New Initiative: The Withdrawal and Recovery Meeting (WARM) Network of Groups By Jennifer Bryant and Laurie Oakley This is a new initiative to give anyone who would like to start an in-person withdrawal group in their community a way to get started. We have created a free "toolkit" that contains a Guide for Facilitators, Suggested Group Format, Suggested Readings, List of … [Read more...] about The WARM Network: Withdrawal and Recovery Meetings
What to do about Sex
The recent RxISK post on PSSD and Thermal Thresholds led to a lot of comments about what should "we" - those with PSSD or related conditions - do. There was a looking out to FDA or other regulators, doctors or politicians to do something. Coincidentally on davidhealy at the same time a pair of posts on antidepressant induced suicide in children, The Greatest Failure and … [Read more...] about What to do about Sex
Historic Summit: Flox and Tox Get Together
Editorial Note: The European Medicines' Agency are holding a public meeting today about Fluoroquinolone antibiotics and the problems they can cause. They invited submissions. RxISK submitted. But was not selected for a presentation so we will not be there. Miriam Knight who has been a vigorous campaigner on the need to warn about the hazards of these drugs … [Read more...] about Historic Summit: Flox and Tox Get Together
Antidepressants, Sex and Thermal Thresholds
Last month, we announced details of two new publications about enduring sexual dysfunction after the use of medications. We hope you found them interesting. In both articles, we discussed a couple of studies from 1991 and 1999, in which neurophysiological testing showed that taking a serotonin reuptake inhibitor reduces genital sensation. We have previously mentioned these … [Read more...] about Antidepressants, Sex and Thermal Thresholds
My PGAD Nightmare
Editorial Point: This post is both an extraordinary account of PGAD (Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder) but also an extraordinary account of what many people have to put up with from psychiatry. For some of the history of PGAD see our Citizen's Petition to FDA. See also the video clip on PGAD. At the beginning of 2017, I started a kafkaian journey that gave me a mental … [Read more...] about My PGAD Nightmare
The Woman Who Was: Looking back from Prescription Cascade
Editorial Note: This is M's story. She outlines a Prescribing Cascade. In an email she also asks a question: does anyone have any evidence of SSRI withdrawal causing Vit D deficiency? HRT HRT started it all. Peri menopausal at 45, my GP did a FSH test and prescribed Climagest – oral oestrogen and progesterone. Hot flushes disappeared and I felt myself … [Read more...] about The Woman Who Was: Looking back from Prescription Cascade
Enduring Sexual Dysfunction: 300 Cases
New publications After a great deal of work, we are pleased to announce details of two new publications in the International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine. The pre-print versions are currently available. [Now updated with printed versions - June 11, 2018.] The first is our new paper – Enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment with antidepressants, 5α-reductase … [Read more...] about Enduring Sexual Dysfunction: 300 Cases
Antidepressant Withdrawal: What’s in a Name
Editorial: a recent email to RxISK on the topic of antidepressant withdrawal brings out the fact that bupropion withdrawal is very different from SSRI withdrawal and both are very different to mirtazapine withdrawal. For all RxISK posts on withdrawal see Here Email from Edge My name is A. I'm 28. I was prescribed to Wellbutrin 3 years ago, and took it for 18 months. I … [Read more...] about Antidepressant Withdrawal: What’s in a Name
Dependence on Antidepressants and The New York Times
Editorial note - for all RxISK posts on withdrawal see Here A feature article in the New York Times recently by Ben Carey covered dependence on and withdrawal from antidepressants. Here. It led to over a thousand comments within 48 hours including a predictable set of comments from doctors claiming that antidepressants don’t cause dependence and that any problems they do … [Read more...] about Dependence on Antidepressants and The New York Times
PSSD, Withdrawal & Small Fiber Neuropathy?
The picture here shows the before and after feet of a person who has erythromelalgia. After exercise or in response to other triggers, sometimes just lying in bed, the feet or other body parts can become hot and burning, possibly painfully so. The condition is linked to sodium channels. Those who get it may have a genetic variation predisposing them to it. Those who get it have … [Read more...] about PSSD, Withdrawal & Small Fiber Neuropathy?