Serious Side Effects of Anti-Depressants

A few more videos and one more article, after which, a break from writing about Anti-Depressants.

There is a strong movement of psychiatrists who are opposed to promoting psychotropics. They are campaigning for a paradigm shift in psychiatry. Neuroscientists are coming closer to showing "mental illnesses" are biological. It is known for a long time that CNS can be triggered by ADRs from prescribed medications, trauma injury to the head, stroke, hypothyroidism, infectious pathogens, mycotoxins, heavy metals, hormonal imbalance and more. We know very little, about neuronal circuitry. At this time, it is conjectural to imply for any drugs to improve brain function, alleviate depression, cure or improve psychiatric symptoms. The science does not support such claims. What is taught at Universities in text books of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, is not supported by claims made by Pharmaceutical companies.

Thomas Szasz, http://www.szasz.com/a famous psychiatrist, Nobel Prize winner and Professor Healy, Professor Ashton, Dr David Permlutter and other famous psychiatrists, and neuroscientists, have written important articles and books on this matter.

If staying away from benzos and anti-depressants, these symptoms will resolve, in time.

Incidentally, most prescriptions for Klono is 0.2 mg and 0.5 mg, and very difficult to stop, for many, even after one week of starting. The options are to up the dosage or start tapering, under supervision of a medical professional.

Klonopin carries with an insert warning that it should not be taken longer than a few weeks, yet, it is highly addictive, from the first pill.

Why are doctors renewing prescriptions when manufacturers are saying themselves, it is highly addictive and should not be taken for more than a few weeks.

Again, it is about profit. The pharmaceutical industry make a yearly profit of approximately $40 billion a year!! Why should we bump up their shares whilst making ourselves ill and poorer??

Who suffers? The patient...

For those of you taking Benzos, such as Klonopin, suffering from symptoms as described below, please seek help.

Lastly, many of us suffered all the torturous symptoms as listed below from floxing and from Lariam or other meds, we recovered by abstaining from taking anti-depressants and psychotropics.

It is very important to seek help if displaying these symptoms whilst on Klono. The consequences can be very serious, both mentally and physically.

Below is a list of symptoms as reported by those who are taking Benzos and other psychotropics. Those drugs prolong CNS symptoms, and could trigger life threatening side effects. For thos who wish to switch, taper or wean, in your own time, when you are ready, (under supervision of your doctor), see this excellent guide written by world renowned psychiatrist, Professor Heather Ashton http://lonelylinks.com/download/Chapter1.pdf

An E- Support group organizing conferences, chaired by MDs, Psychiatrists etc. www.april.org.uk

Visual perceptual

Derealisation, Depersonalisation, Distortion of body image, Feeling like legs and arms are not attached to body
Psychotic symptoms


Auditory hallucinations, Catatonic episodes, Compulsive suicidal ideation, Confusion, Delusional thinking, Disorientation, Formication (sensation that I had fleas/spiders crawling over me)



Mood

Aggression, Anger, Agoraphobia, Agitation, Akathisia, Anxiety, Apathy, Anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), Crying and feeling weepy, Deep depression, Despair, Dysphoria, Extreme dispassion, Fear, Fear of dying, Fear of losing control and going insane, Fearing symptoms are not withdrawal, Fearing that you will never get better, Fear of life, Fear that symptoms are permanent, Feeling emotional, Feeling frightened, Feeling hopeless, Feeling like jumping out of skin, Feeling that the world is about to cave in on you, Frustration, Gittery, Gloom and doom, Inability to appreciate humour and laugh, Inability to feel emotions, Inability to feel joy, Inability to feel pleasure, Internal feeling of anxiety with no corresponding external cause, Irrational fears, Irrational rage, Irritability, Lonliness, Low mood, Nervousness, No feelings of fun or laughter, Obsessive thoughts, Overwhelmed feeling, Rapid mood fluctuations, Sensitive feelings, Severe negative looping thoughts, Sudden sadness, Terror, Void of normal emotions



