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Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How & Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications
Psychiatric drugs are prescribed to more than twenty million Americans but can these drugs do more harm than good?While a doctor may take fifteen minutes to determine the need for a psychiatric drug, the patient may end up taking it for months, years, or a lifetime. We deserve to know the dangers in advance -including the difficulties we may encounter when trying to withdraw. Your Drug May Be Your Problem is the only book to provide an up-to-date, uncensored description of the dangers involved in taking every kind of psychiatric medication, and it is the first and only book to explain how to coordinate a safe withdrawal from them.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 1998
52 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Peter R. Breggin
55 books117 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 - 25 of 25 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.
November 8, 2024
I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and have always
sought out and evaluated both sides of the psychiatric medication and
diagnostic arguments. I have read many things which are strictly
anti-psychiatric, and I believe it helps me be a more balanced
provider. I want to refrain from being a shill for drug companies. Dr.
Breggin’s book had several things I found to be very helpful and some
criticisms that I would like to address.
::: Benefits from Breggin’s perspective in no particular order.
His concept of spellbinding is both interesting and useful in that the
effect of psychiatric medications can be similar to using other
psychoactive substances like alcohol in that the person lacks the
awareness that the substance is actually doing harm, but the are numb
and unaware of the effects.
“Biochemical imbalances are the only disease spread by word of mouth”.
Biochemical imbalanaces are a false narrative that has been pushed by
drug companies and practitioners to justify the use of psychiatric
medications. There are no routine tests to determine neurotransmitters
levels before, during or after treatment with psychiatric medications.
They would not be useful if they were done routinely because the vast
majority of all people with depression do not have depleted serotonin
or other neurotransmitters. Additionally, all psychiatric medications
are first tried on healthy animal subjetcs, and then healthy human
subjects before being tested on diagnosed psychiatric patients.
Breggin’s analogy of how we would never treat the brain in the same
way we do a computer is very apt. In summary it states You would
always assume the hardware was broken. You would recommend pouring
toxic substances in the computer without having done a specific
assessment of the hardware. You would be told that crossed-wires and
electrical imbalances are the cause of the dysfunction. In the end
your computer would work less efficiently than it had before.
A very little talked about subject is that when psychiatric
medications are used in combination with one another, there are
virtually no studies upon which to base that practice.
Tardive Dysphoria is a very real and little talked about reaction to
the use of psychiatric medications. When I first heard about the
concept of Tardive Dysphoria I questioned ever psychiatric provider I
knew about it, but none acknowledged they had ever heard of it.
However, they have all seen it. The classic situation when the patient
returns to an appointment stating “I have no idea what is wrong. I
have consistently taken my medication but my depression has returned.”
This is sometimes called the “Prozac poop-out”. It is seen as a
further deterioration of the depressive disorder and often the dose of
medication is increased. The increase of the dosage only exacerbates
the problem of a brain that has down-regulated its serotonin receptors
in response to being overstimulated.
Most psychiatric medication withdrawal is unsucessful not because
people are so sick, but because it is done too rapidly and the ways
psychiatric medications are formulated is not helpful. A decrease of
50% of a dose is way too much and there is data to show that adverse
reactions are high. Dose reductions of 25% approach a reasonable
amount while reduction of 10% are the most favorable. The vast
majority of psychiatric medications are not formulated to easily
reduce the dose by 10 or 25%. Almost all only accommodate reductions
of 50% or more. Breggin suggests that there are psychiatrist who
purposefully withdraw patients too quickly to incentivise them to
return to taking the medications. I do not know if I endorse that
notion, but they definitely downplay the likelihood of adverse
withdrawal reactions.
Breggin suggests 1 month of withdrawal for every year a person has
been on a psychiatric medication. I found this helpful but still too
general and vague. I think dose reductions should be limited to 5-7
half-lives which would mean the medication has reached the new steady
state concentration of the new dose. Only after that is well tolerated
should the dose be reduced again.
Tardive Dyskenisa is often seen as an inevitable and treatable side
effect of using antipsychotic medications. However, the longer a
person uses an antipsychotic the higher the overall risk of developing
TD becomes. The risk accelerates significantly in geriatric patients.
TD should be seen as reason to trial an alternative medication or
withdraw from the medication completely.
