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Psychiatric drugs & healthcare
Prepare
Readiness for drug tapering
Taper
Practical how-to information
Heal
Withdrawal survival
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What's known about drug risks
A primer on psychiatric drug dependence, tolerance and withdrawal
Psychiatric drug taper rates: a review and discussion
Introduction: the vital role of good preparation
Step 1 – How do I feel about the idea of coming off psychiatric drugs?
Step 2 – Learn about psychiatric drug dependence, tolerance and withdrawal
Step 3 – What is my withdrawal beacon?
Step 4 – Managing day-to-day responsibilities and tasks
Step 5 – Building a support system
Step 6 – Communicating with prescribers
Step 7 – Listening to the body and its messages
Step 8 – Being with pain and darkness
Step 9 – Is the time right for me to taper?
Step 10 – Get informed about your psychiatric drug
Step 11 – Ensuring that a drug is relatively ‘taper-friendly’
Step 12 – Interactions, reactions and sensitivities
Step 13 – Taper rates
Step 14 – Taper schedules
Step 15 – Taper methods
Step 16 – Preparatory decisions
Step 17 – Gather the gear
Step 18 – Essential skills
Step 19 – Setting up a taper journal
Step 20 – Implementing a taper
Withdrawal symptoms A to Z
Coping techniques A to Z
Reclaim your health
Help Hub –
Support articles
Family and Friends –
Support your loved ones
Practitioners –
Prescribers, coaches, doctors, etc.
How "Mental Disorders" are Diagnosed
An Overview of Psychiatry's Diagnostic Manual (the DSM)
Unlearn "Mental Disorders"
"ADHD" Stimulants
"Anti-anxiety" Benzodiazepines
"Antidepressants"
"Antispychotics"
"Mood Stabilizers" and Lithium
"Sleep Aids" Z-Drugs
How Outcomes are Measured in Psychiatric Research
How Psychiatric Drugs are Researched and Marketed
Exploring Alternatives
Exercise
Reflections: Listening to yourself
Reading assignment
Reflections: Grappling with the facts about psychiatric drugs
Exercise: Exploring feelings and beliefs about psychiatric medications
Reflections: To withdraw or not to withdraw
Inventory exercise: Responsibilities, tasks, and possible solutions
Reflections: Planting seeds
Exploratory exercise: What does “support” mean to me?
Optional exercise: Create an inventory of your needs and possible supports
Reflections: Anchoring in a sense of safety and security for the taper road ahead
Reflective prompts
Tips and troubleshooting around a difficult relationship with a prescriber
Reflections: To ask or not to ask your doctor?
Exercise: How much do I let my body guide me?
Readings: Physical health during withdrawal
Reflections: Coming off psychiatric drugs is about journeying back to our own bodies
Exercise: How do I manage deep and difficult challenges in my life?
Optional exercise: Create an inventory of your strategies
Reflections: Journeying back to being with ourselves
Gather the key documents
Reflections: Getting empowered through self-education
ICI's guide to the FDA-approved drug label
ICI's key to withdrawal-related information in the FDA-approved drug label
Determine how ‘taper-friendly’ your drug is
Reflections: to switch or not to switch
Readings
Reflections: navigating the unknown
Readings: Getting a handle on slow psychiatric drug tapering and finding the right rate for you
Reflections: Making your chosen rate as safe as possible
The options: A daily microtaper or cut-and-hold schedule
Discussion: Comparing the pros and cons of daily microtapering and cut-and-hold schedules
Reflections: Make a decision – or hold off for now
Making a liquid mixture
Using a digital scale
Counting beads in a beaded capsule
Using a compounding pharmacy
Using a manufacturer’s oral liquid
Reflections: Which psychiatric drug taper method is best for you?
Making a liquid mixture using immediate-release tablets or capsules
Using a digital scale to weigh powder from a crushed immediate-release tablet or poured-out powder or beads from a capsule
Counting beads from a beaded capsule
Using a compounding pharmacy to obtain capsules and/or liquid
Using a manufacturer’s oral liquid
Adapter caps
Bead-counting surface
Counting implement
Digital scale
Empty capsules
Graduated cylinders and pipettes
Jars
Labels and pen/marker
Measuring bowl or tray
Mortar and pestle
Pharmaceutical-grade powder filler
Pill bottles
Pill organizer
Refrigerator and/or cooler bag
Slip tip syringes
Transferring implements
Counting and making cuts with beads
Diluting powder when using a digital scale
Understanding the limits of a digital scale's accuracy
Using an adapter cap
Using a digital scale for weighing and making cuts
Using a mortar and pestle for pulverizing tablets
Using syringes
Doing calculations for a taper
Special tips for calculations and liquids
Section 1 – Tracking calculations and amounts
Section 2 – Listening to your body and tracking symptoms and experiences
Review
Sample implementation: Making and cutting a liquid mixture
Sample implementation: Using a digital scale to weigh and cut powder or beads
Sample implementation: Counting and cutting beads
Sample implementation: Using a compounding pharmacy
Sample implementation: Making cuts from a manufacturer’s oral liquid
Looking for something specific?
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Helping you make informed choices about all things mental health: diagnoses, drugs, and drug withdrawal.
