Why such a militant anti-medication sentiment at times?

[[dj...]]

What is the basis or evidence that other medications will slow/prevent healing?  I’ve seen some on this board get pretty militant at times toward others taking non-benzo medication.  I don’t know how that can even be proven and given how little attention benzos get I doubt there are studies.

 

I’m on three medications right now for depression and anxiety: mirtazapine, Viibryd, and Abilify  Can this really slow healing?  I’m not going off of them as I have had MDD for 20 years and the couple times I tried to go med-free I was suicidal.  And that was while I was on Klonopin and pre-withdrawal.

[[Iw...]]

Great Question. I will be following as I’ve been getting conflicting information about even taking an Advil or topical lavender for anxiety saying it can cause waves or slow healing.

[[Bl...]]

What is the basis or evidence that other medications will slow/prevent healing?  I’ve seen some on this board get pretty militant at times toward others taking non-benzo medication.  I don’t know how that can even be proven and given how little attention benzos get I doubt there are studies.

 

I’m on three medications right now for depression and anxiety: mirtazapine, Viibryd, and Abilify  Can this really slow healing?  I’m not going off of them as I have had MDD for 20 years and the couple times I tried to go med-free I was suicidal.  And that was while I was on Klonopin and pre-withdrawal.

 

The hard fast stand on no meds is based on people's reactions to them. This would be my thought on it. I know that's the case with me. Especially with Ambien and Ativan. Those two drugs have created a fear of all drugs and supplements. I do take different supplements due to deficiencies etc., but I will admit I do not like doing it.

 

The only drug I take is Tylenol Codeine#3 due to the damage to my low back from Ambien and Ativan. I was only taking 1/2 a pill a day....it is now at 1-2 pills a day. I'm hoping to eventually be off of it, but CNS damage is great. I keep hoping my back/akathesia will get better, but I'm not getting any younger.

 

So to answer your question...I fear being further damaged from some pharmaceutical drug. That might seem a bit fanatical. In my mind it is the reality of the nature of taking any drug long term. There are risks. Sadly, I found that's true with benzos. When you lose your mind and your mobility to the point where your quality of life is changed for what seems like forever...I see nothing wrong with being on the extreme cautious side of things. Just my opinion.

 

 

[[al...]]

I'm not sure about the idea of medication slowing and/or preventing healing. The Ashton Manusal discusses taking anti-depressants, and even encourages people to take them during benzo WD if they're feeling bad enough. I'm personally on a low dose of Mirtazapine, which has not only saved me from crippling depression/anxiety during WD, but also helped a great deal with my sleep schedule and ability to work full-time.

 

I think the overall sentiment is due to a couple things: other medications like anti-depressants can also cause withdrawals/dependence (although surely not as severe as benzo WD), and almost every med out there has some kind of negative side effect to balance out the ways in which it helps you.

 

That being said, I have no idea about why other meds would be off the table. I think the most important thing you can do is listen to your body and how it reacts to things during WD. During phase 3 (the sensitivity phase), it can be a really hit or miss process even with things like supplements. Since your CNS is so sensitive while it is healing, you have to really pay attention to what works and what doesn't.

 

I don't think anything will actually slow your healing process as long as it doesn't affect your GABA receptors. Hence why things like alcohol are recommended to be avoided so much. I think it's also important to remember that there's going to be more of an overall anti-medication stance/stigma here since a lot of people have had there lives negatively impacted by meds on this forum and that's why they post here.

[[th...]]

What is the basis or evidence that other medications will slow/prevent healing?  I’ve seen some on this board get pretty militant at times toward others taking non-benzo medication.  I don’t know how that can even be proven and given how little attention benzos get I doubt there are studies.

 

I’m on three medications right now for depression and anxiety: mirtazapine, Viibryd, and Abilify  Can this really slow healing?  I’m not going off of them as I have had MDD for 20 years and the couple times I tried to go med-free I was suicidal.  And that was while I was on Klonopin and pre-withdrawal.

 

It's a knee-jerk reaction. Understandable, considering what people go through on "as prescribed" benzos.

