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Your Drug May Be Your Problem, Revised Edition: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications
Psychiatric drugs are prescribed to more than 20 million Americans. This book aims to convince us to stop taking these drugs, and to show us how to do it safely. The authors contend that after 15 minutes with a physician or psychiatrist, Americans are prescribed medications that we may take for years or a lifetime, which can do more harm than good. We're irritable, anxious, emotionally numbed, physically fatigued, and mentally dulled. Yet when we stop taking the drugs, we encounter a whole new set of problems and setbacks. The book lists the adverse medical reactions you may encounter, plus additional personal, psychological, and philosophical reasons for limiting or rejecting psychiatric drugs. About half the book covers withdrawing from your drug--how to do it carefully and slowly, what to expect, and how to get help--with specifics for certain drugs and a chapter on easing your child off them as well.If you suffer from depression or another condition that warrants taking prescription drugs, you might refute the authors' contention that "the degree to which we suffer indicates the degree to which we are alive. When we take drugs to ease our suffering, we stifle our psychological and spiritual life." Certainly it would be lovely if we could "find a way to untangle that twisted energy and to redirect it more creatively," but is this really possible in all cases? The authors blame our dependence on drugs and psychiatry on big pharmaceutical-company bucks, psychiatric organizations, and even government agencies. Certainly we are an overmedicated society--but is the answer to take everyone off drugs? This provocative book says yes, and it's bound to be controversial.Of course, do not go off any prescribed medication without working closely with the medical professional who prescribed it, and do not use this book as a substitute for professional help. --Joan Price
Paperback
First published July 31, 1998
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About the author
Peter R. Breggin
31 books113 followersPeter R. Breggin MD is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and former Consultant at NIMH who has been called “The Conscience of Psychiatry” for his many decades of successful efforts to reform the mental health field.
His work provides the foundation for modern criticism of psychiatric diagnoses and drugs, and leads the way in promoting more caring and effective therapies.
His research and educational projects have brought about major changes in the FDA-approved Full Prescribing Information or labels for dozens of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.
Dr. Breggin has authored dozens of scientific articles and more than twenty books, including medical books and the bestsellers Toxic Psychiatry and Talking Back to Prozac.
His work provides the foundation for modern criticism of psychiatric diagnoses and drugs, and leads the way in promoting more caring and effective therapies.
His research and educational projects have brought about major changes in the FDA-approved Full Prescribing Information or labels for dozens of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.
Dr. Breggin has authored dozens of scientific articles and more than twenty books, including medical books and the bestsellers Toxic Psychiatry and Talking Back to Prozac.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 6, 2012
As a therapist, I found this inspiring with some good practical advice on how to protect myself when treating clients without encouraging meds. In this litigious society it is important to know what safeguards to have in place to prevent malpractice suits.
As a person who has been on anti-depressants for 30 years, this book was a wake-up call. I have always known there were side-effects from withdrawing because I've attempted myself many times. Cold turkey was a disaster. Tapering off wasn't successful either. The author suggests one month for every year you've taken drugs. That means it will take me close to THREE YEARS to wean off them. It angers me how easily and readily doctors prescribe pills. It doesn't matter if you meet the definitions of clinically depressed or not....you tell your doctor you've been sad for a few days and most will write a Rx putting you on a medication that is difficult to get off of and has serious side effects. Not to mention that anti-depressants are only a smidge more effective than placebos. Why don't we hear about those studies?
I'm also reading books by Aldo Pucci. His view that depression is not a disease but a problem with our thinking would have pissed me off 10 years ago. I was clinically major depressed and I would have taken his views as minimizing my symptoms or worse, putting me at fault. After fighting this battle for 30 years as both a patient and a clinician, I can honestly say I agree with him. The drug companies sure won't promote this way of thinking. Neither will psychiatrists who have gotten out of the business of psychotherapy and completely immersed themselves in drug therapy. It is much more lucrative to see a patient for 10 minutes and write a Rx than to deal with them for an hour each week.
As a person who has been on anti-depressants for 30 years, this book was a wake-up call. I have always known there were side-effects from withdrawing because I've attempted myself many times. Cold turkey was a disaster. Tapering off wasn't successful either. The author suggests one month for every year you've taken drugs. That means it will take me close to THREE YEARS to wean off them. It angers me how easily and readily doctors prescribe pills. It doesn't matter if you meet the definitions of clinically depressed or not....you tell your doctor you've been sad for a few days and most will write a Rx putting you on a medication that is difficult to get off of and has serious side effects. Not to mention that anti-depressants are only a smidge more effective than placebos. Why don't we hear about those studies?