Mental status

Difficulty in distracting oneself, Feeling disconnected, Feeling drugged, Feeling freaked out, Feeling like a zombie, Feeling like being on a bad LSD acid trip, Feeling numb, Feeling scared, Feeling that you're just going crazy, Feeling traumatised, Feeling unreal, Getting worried over small things, Hallucinations, Horrid visions, Hypomania, Images and songs keep repeating in mind, Inability to relax or sit still, Intrusive thoughts, Jumpiness, Loss of sense of identity, Misperceptions, Morbid thoughts, Morning madness, Not knowing who you are, Obsessive and compulsive thinking (OCD), Overwhelming feeling that you are going to die, Pacing, Panic attacks, Paranoia, Racing thoughts, Reduced stress tolerance, Suicide attempts, Suicidal thoughts, Thinking you are mentally ill, Unwarranted feelings of guilt, Visual hallucinations, Vivid dreams, Weird thinking, Wired feeling


Eyes and ears

Bloodshot eyes, Blurry vision, Dark-dim vision upon exertion or sunlight, Difficulty seeing, Drooped eyelids, Dry eyes, Eye twitching, Flashes of light in the eyes, Fuzzy eyes, Glassy eyes, Impaired vision, Occasional right eye pain, Pressure in the inner ear and outer ear, Red burning eyes, Sore eyes, Swollen eyes, Tearing eyes, Uncontrolled eye movement, Visual distortions preceding a migraine


Behavioural

Constant need to be occupied, Avoiding friends and people, Inability to occupy oneself


Visual perceptual

Derealisation, Depersonalisation, Distortion of body image, Feeling like legs and arms are not attached to body
Psychotic symptoms
Auditory hallucinations, Catatonic episodes, Compulsive suicidal ideation, Confusion, Delusional thinking, Disorientation, Formication (sensation that I had fleas/spiders crawling over me)


Cardiovascular

Chest pains, Fast heartbeat, Heart palpitations, Heart pounding, Low blood pressure, Premature ventricular contractions (irregular heart beats), Pulsating all over my body(also visable), Pulse thudding, Racing heart, Severe pain chest, Skipping heart beats, Tightness in chest


Cognitive symptoms

Can't do tasks like make food, Difficulty reading, Difficulty thinking, Forgetting names of family members, Hard time with words, Impaired cognitive skills, Impaired communication skills, Inability to focus, Inability to function, Inability to learn, Jumbled thoughts, Lack of concentration, Memory and comprehension problems, Poor judgement, Poor memory, Short-term memory problems, Slow thinking processes, Spaciness


Muscular

All muscles moving, All muscle tone feels flacid, Body feels twisted, Cranial tightness (felt my head was decompressing), Difficulty walking due to weakness and shaking, Face spasms, Inner tension, Inner vibrations, Jaw clenching (can't open or close mouth properly due to the spasms and pain), Jaw Spasms, Legs and arms shake, Muscle twitching, Muscle spasms, Rigidness and jerks, Muscle aches, Muscle cramping, Muscle tension, Muscle wasting, Muscle weakness (especially in the legs, arms and hands), Jelly legs, Restless legs, Stiff arms and legs, Stiff muscles, Stiffness in back, Teeth chattering, Tension in neck, Tight achy muscles, Tight jaw and temple, Tight head, Tight muscles in left leg, Tight muscles in neck and shoulders, Trembling and shaking, Tremors, Weakness, "jelly legs"

Nerves

All nerves firing off, Ankles reflexes diminished
Eyes and vision
Eye fluttering and twitching, Eye pain, Pain in eyes
Bone
Skeletal aches
Joints
Joint pain
Urinary
Difficulty urinating

Gastrointestinal

Bloating, Constipation, Choking, Diarrhea, Dry heaving, Fast and fine vibrations of the stomach, Gas, Knot in stomach, Loss of appetite and weight loss, Malabsorption, Nausea and vomiting, Severe pain in stomach, Slow heart rate, Swelling-bloating, Tachycardia, Weight gain


Mouth

Acid reflux, Dental pain (tooth pain), Dry mouth, Sore tongue, Metallic taste, Sore gums, Sore mouth, Too much saliva