About
More ways to get involved
Resources
Learn –
Psych diagnoses and drugs
What's known about drug risks
How "Mental Disorders" are Diagnosed
An Overview of Psychiatry's Diagnostic Manual (the DSM)
Unlearn "Mental Disorders"
"ADHD" Stimulants
"Anti-anxiety" Benzodiazepines
"Antidepressants"
"Antispychotics"
"Mood Stabilizers" and Lithium
"Sleep Aids" Z-Drugs
How Outcomes are Measured in Psychiatric Research
How Psychiatric Drugs are Researched and Marketed
Exploring Alternatives
A Primer on Psychiatric Drug Dependence, Tolerance and Withdrawal
Psychiatric Drug Taper Rates: A Review and Discussion
Prepare –
Readiness for drug tapering
Introduction: The Vital Role of Good Preparation
Step 1- How Do I Feel About the Idea of Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs?
Exercise
Reflections: Listening to Yourself
Step 2- Learn About Psychiatric Drug Dependence, Tolerance and Withdrawal
Reading Assignment
Reflections: Grappling With the Facts About Psychiatric Drugs
Step 3- What is My Withdrawal Beacon?
Exercise: Exploring Feelings and Beliefs about Psychiatric Medications
Reflections: To Withdraw or Not To Withdraw
Step 4- Managing Day-to-Day Responsibilities and Tasks
Inventory Exercise: Responsibilities, Tasks, and Possible Solutions
Reflections: Planting Seeds
Step 5- Building a Support System
Exploratory Exercise: What Does “Support” Mean to Me?
Optional Exercise: Create an Inventory of Your Needs and Possible Supports
Reflections: Anchoring in a Sense of Safety and Security for the Taper Road Ahead
Step 6- Communicating with Prescribers
Reflective Prompts
Tips and Troubleshooting Around a Difficult Relationship with a Prescriber
Reflections: To Ask or Not To Ask Your Doctor?
Step 7- Listening to the Body and Its Messages
Exercise: How Much Do I Let My Body Guide Me?
Readings: What the Lay Community Has Learned about Physical Health During Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal
Reflections: Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs is About Journeying Back to Our Own Bodies
Step 8- Being With Pain and Darkness
Exercise: How Do I Manage Deep and Difficult Challenges in My Life?
Optional Exercise: Create an Inventory of Your Strategies
Reflections: Journeying Back to Being With Ourselves
Step 9- Is the Time Right For Me to Taper?
Taper –
Practical how-to information
Step 10 - Get Informed About Your Psychiatric Drug
Gather the Key Documents
Reflections: Getting Empowered Through Self-Education
ICI’s Guide to the FDA-approved Drug Label
ICI’s Key to Withdrawal-related Information in the FDA-approved Drug Label
Step 11- Ensuring that a Drug is Relatively ‘Taper-friendly’
Determine How ‘Taper-friendly’ Your Drug is
Reflections: To Switch or Not to Switch
Step 12- Interactions, Reactions and Sensitivities
Readings
Reflections: Navigating the Unknown
Step 13- Taper Rates
Readings: Getting a Handle on Slow Psychiatric Drug Tapering and Finding the Right Rate For You
Reflections: Making Your Chosen Rate as Safe as Possible
Step 14 - Taper Schedules
The Options: A Daily Microtaper or Cut-and-hold Schedule
Discussion: Comparing the Pros and Cons of Daily Microtapering and Cut-and-hold Schedules
Reflections: Make a Decision – Or Hold Off for Now
Step 15 - Taper Methods
Making a liquid mixture
Using a Digital Scale
Counting Beads in a Beaded Capsule
Using a Compounding Pharmacy
Using a Manufacturer’s Oral Liquid
Reflections: Which Psychiatric Drug Taper Method is Best for You?
Step 16- Preparatory Decisions
Making a Liquid Mixture Using Immediate-release Tablets or Capsules
Using a Digital Scale to Weigh Powder from a Crushed Immediate-release Tablet or Poured-out Powder or Beads from a Capsule
Counting Beads from a Beaded Capsule
Using a Compounding Pharmacy to Obtain Capsules and/or Liquid
Using a Manufacturer’s Oral Liquid
Step 17- Gather the Gear
Adapter Caps
Bead-counting Surface
Counting Implement
Digital Scale
Empty Capsules
Graduated Cylinders and Pipettes
Jars
Labels and Pen/marker
Measuring Bowl or Tray
Mortar and Pestle
Pharmaceutical-grade Powder Filler
Pill Bottles
Pill Organizer
Refrigerator and/or Cooler Bag
Slip Tip Syringes
Transferring Implements
Step 18- Essential Skills
Counting and Making Cuts with Beads
Diluting Powder When Using a Digital Scale
Understanding the Limits of a Digital Scale's Accuracy
Using an Adapter Cap
Using a Digital Scale for Weighing and Making Cuts
Using a Mortar and Pestle for Pulverizing Tablets
Using Syringes
Doing Calculations for a Taper
Special Tips for Calculations and Liquids
Step 19- Setting Up a Taper Journal
Section 1- Tracking Calculations and Amounts
Section 2: Listening to Your Body and Tracking Symptoms and Experiences
Step 20- Implementing a Taper
Review
Sample Implementation: Making and Cutting a Liquid Mixture
Sample Implementation: Using a Digital Scale to Weigh and Cut Powder or Beads
Sample Implementation: Counting and Cutting Beads
Sample Implementation: Using a Compounding Pharmacy
Sample Implementation: Making Cuts from a Manufacturer’s Oral Liquid
Heal –
Withdrawal survival
Withdrawal Symptoms A to Z
Coping Techniques A to Z
Reclaim Your Health
Help Hub –
Support articles
What's New
Join the Exchange community
ICI Blog
Facebook Conversations community
Get our newsletter
Connect Login
Donate
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