The illness caused by tranquillizer withdrawalThis can be severe if a careful reduction plan is not followed. So many people throw their pills down the lavatory when they realize they are dependent. They then have to rush off to the doctor for more when they cannot cope with the withdrawal symptoms. This is not because they lack willpower, nor because they imagine they need the support of the drugs, it is because they are chemically dependent. If a steady reduction plan is followed, the symptoms will be much less severe. The aim is to avoid sudden drops in the level of the drug in the blood. This is when the symptoms are at their worst. Slow withdrawal is safe. Whilst there still may be some discomfort, and you may get impatient, the results will be worth your efforts. The symptoms mentioned on pages 28 to 75 are mainly the experiences of people who have tried to reduce too quickly without medical help. If you understand what is temporarily happening to your body and mind, you will not get so anxious about withdrawal. The support of your doctor and family is most important at this time. Dependence on any substance can be degrading, but you must remember that this is a therapeutic dependence, and therefore you should not feel ashamed. These drugs were given to you as a medicine. Suppose penicillin had dependence-producing properties, and it was given to you for some life-threatening disease. Would you feel guilty about the resulting dependence? It is a sad fact that many people feel guilty, not only about their dependence on the drugs, but also about the nervous illness for which the drug was originally prescribed. Some of the 'addicts' do not have a history of nervous illness. It may be they were prescribed for a temporary life problem, or back injury, and were then given years of un-queried repeat prescriptions. So many times a tearful person will say, 'What can I do? I feel confused and emotionally dead on the pills, but I am afraid to stop them in case my original illness comes back.' The truth is that if the drugs have been taken continuously for more than 3-4 months, they may be having very little therapeutic effect on the original symptoms. The user may only be avoiding withdrawal symptoms by continuing medication, and still suffer the toxic effects of the drugs into the bargain! *4\49\8* Anti-Depressants «Cheap Tramadol» |