Taken-As-Prescribed Support Services

UK mental health primary care is not fit for purpose.

Prescription harm from a Benzodiazepine.

Sorry to hear about your withdrawal David but hopefully we can help you if you need it. Thanks for your support.

After having a horrendous year discontiuing Venlafaxine I fully support this petition. Lucky( I think) to still be alive!

Thank you Ann. I will do everything I can...as you would have done! B x

I have been so wanting to do something like this - and for so long! Now I can't go online etc. - but know only to well how IMPORTANT this is. When I was struggling I had Barry Haslam and Pam from CITA to support and guide me … I would not have survived had I followed the Dr's 'tapering' advice.

Important!

Important project!

100% This will save life’s ..Thank you

This petition will save lives.. thank you

I am signing this due to trying to come of Venlafaxine and not being able because of no help from Gps etc.

There is minimal advice available on tapering and medication is often unavailable in small enough doses to allow for gradual tapering in order to minimise withdrawal effects. GP's and Psychiatrists seem to differ wildly in their advice on how best to taper from drugs with a short half life. Much more support is needed by those who need/want to come off medication.

What was meant to be a 6 week withdrawal from effexor/ venlafaxine (375mg) has turned into a 2 year nightmare. Symptoms have included the brain zaps, rage, suicidal thoughts, a massive decline in cognitive skills and developing nerve pain and getting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. It is scary what this withdrawal has done to me, it is only through online support groups that I learned to taper safely at a slow rate, it has still been hell and taken a very long time but I am almost off the drug now.

Thank you for your support CHARLES. I hope we can help you and so many others.

Thank you for taking action Beverley. My long struggle with ADs since 1997 is still not over. How did it get to this?

I’m no longer depressed, no longer anxious. There have been many times in my life when I have said “I just don’t feel well” Tests; nothing found. I now realise those tears of feeling unwell, were down to antidepressants. I didn’t know any different. I thought I wouldn’t cope without antidepressants. These medications are not intended to be on repeat prescriptions for years. They stop working, you go into withdrawal, you think something is wrong with you. No one knows what’s going on with you. Well now I know. Yes, there were times when I needed antidepressants but not for 38 years! This has damaged me and ruined my life.

My life has been ruined by the medical profession in prescribing me so many awful drugs, with horrific side effects and the worst imaginable withdrawals. I am now stuck on benzodiazepines for ever, despite them being completely ineffective because I cannot withdraw from them - I was put on them to counteract the debilitating anxiety caused by various psychiatric and off label medications then forgotten. I did not give my in formed consent to these drugs as I was not told about the side effects, the devastating withdrawals and never once told to taper. Just taken off the drugs cold turkey. I was a highly respected business woman who now has a life ruled by anxiety. The medical and pharmaceutical industry should hang their heads in shame at the lives they have ruined. These tablets should not be handed out like sweets, therapy should be the first line of treatment.

I’m so sorry for your experience and thank you so much for supporting T-A-P! Beverley

I was on p-drug for 3 months & almost died repeatedly even in hospital suffered SS/NMS, coma, stroke on drugs I did not need, want & took as prescribed. I almost died getting off them as well. Full Informed Consent is the LAW & drs failing 2 provide it putting public @ grave risk of death/disability/addiction/dependency/WD must be fined & removed from practicing "medicine"

We deserve to know the truth about prescription drugs!