How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely

How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely

Taper off antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and ADHD Medication without withdrawal side. The new fourth edition book "How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely" by James Harper, researcher and founder of The Road Back Program, details a proven successful method for tapering off these medications with separate chapters covering each of several classes of drugs.

(PRWEB) February 25, 2009 -- Millions suffering the myriad side effects caused by antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and ADHD medications - from extreme weight gain to a dulled life - want to stop taking the drugs, their doctors would like to have their patients off the drugs, but cannot endure the emotional and physical pain involved with withdrawal or by what is known as discontinuance syndrome. Drug companies now state in the drug descriptions the medications must be tapered off of slowly to help avoid this debilitating withdrawal syndrome. The common withdrawal side effects include; electric brain zaps, nausea, anxiety, strange behavior, insomnia even relapsing into conditions these drugs are supposed to address.

The new fourth edition book "How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely" by James Harper, researcher and founder of The Road Back Program, details a proven successful method for tapering off these medications with separate chapters covering each of several classes of drugs, from antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety medications to ADHD drugs and benzodiazepines. Employing specific vitamins and nutritional supplements, this exact tapering method has been successfully used by more than 30,000 people and is endorsed by doctors across the US, as well as the UK and Europe.

Anyone can use the information in this book, in conjunction with their physician, to come off psychiatric drugs virtually pain-free while often regaining a zest for life and without returning to the condition the drugs were intended to handle. Doctors, who have previously too often been forced to watch patients suffer through withdrawal side effects, can now successfully walk them through this tapering process.

Before the dust could settle on the fourth edition of How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely, James has taken tapering off psychotropic drugs to a new level. February 23, 2009, James released six additional books titled, How to Get Off Cymbalta Safely, How to Get Off Effexor Safely, How to Get Off Lexapro Safely, How to Get Off Paxil Safely, How to Get Off Prozac Safely, and How to Get Off Zoloft Safely.

Each of these new books directly addresses the side effect nuances found with these specific medications. James plans to publish a new book for each psychoactive medication during 2009.

Available now on amazon.com. "How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely" can help anyone successfully break the choke hold of psychiatric medications; providing a road back.

James Harper can be reached for interviews and further details at:

(818) 446-2214

www.howtogetoffpsychiatricdrugssafely.com

###

Contact Information James Harper

The Road Back

http://www.howtogetoffpsychiatricdrugssafely.com

818-446-2214

UCSF Gallo Study Finds Hormone Disorder Drug Could Help Drinkers Stay Sober

UCSF Gallo Study Finds Hormone Disorder Drug Could Help Drinkers Stay Sober

A drug prescribed for male and female infertility and menstrual disorders could hold the key to a more effective treatment for alcoholism, according to a study by researchers at the UCSF-affiliated Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center (www.galloresearch.org).

(Vocus) February 24, 2009 -- A drug prescribed for male and female infertility and menstrual disorders could hold the key to a more effective treatment for alcoholism, according to a study by researchers at the UCSF-affiliated Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center (www.galloresearch.org).

The study showed that "alcoholic" rodents, when injected with the drug cabergoline, decreased their alcohol consumption and alcohol-seeking behavior and were less likely to relapse.

Cabergoline, which is marketed under the trade name Dostinex, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration in pill form to treat conditions caused by excess of the hormone prolactin.

The study, led by Dorit Ron, PhD, a principal investigator at the Gallo Center and associate professor of neurology at UCSF, is now on line (February 20, 2009), in the journal "Biological Psychiatry." (See end of news release for link to paper.)

Notably, cabergoline did not impact the rats' consumption of sucrose and, in a subgroup of binge-drinking mice, the drug did not appear to significantly affect intake of water or saccharin.

"This is encouraging," says Ron, "because it demonstrates that cabergoline is specific for alcohol, but does not affect general reward or pleasure. One of the problems with some existing drugs to treat alcoholism is a side effect that decreases pleasure, making compliance an obstacle to sobriety."