 

There isn't enough research to say that anything slows/helps healing. There is a lot of anecdotal information, but much of that is hard to apply, since everyone has a different brain.

 

It seems like there is some evidence that alcohol too early in the healing process is bad, but Ashton even suggest a glass of wine or two won't hurt.

 

The only thing that seems to make the most sense is advice that is good generally: eat clean (limit processed food and sugar), exercise (not too much), and try to sleep as much as you can.

[[dj...]]

I obviously understand why people are weary of medications.  Maybe I think myself a little more real-life educated in this department as I have tried many ADs and anti-anxiety meds.  Nothing else I’ve ever taken has withdrawal in the same hemisphere as benzos.  I’ve taken some meds a long time and quit several cold turkey.  What withdrawal I’ve had lasts no longer than a week, although there were some intense moments in there.

[[Ja...]]

Because you’re kicking the can further down the road. I’m not judging. I did it. I took Remeron to help get off Xanax. Now I have to taper Remeron and am in withdrawal anyhow. I think it’s best to just go through withdrawal one time and let yourself heal IF YOU CAN! You could be trading a terrible withdrawal for an easier one though. That certainly seems to be the case with me in trading Xanax for mirtazapine.

[[th...]]

I obviously understand why people are weary of medications.  Maybe I think myself a little more real-life educated in this department as I have tried many ADs and anti-anxiety meds.  Nothing else I’ve ever taken has withdrawal in the same hemisphere as benzos.  I’ve taken some meds a long time and quit several cold turkey.  What withdrawal I’ve had lasts no longer than a week, although there were some intense moments in there.

 

Same here. Effexor was awful to withdraw from. But nothing like this...

[[Bl...]]

I obviously understand why people are weary of medications.  Maybe I think myself a little more real-life educated in this department as I have tried many ADs and anti-anxiety meds.  Nothing else I’ve ever taken has withdrawal in the same hemisphere as benzos.  I’ve taken some meds a long time and quit several cold turkey.  What withdrawal I’ve had lasts no longer than a week, although there were some intense moments in there.

 

It is a personal decision. If I was desperate enough I might take something for lets say major depression. But I would have to be desperate from second to second. Almost in a comatose condition. I'm not exaggerating. Benzos put me through just that...I was in and still am to a lesser degree...survival mode. The thought of ever going through that again petrifies me. That's my concern. Could I survive a psychiatric med if it turned on me to the degree as I went through with a benzo?

 

Also, the mind/brain is really complex, and still very much unknown. Rajesh Kalaria, a brain pathologist of Newcastle University, England, said in an interview a few years back..."we are far from understanding fully how the brain develops and functions, including how it forms memories, emotions, and thoughts."

 

I'm not advocating one way or the other as to whether one chooses to take a drug that affects the brain directly...I just feel due caution is important.

[[dj...]]

Because you’re kicking the can further down the road. I’m not judging. I did it. I took Remeron to help get off Xanax. Now I have to taper Remeron and am in withdrawal anyhow. I think it’s best to just go through withdrawal one time and let yourself heal IF YOU CAN! You could be trading a terrible withdrawal for an easier one though. That certainly seems to be the case with me in trading Xanax for mirtazapine.

 

I think trading a terrible withdrawal for an easier one is a great way of putting things.  I’ve got to work and take care of my family.  If I could do without it all and remotely function I would.

[[Fi...]]

I just posted this comment on another thread regarding the use of a "drug" to treat damages caused by another "drug". I think it is pertinent to this thread as well:

 

 

 

A partial quote from a National Institute of Health article on Oxygen:

 

"Oxygen is one of the most widely used therapeutic agents. It is a drug in the true sense of the word, with specific biochemical and physiologic actions, a distinct range of effective doses, and well-defined adverse effects at high doses."

 

It may seem far fetched but an essential element for life, oxygen, is classified as a "drug" too.

 

I'm just guessing but, not many people here on BB or anywhere on this planet are opposed to breathing oxygen within safe ranges of effective doses are they?

 

Edit:

 

Oops, here is the link to the above mentioned article:

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2688103/

Rep