I'm also reading books by Aldo Pucci. His view that depression is not a disease but a problem with our thinking would have pissed me off 10 years ago. I was clinically major depressed and I would have taken his views as minimizing my symptoms or worse, putting me at fault. After fighting this battle for 30 years as both a patient and a clinician, I can honestly say I agree with him. The drug companies sure won't promote this way of thinking. Neither will psychiatrists who have gotten out of the business of psychotherapy and completely immersed themselves in drug therapy. It is much more lucrative to see a patient for 10 minutes and write a Rx than to deal with them for an hour each week.
January 5, 2015
A family member was dealing with doctors suggesting she would have to take meds for the rest of her life - after suffering a psychotic couple of weeks and being diagnosed with bipolar. I read this book and felt - Finally, some doctors saying what I'd been thinking. Prior to reading this, the machine of psychiatry and pharmaceuticals had me doubting my reasoning and instincts, and trusting their integrity. This book changed our plan from allowing the drs. to make all the decisions, to making our own informed decisions. Thank you to the authors. I am happy to report that my family member was able to taper off the meds within 6 months, with guidance from the psychiatrist - and this book! And that it has now been 2yrs without a return of psychosis or need for meds. Proper sleep, diet, talk-therapy on occasion, and self awareness are enough to keep her healthy. I am not saying "no meds" works for everyone, but I certainly believe they are over prescribed.
September 9, 2015
What I needed.
I am starting my withdrawal from Klonopin, Cymbalta, and Trazadone. This book brings to light how irresponsible the psychiatric community is. They deal the meds and then it's our problem to get off of them as we suffer. Absolutely ridiculous! I cannot believe this is legal.
I am starting my withdrawal from Klonopin, Cymbalta, and Trazadone. This book brings to light how irresponsible the psychiatric community is. They deal the meds and then it's our problem to get off of them as we suffer. Absolutely ridiculous! I cannot believe this is legal.
May 22, 2008
This book was my bible of WHY to stay off the meds being thrown at me. It took other books to help me know HOW long term.
April 7, 2021
While I will never be anti-medication, my personal experience with psychiatric drugs and therapists is what drew me into this book, and I unfortunately tend to agree with a lot of what’s written here. Drugs (and strong ones at that) are given to patients after a 5 minute conversation in which you may be having “low energy” or seasonal depression, and doctors are quick to tell patients that they will need to stay on these drugs for the rest of their lives... or else.
When one medication doesn’t work, let’s try five more and see if you feel “better.” By this point, it’s all a guessing game and you and the doctor are running in circles.
Patients blindly accept, but are never educated on the withdrawal effects of these drugs. Doctors will write you a prescription in less than a minute, but they won’t help you to withdraw. Instead, they say you need them for life. Brain-altering medications—for life—to help with a few months of seasonal depression.
This book is not in any way unbiased, so if you’re looking for an unbiased (or even modern) approach to medication, don’t waste your time.
I was able to read this book because it mirrored my own experience.
I will never consider myself anti-medication in any way.
If you are considering going on or coming off medication, this book could be a great tool to help you to understand how that may look for you.
When one medication doesn’t work, let’s try five more and see if you feel “better.” By this point, it’s all a guessing game and you and the doctor are running in circles.
Patients blindly accept, but are never educated on the withdrawal effects of these drugs. Doctors will write you a prescription in less than a minute, but they won’t help you to withdraw. Instead, they say you need them for life. Brain-altering medications—for life—to help with a few months of seasonal depression.
This book is not in any way unbiased, so if you’re looking for an unbiased (or even modern) approach to medication, don’t waste your time.
I was able to read this book because it mirrored my own experience.
I will never consider myself anti-medication in any way.
If you are considering going on or coming off medication, this book could be a great tool to help you to understand how that may look for you.
October 15, 2016
Recommended for anyone on psychiatric meds, considering going on meds, coming off meds, wondering about meds, who has a family member on these drugs, who is curious about "modern" psychiatry, is living with a psychiatric diagnosis... Highly recommended all around.
February 3, 2014
First of all, who should read this book? All pastors and any Christian in spiritual leadership at your church should read this book for sure. I also recommend it to any Christian who has fallen for the propaganda of they psychiatric drug proponents and/or for Christians who are already against, or at least skeptical about the use of psychiatric drugs period.
Second, why should anyone read this book? For believers, I believe many of us have been duped into the idea that there are certain spiritual/emotional problems that God's Word is sufficient for but there are other spiritual/emotional problems which must be handled by "the professionals." It is evident from this book, that even unbelievers recognize the dangers and drawbacks to taking psychiatric drugs for things such as "ADHD" "Anxiety" and "depression."