Pain

Abdominal pain, Aching pain in legs, Bladder ache, Body aches, Headaches, Jaw pain, Lower back pain, Muscle and joint pain, Nail Pain, Neck pain, Nerve pain (hitting non-specific areas of the body randomly, but for short bursts), Pain in hands and feet, Pain in previous surgical sites, Severe bone pain, Severe head pain, Sore tongue and throat, Stinging pain, Teeth pain (felt like I had braces on), Throbbing pains, Throbbing legs, Waves of pain

Respiratory

Breathlessness, Chest discomfort and tightness, Difficulty breathing, Hyperventilation (overbreathing), Shallow breathing


Sensitivity

Chemical sensitivity, Cold extremities, Creepy crawlies on hands and arms, Feel cold even in hot weather, Food sensitivity, Intolerance to cold and heat, Intolerance to music, Photosensitivity, Sensitive to music, Sensitive to loud noises, Sensitive to light and stress, Sensitivity to smells, Very cold especially hands and feet


Sensorary

Brain nerve pain, Burning feet and legs, Buzzing throughout body, Chills, "Electric shock" sensations, Electric static shooting around body, Food doesn't have much taste, Head sensations, Heavy sensation in forehead and eyes, Heightened sense of smell, Hypersensitivity to light, Hypersensitivity to odors, Hypersensitivity to sound, Hypersensitivity to stimuli, Intense burning head/brain, Intense burning scalp, Intense burning spine, Itchy head and face, Numbness and tingling in face, Numbness and tingling in feet, Numbness and tingling in hands, Numb area on bottom of left foot, Numbness in arms, Numbness in face and left side, Numbness in fingers, Numbness in head, Numb right foot, Numbness in lip and tongue, Pins and needles, Sensory disruption, Soapy taste in mouth, Stabbing pains in limbs, Tingling on scalp, Tinnitus


Skin

Burning patches, Chapped skin, Cold sweats, Dermatographism, Dry itchy skin, Eyebrow loss, Feeling hot, Hair loss, Hives, Itching and stinging from head to toe, Itching sensation under my skin, Lashes falling out, Night sweats, Rashes, Rash under brows, Skin sensitivity, Sweating, Tingling skin, Very oily skin and hair


Sleep

Anxiety dreams, Frequent awakenings during the night, Horrific nightmares, Hypnagogic hallucinations, Jolts that wake you up, Lack of deep sleep, Poor sleep, Rebound REM sleep, Severe insomnia and tiredness, Sleep paralysis, Twilight sleep, Waking early, Weird dreams


CNS

Adrenaline jolts, Brain fog, Dizzy, Frozen feeling (like I need to get up and do something but can't do the action), Hypervigilence about symptoms, Impaired vigilance, Increased nicotine craving, Lack of energy, Lack of motivation, Light-headedness (especially when I stand too quickly), Loss of balance, Loss of sex drive, Mental and physical exhaustion, Migraine headaches, Pounding in my head, Pressure in head, Pulsating in right temporal area especially upon exertion, Restlessness, Room spinning, Seizures, Severe fatigue, Thirst, Vertigo, Voice weak


Immune system

Fevers, New allergies, Ulcers in mouth, Worsening of allergies


Female

Irregular Menstrual Cycle


Body

Feeling as if been punched in gut and chest, Feeling heavy legged, Feeling unwell, Flu like symptoms, General malaise, Going from hot and sweaty to cold and clammy, Hot and cold flushing, Increased number and severity of infections, Severe body pain, Water Retention


1. ACUTE:

- aggression
- anxiety
- agoraphobia
- apathy
- ataxia
- breathlessness
- chest discomfort and tightness
- choking
- constipation
- convulsions (muscle usually)
- dental pain
- depersonalisation
- depression
- derealisation
- diarrhoea
- distortion of body image, misperceptions
- dry, itchy skin
- "electric shock" feelings throughout the body
- dysphoria
- excitability
- fasciculations
- flushing
- formications
- head sensations
- heart palpitations
- hyperacusis
- hypersensitivity to stimuli
- hyperosmia (sensitive sense of smell)
- hyperpyrexia (overheating)
- hyperventilation (overbreathing)
- insomnia
- intrusive thoughts
- irrational rage
- irritability
- jumpiness
- metallic taste
- nausea
- nightmares
- obsessions
- panic attacks
- perceptual disturbances and distortions
- photosensitivity
- psychotic symptoms (usually transient and
confined to rapid withdrawal)
- restlessness
- seizures (on abrupt discontinuation)
- sensory disruption
- scalp burning
- sore tongue
- sweating, night sweats
- tinnitus
- tremor
- vomiting
- weakness, "jelly legs"
- weight gain
- weight loss (this may be quite rapid)

