,
I think it's really good of you to make an effort to help.
I wish I would have known about this site,or just about withdrawal,especially from SSRI's and minor tranquilizers,about 10 years ago,when I was prescribed my first psychiatric drugs-- Prozac and Xanax to bring me out of my first major depression.(get ready to be frustrated again)They worked,but once I felt I was ready to go off them,I discontinued them "cold" and ended up in the hospital with my first "manic" episode. And a permanent tag of manic-depression,and a merry-go-round of drugs until recently,after seeing an intelligent counselor,who suggested I see a new Pdoc,I began my journey off these drugs...I never knew about withdrawal symptoms,which were always considered new confirmation that I'd "relapsed",etc. and needed yet more drugs.
I could go on and on,and I too,hope one day to save someone else some of the suffering I've been through.
Keep up the good work,
Hlar
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 13, 2005, at 11:15:42
In reply to Question for SLS, posted by Hlar on May 12, 2005, at 18:12:57
I have experienced withdrawal from:
opioids, benzodiazepines, SSRIs, MAOIs, and psychostimulants. Any questions? ;)
The things I put myself through while ill astound me so much that it feels like it was a past life. I'm somewhat ashamed of a lot of it, but if my experience can benefit others, it will not be for naught.
Posted by Hlar on May 13, 2005, at 11:43:33
In reply to Re: Question for SLS » Hlar, posted by Chairman_MAO on May 13, 2005, at 11:15:42
You stated,"while ill".
I tend to forget what I was feeling like at the time I turned to psychiatric drugs. I was suicidal--who knows,I was hooked on Ultram at the time,a major painkiller--but my life was in danger. I was a wreck. I think I would've taken anything a Dr. prescribed to make me better. I was literally in a living hell. So I don't blame myself for taking the drugs,just for being so uninformed later(and then) about side-effects and withdrawals.
Hlar
This is the end of the thread.
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