In this episode we discuss:
- How pressures and stresses in life led Nora to consult her doctor for advice.
- How Nora was prescribed an antidepressant after a 5-minute consultation with no discussion about adverse effects.
- That Nora was not prepared by her doctor in any way for what happened when she started to take her medication.
- That in Ireland you don’t always get a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that would have helped her understand what she was taking.
- That Nora reacted straight away to her antidepressant medication and the adverse reactions were sudden and shocking.
- How she stopped her tablets after 5 days but still suffered with protracted withdrawal.
- That Nora had to use the Internet to find the information that she needed about her drug.
- How Nora went back to her GP who didn’t know anything about withdrawal and became annoyed when hearing her experiences.
- That, 2 years after that short period taking her antidepressant, she still struggles with physical, emotional and psychological effects.
- That, for Nora, the most troubling withdrawal effects have been the electric shock sensations that she continues to experience.
- How Nora felt that her doctors did know that withdrawal was a possibility but could not admit to the problems that people have.
- That, if you look at the clinical trials, there is only a small chance greater than placebo that an antidepressant will have a beneficial effect but the risks of adverse effects are much greater.
- That more education of doctors is needed so that patients can make a properly informed choice about drug treatments for mental health.
- How the internet and Facebook are vital resources for people that do not get the information that they need from mainstream medicine.
- That mainstream medicine makes incorrect and dangerous assumptions about the onset, length and severity of antidepressant withdrawal.