Cold Turkey

Symptoms usually confined to 'cold turkey' or rapid
withdrawal from high doses of benzodiazepines:
- confusion
- delirium
- fits
- hallucinations
- psychotic symptoms
- seizures

2. PROTRACTED:

- abnormal muscle tone
- anxiety
- aching joints
- ataxia
- allergic reactions
- back pain
- blepharospasm (eye twitching)
- breast pain
- apathy
- constipation (often alternating with diarrhoea)
- cravings
- dehydration
- dental pain
- depersonalisation
- depression
- derealisation
- diarrhoea (often alternating with constipation)
- dry, tickly cough
- dysphagia
- fluctuations in blood pressure
- "electric shock" feelings throughout the body
- fasciculations
- formication (sensation of bugs crawling over skin)
- gait disturbance (the ground seems to move underfoot)
- gastritis
- glassy eyes
- hair loss
- heartburn
- heart palpitations
- heavy flu-like symptoms
- hyperacusis
- hyperaesthesia (sensitivity to stimuli)
- hyperosmia
- insomnia
- iris colour changes
- kakosmia
- joint pains
- leukonychea (whitening of nails)
- libidinal changes
- malabsorption
- menstrual irregularity
- muscular cramps
- muscular rigidity
- muscular spasms
- muscular (and bone) weakness
- myoclonic convulsions (muscle/nerve spasms)
- nausea
- neurological problems (topical nerve anaesthesia)
- nose bleeds
- oedema (especially of ankles and face)
- oesophagitis
- paraesthesiae (numbing, burning and tingling; pins and needles)
- poor concentration
- poor short-term memory
- perspiring, night sweats
- severe headaches
- sinusitis
- skin insensitivity
- sore, itchy eyes
- spine (burning sensation)
- stomach cramps
- thirst
- thrush-like symptoms
- tremor
- tinnitus (ear buzzing, popping, ringing, hissing)
- tiny pupils
- urinary problems (bladder either 'all on' or 'all off')
- vertigo
- visual disturbances (blurred, double, vivid)
- vomiting
- water retention

3. PARADOXICAL:

- acute hyperexcited state
- agitation
- aggressive behaviour
- anxiety
- breathlessness
- excitability
- fear
- hallucinations
- hostility
- hyperactivity
- increased muscle spasticity
- irrational rage
- insomnia
- nervousness
- nightmares, vivid dreams
- phobias
- rage
- restlessness
- restless legs, arms
- sleep disturbances
- tension
- tremor
- panic attacks

4. TOLERANCE EFFECTS (including toxicity):

- anxiety
- apnea (night)
- breathlessness
- dyspnea (breathing problems)
- fibrositis
- fatigue
- gait disturbance
- impotence
- leaden heaviness
- lethargy
- libido disturbances
- loss of self-confidence
- menstrual irregularity
- neurological problems
- panic attacks
- phobias
- severe muscle rigidity
- short-term memory impairment
- vasovagal attacks
- vertigo