The research builds on an earlier, provocative finding by Ron and her colleagues regarding the protein GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor), which they had injected into rats' VTA (ventral tegmental area) brain region, associated with drug-seeking behavior.

In this earlier study, the scientists had trained rats to consume alcohol. Some, like humans, drank in moderation, while others binged. But when GDNF was administered, both heavy and light drinkers lost at least some of their craving for alcohol. This effect became apparent within 10 minutes and lasted at least 24 hours, the scientists discovered. Importantly, administration of GDNF into the brain prevented the rats from relapsing after a period of abstinence.

While the discovery broke new ground, the scientists knew that GDNF could not be used to treat alcoholic humans because its molecule is too large to cross the blood-brain barrier. So, in the present study, Ron and her colleagues looked at cabergoline, a compound that has been shown in cells to increase the expression of GDNF.

After establishing that cabergoline treatment resulted in an increase of the level of GDNF and activation of the GDNF pathway in the rats' VTA, the researchers sought to test its impact on rodents' drinking habits.

Rats underwent a two-month training program in which they learned to press a lever to obtain alcohol. Researchers found that when rats were injected with cabergoline, they were less likely to press the lever. The higher the dose of cabergoline, the lower the number of lever presses reported. The researchers also found that binge-drinking mice consumed less alcohol after cabergoline administration.

In further study, the researchers found that cabergoline was effective in reducing both craving for alcohol and relapse to drinking. Relapse is a critical issue for alcoholic patients trying to stay abstinent.

As further evidence of the interplay between cabergoline and GDNF, alcohol intake was tested on mice that had been genetically engineered to have a single copy of the GDNF gene, and therefore less GDNF in the brain. As expected, the scientists found that the drinking habits of these genetically modified mice were not affected by cabergoline.

Although the results of the study offer fresh hope to problem drinkers, Ron cautions that human clinical trials are needed before cabergoline can be safely prescribed. Higher doses of cabergoline have been used to treat Parkinson's disease and have been linked to heart valve problems.

"However," notes Ron, "we show that in mice and rats, a low dose of the drug is enough to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, alcohol seeking and relapse. The dose is similar to what is given to humans for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia."

Cabergoline may eventually be prescribed for other addictions. A pilot study conducted on cocaine addicts, cited in Ron's paper, reported a substantial reduction in cocaine use.

In the United States, 17.6 million people -- approximately one in every 12 adults -- abuses alcohol or is alcohol-dependent, according to the National Institutes of Health. But there are just three medications approved to treat alcohol dependence -- disulfiram (Antabuse), naltrexone (Depade, ReVia), and acamprosate (Campral).

Lead author of the study is Sebastien Carnicella, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the Gallo Center. Co-authors are Dao-Yao He, PhD, senior research scientist; Patricia Janak, PhD, associate professor of neurology at UCSF; Selena Bartlett, PhD, director of the center's preclinical development group; Carsten Nielsen, PhD, associate research scientist; and Somayeh Ahmadiantehrani, graduate student.

Research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the State of California for medical research on alcohol and substance abuse through UCSF.

The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at UCSF is one of the world's preeminent academic centers for the study of the biological basis of alcohol and substance use disorders. It is the only center studying alcoholism in the United States that is based in a department of neurology. Gallo Center discoveries of potential molecular targets for the development of therapeutic medications are extended through preclinical and proof-of-concept clinical studies.

UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions and excellence in patient care.

Link to paper: http://tinyurl.com/dh6dnk

###

Contact Information Jennifer O’Brien

http://www.ucsf.edu

415-476-2557

New Publication Describes Program for Monitoring Prescription Drug Abuse, Managing Risk

New Publication Describes Program for Monitoring Prescription Drug Abuse, Managing Risk

NAVIPPRO(TM) provides "real-time," product-specific surveillance data for scheduled therapeutics

Newton, MA (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 -- Inflexxion Inc., a company that creates scientifically validated and cost-effective solutions for critical areas of health care, is pleased to announce the publication of a study evaluating a core component of the National Addictions Vigilance Intervention and Prevention Program (NAVIPPRO). NAVIPPRO is a comprehensive risk management program for post-marketing surveillance of Schedule II and III medications. The program monitors, on an active, ongoing basis, indicators of adverse drug events, such as an emerging trend of abuse.