The use of psychiatric medications instills a shift in the locus of
control for the patient. If patients could manage their symptoms on
their own they would have done so. Just by admitting they need help
shifts the locus of control toward the provider. Adding a diagnosis
and medications pulls the locus of control further away from the
patient toward the provider. The net result is an ever-increasing
dependence on the provider. Ideally if treatment, is effective, it
should decrease and not increase over time. As a provider I now
acknowledge that I need to strive to push more of the locus of control
back toward my patient as they are willing and able to do so. Too many
provider-patient relationships end up one-sided. I have seen this
voluntarily adopted by patients when they say “I trust this doctor
with my life.” I have also seen it forcibly wrested from patients with
strong opinions when the provider says, “I will be the doctor, and you
are going to be the patient.” I shiver every time I think about the
latter statement.
Breggin does a good job of highlighting the shocking lack of vetting
and monitoring the FDA requires for psychiatric medications. I was not
aware of this until I read the book. It was humbling and alarming to
think of how commonly these medications are used, and how little
robust long-term data we have regarding them.
Breggin describes the unspoken relationship between prescribing
providers and those that perform psychotherapy. The therapists become
the silent enforcers of compliance of psychiatric medications. They
encourage the patient to continue taking their medications without the
thought that perhaps the medications are causing some of the problems,
or getting in the way of treatment. This relationship is further
worsened by therapists encouraging patients to start on psychaitric
medications when therapy is not progressing. Breggin suggests trying
an alternative approach or different therapist before starting
medications which is a recommendation I agree with.
::: Critiques of Dr. Breggin in no particular order.
He does some self-referencing to his other works without citing
primary sources. You have to carefully watch for when he is making
declarative statements without referencing sources.
Breggin states that ADHD meds impair the process of learning and lead
to increased rates of addiction and abuse. I know research that shows
exactly the opposite. He also states that increased obedience and
compliance should be listed as adverse effects of stimulants which I
do not agree with.
Breggin severely misrepresents his case regarding medication deaths in
the United States. The heading for this section was “Growing
Recognition of the Dangers of Psychiatric medications” but then the
data cited in the paragraph was regarding medications administered in
hospitals. This would not strictly include psychiatric medications,
and the majority of medications given in hospital inpatient settings
are to those in medical surgical and intensive care units which carry
a higher risk for death due to the condition of the patients, and that
the majority of the medications are given IV.
Breggin overstates the reports of adverse effects of anti-depressants.
He makes the effects seem very prevalent and severe. With a little
independent research I found data that showed that anti-platelet and
opiate medications both have more frequent and severe adverse effects,
yet they are very commonly and uncontroversially utilized.
Breggin claims that antipsychotic medications have no direct effect on
delusions and hallucinations. This is an absurd statement which I can
refute with my over 10 years of experience watching patients respond
to anitpsychotics with a decrease in their hallucinations and
delusions. If we were to associate this with Breggin’s idea of
spellbinding it would suggest that these patients are still having
hallucinations and delusions but have numbed and reduced the function
of their brains to produce their effect which is illogical.
Breggin overstates the reports of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
(NMS). He reports NMS rates of 2.4%. I have worked 10 years in the
field of psychiatry and never once seen a case of NMS. Many of the
providers I have talked to with 20 or more years of experience have
typically only seen one or no cases of NMS. Breggin reports that
1-4,000 people die yearly from NMS. That would be 0.0012% of the US
population. By comparison in 2021 15,000 Americans died from
prescription opiate use. That would be 0.0046% of the US population.
NMS should be monitored for but it is a rare complication.
Breggin states that direct to consumer advertising countries
inappropriately endorse the use of unsafe psychiatric medications.
However, with some research I found that many if not all of the
medications that are FDA approved are also approved by other country’s
regulator agencies where direct to consumer advertising is restricted.
I do agree that direct to consumer advertising promotes diagnostic and
prescription bloat, but I do not think it means that we are using
dangerous medications at least relative to what other countries are
also using.