5. SIDE EFFECTS:

- abnormal behaviour or false beliefs
- aches and pains (muscle tension)
- aggressiveness
- agitation
- agoraphobia and claustrophobia
- anger
- anti-social behaviour
- apathy
- ataxia
- blood disorders (resulting in severe tiredness
and possible infections)
- blurred vision
- bradycardia (slow heartbeat/pulse)
- breast enlargement
- changes in appetite
- changes in libido
- changes in salivation
- chemical sensitivities, allergies
- cognitive impairment
- confusion
- daytime drowsiness
- depression
- diarrhoea and constipation
- diplopia
- dizziness
- dry, itchy skin
- dysarthria
- dysphoria
- emotional blunting
- exhaustion
- fatigue
- feeling afraid
- feeling unreal
- feelings of anger and anxiety
- flu-like symptoms
- hair loss
- hallucinations
- headaches
- hypotension
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- inability to pass urine/holding of urine in the bladder
- impairment of motor co-ordination
- incontinence
- insomnia
- irritability
- jaundice
- jaw pains
- lack of concentration
- lack of confidence
- lethargy
- many people wonder why they have changed from being happy
and outgoing, to being over-anxious and unconfident
- memory loss or forgetfulness
- mild hypertension
- muscle weakness, spasticity, cramps, abnormal tone
- nausea
- nightmares
- numbed emotions
- oedema
- panic attacks
- personality changes
- poor muscle control
- problems with vision
- psychomotor impairment
- rashes
- reduced alertness
- reduced blood pressure
- restlessness
- shivering
- skin problems, rashes
- sleep problems
- slurred speech
- stomach and bowel problems
- stomach upsets
- suicidal behaviour
- thyroid disturbances
- tolerance
- tremor
- urinary retention
- vertigo
- violence
- water retention
- weight gain
- xeroderma (dry skin)

6. CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS:

CARDIOVASCULAR:

Fluctuations in blood pressure
Mild hypertension
Shivering, feelings of extreme cold or hot
Heart palpitations

DERMATOLOGICAL:

Allergic reactions
Chemical sensitivities
Dry, itchy skin
Dry throat, sore tongue, and thrush
Formications (sensation of crawling on skin)
Glassy eyes
Hair loss
Leukonychea (whitening of nails)
Nosebleeds
Oedema
Paraesthesiae (numbness, tingling)
Perspiring, night sweats
Rashes, blotches

GASTROINTESTINAL:

Bladder incontinence
Constipation (sometimes alternating with diarrhoea)
Diarrhoea
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
Gastritis
Heartburn
Nausea
Oesophagitis
Stomach cramps

GENITOURINARY:

Impotence
Libido disturbances
Menstrual irregularities
urinary problems (continence or incontinence)
Encopressia (faecal incontinence)

MUSCULOSKELETAL:

Aching joints
Blepharospasm (eye twitches)
Formication (sensations of bugs crawling on skin)
Gait disturbance
Jaw, tooth, neck and shoulder pain
Muscle wasting
Muscle spasms
Rapid weight loss
Severe headaches
Severe muscle rigidity
Tremor or feeling of inner vibration
Vertigo

NEUROLOGICAL:

Blurred vision, seeing spots, flashes, vivid vision
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Dysphagia (difficulty eating or swallowing)
Electric shock feelings
Fatigue, leaden heaviness
Hypersensitivity to light, sound, and other stimuli
Neurological problems (e.g. topical anaesthesia)
Severe muscle rigidity
Speech difficulty
Thirst
Tinnitus (ear buzzing, popping, ringing, hissing)
Tiny pupils
Tremor

PARADOXICAL:

Agitation
Aggressive behaviour anxiety
Breathlessness
Excitability
Fear
Hostility
Hyperactivity
Irrational rage
Insomnia
Nervousness
Nightmares, vivid dreams
Phobias
Restlessness

PSYCHIATRIC:

Apathy
Anxiety
Delirium
Depersonalisation
Depression
Derealisation
Distortions or hallucinations
Dysphoria (inability to feel pleasure or happiness)
Fear
Hyperventilation
Hyperreflexia (‘jumpiness’)
Hypnologic hallucinations sleepwalking)
Lack of concentration
Nightmares
Obsessions
Paranoia
Phobias (hydrophobia, agoraphobia, monophobia,
acrophobia, anthropophobia and others)
Rapid mood changes
Suicidal thoughts
Short-term memory impairment

RESPIRATORY:

Breathlessness
Choking
Dry, tickly cough
Dyspnea (breathing difficulty)
Hyperventilation (overbreathing)
Inability to draw satisfying breath
Night apnea
Sinusitis

http://benzowithdrawal.com/forum/index.php exellent forum

http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk/

http://www.benzo.org.uk/ (excellent site)

there are other helpful sites