The article, entitled "National Addictions Vigilance Intervention and Prevention Program (NAVIPPRO): A real-time, product-specific, public health surveillance system for monitoring prescription drug abuse," appears in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety (December 2008, Volume 17, Issue 12, Pages: 1142-1154). It is authored by Stephen F. Butler, Simon H. Budman, Andrea Licari, Theresa A. Cassidy, Katherine Lioy, James Dickinson, John S. Brownstein, James C. Benneyan, Traci Craig Green, and Nathaniel Katz.

"The recent announcement from the FDA that the Agency will require companies with extended-release opioids to develop a class-wide, common Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) highlights the need for comprehensive, science-based pharmaceutical risk management," says Simon Budman, Ph.D., co-author of the study and Founder, President, and CEO of Inflexxion. "NAVIPPRO enables companies to track the abuse of all branded and generic prescription opioids in real-time, against a standard metric. It also provides tools for mitigating risk, such as PainEDU and painACTION, empirically tested programs that help clinicians and patients better understand appropriate, safe use of opioids."

NAVIPPRO integrates the key components of an effective REMS: national, real-time, product-specific surveillance; signal detection; signal verification; and empirically validated prevention and intervention programs. The study focuses on the ASI-MV® Connect surveillance component of the program, which includes the collection and analysis of "real-time" data from a network of substance abuse clinics across the United States.

"We examined client data collected on 41,923 admissions to 265 substance abuse clinics in 29 states, and assessed the representativeness, geographic coverage, and timeliness of report of the data," says Stephen Butler, Ph.D., lead author of the study, Chief Science Officer and Senior Vice President of Inflexxion. "Data collected by this network allow for the characterization of product-specific and geospatial differences in drug abuse, and can serve as a tool for monitoring the impact among the treatment center population of newly developed drug formulations."

NAVIPPRO was developed by Inflexxion with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and industry support from Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC. With our ongoing research and product development, NAVIPPRO is constantly evolving to meet Inflexxion's goal of advancing public health. To learn more about the program, visit the NAVIPPRO website (www.navippro.com).

About Inflexxion, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Inflexxion creates behavioral health solutions for prevention, education, and disease management. Inflexxion develops clinically tested programs for substance abuse and addiction, cancer, HIV, chronic pain management, women's health, and other health and wellness issues. These innovative programs help health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms deliver quality care to diverse populations. Our risk management division builds custom tools, products, and services to support the risk management initiatives of companies that research, manufacture, and market opioid pain medications and other therapeutic agents with potential abuse problems. Key offerings include NAVIPPRO, PainEDU.org, painACTION.com, and SOAPP®. Inflexxion is based in Newton, MA.

# # #

Contact Information Lara Romanowski

Inflexxion

http://www.inflexxion.com

617-614-0406

Choose Responsibility Addresses Binge Drinking With Appearance on 60 Minutes

Choose Responsibility Addresses Binge Drinking With Appearance on 60 Minutes

Choose Responsibility, founded in 2006 by former Middlebury College President John McCardell, was featured prominently in Sunday evening's edition of 60 Minutes. The non-profit has gained significant traction in its efforts to address the pressing issue of alcohol abuse by young people.

(Vocus) February 23, 2009 -- Choose Responsibility (http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/), founded in 2006 by former Middlebury College President John McCardell, was featured prominently in Sunday evening's edition of 60 Minutes. The non-profit has gained significant traction in its efforts to address the pressing issue of alcohol abuse by young people.