Breggin did well to describe the process of medication withdrawal, but
it is lost in paragraphs of narrative. It would have been far more
effective outlined in bullet points. I had to compile the process
manually and put it into bullet-points
::: Summary
I am very glad that I read this book. I agree with the sentiment I
have heard from others including psychiatric nurse practitioner
educators, that Breggin’s book should be mandatory reading. Like all
academic work I think it needs to be read carefully and with a
critical mindset. I seek out anti-psychiatry information in effort
that it will pull me more toward the center of practice. I hope to not
become dogmatically medication-focused and reading this book has
helped to ground me more toward the center of clinical practice. I
highly recommend this book to other providers and other clinicians. I
would recommend a revised version of it for the public. There is far
too much information and some of it is misrepresented to push
Breggin’s perspective. However, empowering people to have open
conversations with their providers, and encouraging them to take more
control in their care is something I will always endorse.
sought out and evaluated both sides of the psychiatric medication and
diagnostic arguments. I have read many things which are strictly
anti-psychiatric, and I believe it helps me be a more balanced
provider. I want to refrain from being a shill for drug companies. Dr.
Breggin’s book had several things I found to be very helpful and some
criticisms that I would like to address.
::: Benefits from Breggin’s perspective in no particular order.
His concept of spellbinding is both interesting and useful in that the
effect of psychiatric medications can be similar to using other
psychoactive substances like alcohol in that the person lacks the
awareness that the substance is actually doing harm, but the are numb
and unaware of the effects.
“Biochemical imbalances are the only disease spread by word of mouth”.
Biochemical imbalanaces are a false narrative that has been pushed by
drug companies and practitioners to justify the use of psychiatric
medications. There are no routine tests to determine neurotransmitters
levels before, during or after treatment with psychiatric medications.
They would not be useful if they were done routinely because the vast
majority of all people with depression do not have depleted serotonin
or other neurotransmitters. Additionally, all psychiatric medications
are first tried on healthy animal subjetcs, and then healthy human
subjects before being tested on diagnosed psychiatric patients.
Breggin’s analogy of how we would never treat the brain in the same
way we do a computer is very apt. In summary it states You would
always assume the hardware was broken. You would recommend pouring
toxic substances in the computer without having done a specific
assessment of the hardware. You would be told that crossed-wires and
electrical imbalances are the cause of the dysfunction. In the end
your computer would work less efficiently than it had before.
A very little talked about subject is that when psychiatric
medications are used in combination with one another, there are
virtually no studies upon which to base that practice.
Tardive Dysphoria is a very real and little talked about reaction to
the use of psychiatric medications. When I first heard about the
concept of Tardive Dysphoria I questioned ever psychiatric provider I
knew about it, but none acknowledged they had ever heard of it.
However, they have all seen it. The classic situation when the patient
returns to an appointment stating “I have no idea what is wrong. I
have consistently taken my medication but my depression has returned.”
This is sometimes called the “Prozac poop-out”. It is seen as a
further deterioration of the depressive disorder and often the dose of
medication is increased. The increase of the dosage only exacerbates
the problem of a brain that has down-regulated its serotonin receptors
in response to being overstimulated.
Most psychiatric medication withdrawal is unsucessful not because
people are so sick, but because it is done too rapidly and the ways
psychiatric medications are formulated is not helpful. A decrease of
50% of a dose is way too much and there is data to show that adverse
reactions are high. Dose reductions of 25% approach a reasonable
amount while reduction of 10% are the most favorable. The vast
majority of psychiatric medications are not formulated to easily
reduce the dose by 10 or 25%. Almost all only accommodate reductions
of 50% or more. Breggin suggests that there are psychiatrist who
purposefully withdraw patients too quickly to incentivise them to
return to taking the medications. I do not know if I endorse that
notion, but they definitely downplay the likelihood of adverse
withdrawal reactions.
Breggin suggests 1 month of withdrawal for every year a person has
been on a psychiatric medication. I found this helpful but still too
general and vague. I think dose reductions should be limited to 5-7
half-lives which would mean the medication has reached the new steady
state concentration of the new dose. Only after that is well tolerated
should the dose be reduced again.
Tardive Dyskenisa is often seen as an inevitable and treatable side
effect of using antipsychotic medications. However, the longer a
person uses an antipsychotic the higher the overall risk of developing
TD becomes. The risk accelerates significantly in geriatric patients.
TD should be seen as reason to trial an alternative medication or
withdraw from the medication completely.
The use of psychiatric medications instills a shift in the locus of
control for the patient. If patients could manage their symptoms on
their own they would have done so. Just by admitting they need help
shifts the locus of control toward the provider. Adding a diagnosis
and medications pulls the locus of control further away from the
patient toward the provider. The net result is an ever-increasing
dependence on the provider. Ideally if treatment, is effective, it
should decrease and not increase over time. As a provider I now
acknowledge that I need to strive to push more of the locus of control
back toward my patient as they are willing and able to do so. Too many
provider-patient relationships end up one-sided. I have seen this
voluntarily adopted by patients when they say “I trust this doctor
with my life.” I have also seen it forcibly wrested from patients with
strong opinions when the provider says, “I will be the doctor, and you
are going to be the patient.” I shiver every time I think about the
latter statement.
Breggin does a good job of highlighting the shocking lack of vetting
and monitoring the FDA requires for psychiatric medications. I was not
aware of this until I read the book. It was humbling and alarming to
think of how commonly these medications are used, and how little
robust long-term data we have regarding them.
Breggin describes the unspoken relationship between prescribing
providers and those that perform psychotherapy. The therapists become
the silent enforcers of compliance of psychiatric medications. They
encourage the patient to continue taking their medications without the
thought that perhaps the medications are causing some of the problems,
or getting in the way of treatment. This relationship is further
worsened by therapists encouraging patients to start on psychaitric
medications when therapy is not progressing. Breggin suggests trying
an alternative approach or different therapist before starting
medications which is a recommendation I agree with.
::: Critiques of Dr. Breggin in no particular order.
He does some self-referencing to his other works without citing
primary sources. You have to carefully watch for when he is making
declarative statements without referencing sources.
Breggin states that ADHD meds impair the process of learning and lead
to increased rates of addiction and abuse. I know research that shows
exactly the opposite. He also states that increased obedience and
compliance should be listed as adverse effects of stimulants which I
do not agree with.
Breggin severely misrepresents his case regarding medication deaths in
the United States. The heading for this section was “Growing
Recognition of the Dangers of Psychiatric medications” but then the
data cited in the paragraph was regarding medications administered in
hospitals. This would not strictly include psychiatric medications,
and the majority of medications given in hospital inpatient settings
are to those in medical surgical and intensive care units which carry
a higher risk for death due to the condition of the patients, and that
the majority of the medications are given IV.
Breggin overstates the reports of adverse effects of anti-depressants.
He makes the effects seem very prevalent and severe. With a little
independent research I found data that showed that anti-platelet and
opiate medications both have more frequent and severe adverse effects,
yet they are very commonly and uncontroversially utilized.
Breggin claims that antipsychotic medications have no direct effect on
delusions and hallucinations. This is an absurd statement which I can
refute with my over 10 years of experience watching patients respond
to anitpsychotics with a decrease in their hallucinations and
delusions. If we were to associate this with Breggin’s idea of
spellbinding it would suggest that these patients are still having
hallucinations and delusions but have numbed and reduced the function
of their brains to produce their effect which is illogical.
Breggin overstates the reports of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
(NMS). He reports NMS rates of 2.4%. I have worked 10 years in the
field of psychiatry and never once seen a case of NMS. Many of the
providers I have talked to with 20 or more years of experience have
typically only seen one or no cases of NMS. Breggin reports that
1-4,000 people die yearly from NMS. That would be 0.0012% of the US
population. By comparison in 2021 15,000 Americans died from
prescription opiate use. That would be 0.0046% of the US population.
NMS should be monitored for but it is a rare complication.
Breggin states that direct to consumer advertising countries
inappropriately endorse the use of unsafe psychiatric medications.
However, with some research I found that many if not all of the
medications that are FDA approved are also approved by other country’s
regulator agencies where direct to consumer advertising is restricted.
I do agree that direct to consumer advertising promotes diagnostic and
prescription bloat, but I do not think it means that we are using
dangerous medications at least relative to what other countries are
also using.
Breggin did well to describe the process of medication withdrawal, but
it is lost in paragraphs of narrative. It would have been far more
effective outlined in bullet points. I had to compile the process
manually and put it into bullet-points
::: Summary
I am very glad that I read this book. I agree with the sentiment I
have heard from others including psychiatric nurse practitioner
educators, that Breggin’s book should be mandatory reading. Like all
academic work I think it needs to be read carefully and with a
critical mindset. I seek out anti-psychiatry information in effort
that it will pull me more toward the center of practice. I hope to not
become dogmatically medication-focused and reading this book has
helped to ground me more toward the center of clinical practice. I
highly recommend this book to other providers and other clinicians. I
would recommend a revised version of it for the public. There is far
too much information and some of it is misrepresented to push
Breggin’s perspective. However, empowering people to have open
conversations with their providers, and encouraging them to take more
control in their care is something I will always endorse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
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