Third, overall impression of the book: Like I hit on already, this book was written by to doctors, clearly unbelievers. The wealth of evidence in studies pointing to the adverse withdrawal reactions and dependency induced affects of psychiatric drugs is overwhelming. Instead of helping patients, most of the time, psychiatric drugs only succeed in dumbing down or numbing the brain so that the person becomes zombie like. Drugs like Ritalin and Zoloft are talked about and discussed much throughout the book. Antidepressants are hit on hard, especially the multiple instances where they induce greater feelings of insomnia and suicide, instead of actually helping. Most psychaiatrists are ignorant and uninformed about the adverse affects of taking psychiatric drugs long-term, and merely go by what the drug companies tell them. The drug company reviews are often inflated to sound better than the drug really is. Most FDA psychiatric drug studies only last between 4-6 weeks, but many people have been prescribed these various psychiatric drugs for years.
Fourth, a complete absence of God: While I appreciated these authors pointing people away from drugs for their problems of anxiety, depression and behavioral issues in children, instead of pointing to faith in Jesus Christ, and help/guidance from God's Word, the Bible, they direct their readers to have faith in themselves and in their therapist. While they come down hard negatively on psychiatrists, they exalt the work of psychotherapists. I guess this is better than seeking drugs, but therapists can still refer patients to psychiatrists for drugs, which often happens due to fear of lawsuits. There was not one issue addressed in this book which God does not have something to say about in His Word. For the believer, it is clear from Scripture that "all Scripture is profitable for teaching, for correction and instruction in righteousness." God alone is able to comfort us in all our anxieties, fears and worries. We are not told in vain to "not be anxious for anything" in Philippians 4 and that "the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Our nation and the church is being psychologized and psychaitrized to death, and more believers ought to equip themselves by reading such books as this to gain medical credibility in addition to the Word of God (not as a replacement, of course). Where many people won't accept what you have to share with them from the Bible about not seeking drug help, they may listen if you have "scientific, medical proof" for the failed uses of psychiatric drugs.
So, a very technical, deep read, kinda dry at times, but overall very helpful.
Second, why should anyone read this book? For believers, I believe many of us have been duped into the idea that there are certain spiritual/emotional problems that God's Word is sufficient for but there are other spiritual/emotional problems which must be handled by "the professionals." It is evident from this book, that even unbelievers recognize the dangers and drawbacks to taking psychiatric drugs for things such as "ADHD" "Anxiety" and "depression."
Third, overall impression of the book: Like I hit on already, this book was written by to doctors, clearly unbelievers. The wealth of evidence in studies pointing to the adverse withdrawal reactions and dependency induced affects of psychiatric drugs is overwhelming. Instead of helping patients, most of the time, psychiatric drugs only succeed in dumbing down or numbing the brain so that the person becomes zombie like. Drugs like Ritalin and Zoloft are talked about and discussed much throughout the book. Antidepressants are hit on hard, especially the multiple instances where they induce greater feelings of insomnia and suicide, instead of actually helping. Most psychaiatrists are ignorant and uninformed about the adverse affects of taking psychiatric drugs long-term, and merely go by what the drug companies tell them. The drug company reviews are often inflated to sound better than the drug really is. Most FDA psychiatric drug studies only last between 4-6 weeks, but many people have been prescribed these various psychiatric drugs for years.
Fourth, a complete absence of God: While I appreciated these authors pointing people away from drugs for their problems of anxiety, depression and behavioral issues in children, instead of pointing to faith in Jesus Christ, and help/guidance from God's Word, the Bible, they direct their readers to have faith in themselves and in their therapist. While they come down hard negatively on psychiatrists, they exalt the work of psychotherapists. I guess this is better than seeking drugs, but therapists can still refer patients to psychiatrists for drugs, which often happens due to fear of lawsuits. There was not one issue addressed in this book which God does not have something to say about in His Word. For the believer, it is clear from Scripture that "all Scripture is profitable for teaching, for correction and instruction in righteousness." God alone is able to comfort us in all our anxieties, fears and worries. We are not told in vain to "not be anxious for anything" in Philippians 4 and that "the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Our nation and the church is being psychologized and psychaitrized to death, and more believers ought to equip themselves by reading such books as this to gain medical credibility in addition to the Word of God (not as a replacement, of course). Where many people won't accept what you have to share with them from the Bible about not seeking drug help, they may listen if you have "scientific, medical proof" for the failed uses of psychiatric drugs.
So, a very technical, deep read, kinda dry at times, but overall very helpful.
June 6, 2007
CHANGED MY LIFE!
