Customer Reviews

Stopping Anxiety Medication: Panic Control Therapy for Benzodiazepine Discontinuation (PCT Bd); Therapist Guide

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are two kinds of people who take benzodiazepines---those who can stop and remain off of them, and those who can't. The percentages of the two kinds of patients is roughly 50/50%. If a patient is bothered by the side effects of benzodiazepines or just by the simple fact that they want to discontinue a much-maligned drug, this is the book to do it. That's why I gave it 5 stars. But there is a problem---after a patient on long-term benzodiazepine therapy goes off of them, they usually have to practice elaborate cognitive and breathing techniques every time they feel anxiety for the rest of their lives! These patients have to ask themselves if this alternative is actually worth not having to take a pill or two a day for the rest of their lives. It's up to them to decide.

Most patients to not develop a tolerance to benzodiazepines, and often maintain more or less the same dosage for life. An aerobic exercise regimen, a proper diet with plenty of protein, proper vitamin and mineral supplements, and a LOW dose of an antidepressant can help the patient reduce their benzodiazepine use, or even stop it, possibly even without having to practice the techniques of this book. These "other" techniques described above are elaborated in a chapter of my book, The Failures of American Medicine, available at Amazon ...