Benzodiazepines (Benzos) are commonly prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizures because they calm the nervous system. Benzodiazepines are effective, but they can have serious risks, including dependency and side effects associated with benzodiazepine use. This article explores their uses, how they work, and the potential dangers to be aware of. Key Takeaways What Are Benzodiazepines? […]| Turning Point of Tampa
Despite clear risks, benzos and z-drugs remain widely prescribed to the elderly. New research explores what helps—and what doesn’t—when trying to stop.| Mad In America
In this article, I want to share with you what the process of tapering and healing from psychiatric medications looks like—from the perspective of someone who has taken them, withdrawn from them, an...| Mad In South Asia
Understanding Antidepressant Withdrawal © Coral Smith 2025 This post by Harriet Vogt follows on from her recent Ruptures in Clinical Care post The members of Shane Cooke and Mary Hennessey’s antidepressant withdrawal peer support group decided there was more to explore together after our first meeting. They wanted to dig deeper into their experiences of protracted| RxISK - Making Medicines Safer for All of Us
To Worry (or Not) about Medicines given to Help You Sleep I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in December 2010. Following the diagnosis I was put on anti-psychotics and I regularly visited my ...| Mad In South Asia
Several of the many people who write or track RxISK posts, have had input to this one, which dovetails with Harriet Vogt's post last week Repairing Ruptures in Clinical Care and the work of Shane Cooke and Mary Hennessey in getting health systems to listen to the voices of those harmed by treatment. The post,| RxISK - Making Medicines Safer for All of Us
Better Times Will Return © Josie Russell 2017 This post is by our warzone correspondent Harriet Vogt from frontline trenches. A few weeks ago I was invited to join an online discussion with a group of experts on iatrogenesis who have an in-depth knowledge of antidepressant withdrawal and the risks of polypharmacy. These highly informed,| RxISK - Making Medicines Safer for All of Us
Up to 1980, the pharmaceutical industry was small beer. Most of the companies had recently demerged from chemical companies, and were hiring management consultants to help them work out how to do the job. A steady stream of life-saving drugs from the 1940s to 1960s that people and health services were willing to buy at| RxISK - Making Medicines Safer for All of Us
This recently published US strategy on Suicide Prevention epitomizes all that is going wrong in medicine today. It is stuffed full of references to Shared Decision Making, Informed Consent and Lived Experience. Stuffed full of token words, window-dressing, tick-boxing. It will increase rather than reduce suicide rates. It is clear that the people behind this,| RxISK - Making Medicines Safer for All of Us