November 21, 2017
anyone on medication who is thinking of going off of it, or anybody who is thinking about going ON medication could really benefit from this book. Obviously its slightly slanted towards being anti-medication but if you can read it with an open mind TO medication, then its still a very informative book.
In a way, i wish i read this before i ever went on any medication. But then i would have never gone on medication if i knew how hard it was to get off of it. This book essentially claims there isn't enough substantiated data on medication to prove its even effective in what it's for. However, i DID feel my anxiety drop after going on medication. And I don't buy into all that placebo shite. I didn't think the medication would help to begin with and it did. No more loss of breath, excessive perspiring, anxiety shits (yeah im gross alright)
HOWEVER. as someone with migraine problems for years and years, messing with your seratonin and dopamine levels with medication is extremely dangerous! So yeah, i hella got migraines taking medication. Wish I knew that was a possibility before.
THere has to be a better solution than medication though. or birth control even. If those things mess with you so much???? I'm bloody screwed with my migraines the day i need to start taking birth control x)
FDA; SMARTEN THE HELL UP.
In a way, i wish i read this before i ever went on any medication. But then i would have never gone on medication if i knew how hard it was to get off of it. This book essentially claims there isn't enough substantiated data on medication to prove its even effective in what it's for. However, i DID feel my anxiety drop after going on medication. And I don't buy into all that placebo shite. I didn't think the medication would help to begin with and it did. No more loss of breath, excessive perspiring, anxiety shits (yeah im gross alright)
HOWEVER. as someone with migraine problems for years and years, messing with your seratonin and dopamine levels with medication is extremely dangerous! So yeah, i hella got migraines taking medication. Wish I knew that was a possibility before.
THere has to be a better solution than medication though. or birth control even. If those things mess with you so much???? I'm bloody screwed with my migraines the day i need to start taking birth control x)
FDA; SMARTEN THE HELL UP.
August 25, 2018
I highly recommend this book, very valuable knowledge for both health care providers and patients. While I have seen some people who are helped by psychiatric medication I have seen many people who don’t take the medication as prescribed and combine it with other substances who are adversely affected. Nearly all these medications are only recommended for short term prescription and yet hundreds of thousands of people are on multiple medications for life. Both providers and the public need to become much better educated about these drugs and more knowledgeable about the alternatives to medication or substances to manage psychological issues.
October 24, 2017
This book and the rest of his work, and his blog, would be great reading for anyone considering or taking anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds, or other psych meds, or has a family member with these concerns. Unfortunately modern psych is to a large degree about big pharma. I’m not saying the meds are not useful or needed in many cases, just saying it’s good to have all information.
October 18, 2020
Well written and thought provoking. So many people this book would suit - those on medication, those considering it or considering coming off it, people with children who may have been suggested to have meds, therapists, doctors and more.
Not too "medical" but has good info and evidence.
Worth a read!
Not too "medical" but has good info and evidence.
Worth a read!
March 23, 2019
Ojalá lo hubiese leído hace año y medio...
April 28, 2022
Recommended!
December 30, 2020
Absolutely invaluable to All struggling with an emotional problem that is being medicalized.
August 30, 2013
Excellent and completely applicable information for anyone who has been told they need a psych drug or is on psych drugs or has a loved one who is. If you're questioning the medications at all, this book is for you. Very intelligent author but also sensitive to and in touch with his readers. This book could be life-changing for people struggling with all types of psychiatric medications, including those with children on Adderall or Ritalin, or others.
February 6, 2016
Excellent. I'm baffled as to why this book isn't better known. Aims to strike down the mass disinformation people are fed about psychiatric drugs, by the media, the drug companies and your trusted MD. Everyone should read this before deciding that meds are a better option than learning to handle their problems. See also Whitaker's ANATOMY OF AN EPIDEMIC and Rosemond's THE DISEASING OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN.
August 10, 2008
I read this book during undergrad. Interesting analysis of current US pharmaceutical consumerism. Also discusses the seeming 'trendiness' of taking drugs and how valid mental health terms have been diluted into psychobabel made popular by the likes of Dr. Phil.
August 2, 2009
One of the best books I've ever read in my life. It's not just a pill
August 5, 2016
Informative for any questions one may about themselves and drug use; assessment of habit and with the simple text, one could easily formulate a plan to talk with a physician.
March 31, 2013
A perfect book. I love it!
January 18, 2014
It was a good book and it had good arguments against taking meds, but I feel it was too emotional and not thoroughly researched.
October 28, 2014
I recommend this book if you want to know more about psychiatric drugs, especially if you are taking them or planning to start taking them...It probably will change how you think about it...
October 19, 2016
What a very eye opening read.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews