How to Get Off Psychoactive Drugs Safely: There is Hope. There is a Solution.

I had a scary experience with trying to get off Cymbalta that I was in no way prepared for. I don't think my doctor even knew the extent of what I should expect! This book helped me navigate through this horrible experience and definitely made me aware that I need to research a medication thoroughly before putting it in my body. I feel that any doctor prescribing any type of psychoactive medications should read this book! I imagine that doctor's that prescribe these medications on a daily basis for depression or other types of psychological issues have a better understanding of the possible side effects and the withdrawal symptoms. I was prescribed Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia however, by a general practitioner and I believe he knew very little about it. As patients, especially ones with chronic illnesses, we must advocate for ourselves! That means learning everything we can about a medication BEFORE putting it into our bodies!! I definitely learned a lot from this book that has become one of many resources for me. I'd recommend reading it if you are currently taking a psychoactive medication or preferably before taking one if you're prescribed it.

Reading this book, several times over, and purchasing these supplements , 4 times i purchased the benzo package and still continuing on them, has literally saved my life.I had tried unsuccessful attempts in the past to rid myself of the meds but always ended up back on them. I was on klonopin and was hooked in a short period of time.It has been just over 2 months now off the meds and have just started feeling back to myself about a week ago. Getting off the drugs has got to be the most difficult challenges I have ever faced and a test for my 30 year marriage. There were times I could not even get myself out of bed let alone dress myself. I carried my bottle of klonopin with me everywhere for that "just in case" I couldnt make it through. I reached for the supplements instead. Anxiety held on to me and had a death grip I didnt think I would ever shake.The author of the book, Jim Harper was a great source of support for me. He always returned my emails and was helpful suggesting tweeking the supplements for me . I still get tingling and a bit of fuzziness feeling in my head but anxiety is gone. I suggest to anyone , have patience when following the guidelines in this book and as you are reducing your dosage. Thank you, thank you Mr Jim Harper and this book !!!

I really resent it when people put forth something that is basically a sales pitch for their proprietary formula supplements and require you to pay for the honor of reading/listening to it. This "book" should be free. It may actually be the program information generally handed out when you sign up. If so, then they should say so up front. Either way, it isn't particularly readable, and should be a free "book".Additionally, the writing is too dry and clinical. I read the first few sections in their entirety, then started skipping and skimming to see if I could find usable information hidden within the drone. I didn't find it. Mind you, I'm not saying it isn't there. I didn't find it because I couldn't stand to actually read every word. The intro says that the book is written for the patient. The subject matter is serious, and they are charging us to listen to their pitch, and making money off the ones who jump on board. They could at least hire someone to make it readable.What I did find was pages and pages of all the horrible things that can happen and that you may feel when you go off meds. Those of us on meds already know this part by heart. While I agree that withdrawal is serious and something to be prepared for, considering that the book is a sales pitch, I think that the detail that these folks devoted to withdrawal is a scare tactic to show us how badly we need this program and how only they are the ones who will tell us and be open with us and help us through all the ugliness.The list was depressing, frightening even. Made me wonder what the H-E, double L I am thinking. Get off meds? Am I insane? It almost had me reaching for the blasted things like a lifeline. I hate scare tactics.

To exploit those who suffer is just wrong. There will be those unfortunates who stumble upon this tome and hope that it would work for them. This book is exploitation of a very vulnerable and needy population. Do not be fooled. The supplements that it is trying to sell are available at a fraction of the cost at your local health food store. Some of the advice here is just wrong. It is true that psychiatric medicines for depression are over prescribed, eventually stop working and have severe withdrawl sympstoms. It is also true that in the rest of the world, medicines and nutrients are not controlled by unethical drug companies. In Europe and Canada, nutritional supplements are tested, verified and used BECAUSE THEY WORK! Sometimes they work better than the meds in the US.What about supplements like 5-htp which really helps, at least for withdrawal from antidepressants. The amino acid GABA is helpful in benzodiazepine withdrawal. Some of the supplements that are being offered here are the very same things, but with DIFFERENT NAMES, and most telling, much higher prices. Seems like exploitation to me. I understand all to well the pain caused by any mental illness for both the sufferer and the family. This book is just a long infomercial to sell pills. Unconscionable. Read Dr. Murray's book "5 htp". Read "Mood Cure" by Julia Ross, and also "Chill Pills & Mood Food" by James Lee. Learn about how psychoactive substances work in your brain. Learn from Dr. Pearlmutter about how important healthy fats are to our well being. Learn about how important it is to exercise see a good therapist, or find support in support groups and in your faith. I know about these things, because I have sucessfully gone off of anti-depressants and benzodiazepines, which I was hopelessly (I thought) addicted to for many years. The only good advice in this book is to take fish oil supplements.

Didn't really help at all - it was more about supplements and products. I think professional advice is really the only way forward.

Enjoyed reading about the symptoms.Quite a good resemblance to my symptoms.I did think that the products being sold were very expensive and probably out of reach for most people.

This book is excellent and helped me through a really difficult time. Would recommend it 100%. Great on the Kindle.

Excerllent

I recommend this book to all my clients who are in the grip of addictive and dependence-creating psychoactive drugs and who do not understand why they feel so physically and emotionally bad on their meds, let alone when trying to come off it under medical supervision. Dreadful symptoms can occur when your doctor weans you off following the product information guidelines, and patients can give up easily thinking those dreadful symptoms that start are caused by rebound depression or rebound anxiety when in fact they are all shocking "withdrawal symptoms" created by the actual medication concoction of molecules, not by your mental condition. The answer to safe successful withdrawal is to do it very, very slowly under the close care of a supervising medical DR who wants to get a good result for you, and with good vitamin and supplement regimens to compensate for the depletion of nutrients created by these insidious and dangerous addictive medications. Get your GP to read this book. He can help you withdraw safely and successfully when he understands how to do it. The product information is usually completely hopeless in this area. It seems almost as if these manufacturers do not want your withdrawal to succeed. Hmmmmm!!!!! This is a wonderful book. Thank you to the authors.