Statement by John McCardell, president of Choose Responsibility (http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/): "Choose Responsibility commends 60 Minutes for taking a serious look at the growing underground drinking problem permeating our country, and underscoring the need for a broad national debate. We need to make it as 'uncool' to binge drink as it has become to drink and drive.

"Binge drinking is as serious an alcohol related problem today as drunk driving was two decades ago. The harmful, destructive and sometimes fatal consequences suffered as a result of this practice are crying out for more attention."

"Not only are young people drinking illegally, they are doing so recklessly and dangerously. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, underage drinking contributes to 599,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault among college students a year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that approximately one in six teenagers have drunk so much that they blacked out and couldn't remember what happened the night before. The results of this behavior are life threatening: More than 60% of the lives lost to alcohol are lost off the highways -- over 3,000 per year. Certainly these lives are no less precious than those that occur as a result of drunk driving crashes, and the families of these young people grieve no less as a result of their tragic deaths."

"Irresponsible drinking behavior is a serious problem that needs a serious solution. Our current approach and laws are not solving the binge drinking problem, and enforcement alone is not the solution."

To view the full 60 Minutes interview, please visit http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4819332n.

Contact:

Nick DeSantis

Office: (202) 543-8760

Cell: (585) 704-2207

E-mail: ndesantis (at) chooseresponsibility (dot) org

###

Contact Information Nick DeSantis

Choose Responsibility

http://www.chooseresponsibility.org

(202) 543-8760

The first Intervention About Women Compulsive Gamblers Airs on A&E February 23, 2009 at 9 PM: Williamsville Wellness will be Featured

The first Intervention About Women Compulsive Gamblers Airs on A&E February 23, 2009 at 9 PM: Williamsville Wellness will be Featured

The show will be about an intervention and the growing problem of female compulsive gambling. Ten years ago only 3% of compulsive gamblers were women, today that figure is 46% or higher. Williamsville Wellness (located in Hanover, VA) specializes in treating compulsive gambling, is licensed to treat compulsive gambling (one of the only such licensed treatment centers in the US), encourages women gamblers with scholarships and a safe serene setting, and offers an individual approach to treating gambling addiction.

Hanover, VA (PRWEB) February 22, 2009 -- The first intervention about women compulsive gamblers airs on A&E February 23, 2009 at 9 PM. Williamsville Wellness will be featured.

Williamsville Wellness (located in Hanover, VA) specializes in treating compulsive gambling, is licensed to treat compulsive gambling (one of the only such licensed treatment centers in the US), encourages women gamblers with scholarships and a safe serene setting, and offers an individual approach to treating gambling addiction.

The Williamsville Plantation House, built more than 200 years ago, has been restored and has all modern conveniences and comforts, but retains the charm and serenity of a 19th Century manor. Neighbors like Patrick Henry visited the plantation and enjoyed its hospitality years and years ago, and patients will enjoy the same charm and hospitality now.

Williams Wellness offer a unique approach of mental, holistic, and physical therapy, offers patients the promise of freedom from gambling and a positive outlook and approach to life. The setting promotes wellness, introspection, safety and security, and aim to make the stay both pleasant and rewarding.

Williamsville Wellness provides an integrated approach to the process of recovery. The clinical director is Sherman Master, MD who manages a staff of psychologists, peer counselors, massage therapists, art therapists, personal trainers, hypnotists and specialized counselors, who all work together to create a synergy that accelerates the process of healing and change and promotes recovery in the shortest possible time.

The facility offers unique treatment plan developed with individual therapy and counseling, that leads to an understanding of the underlying problem, to abstinence, and to an improved life for the long term. Combined with group sessions and GA meetings, the approach creates a treatment program that offers the best chance of long term success.

Compulsive gambling is a progressive illness which is diagnosable and treatable. It affects the gambler, the family, the employer, and the community. It is called the "hidden illness" since there is no smell on the breath nor stumbling of steps or speech. Nonetheless, a gambling addiction is as debilitating as alcohol or drug addiction.

###

Contact Information Bob Cabaniss

Williamsville Wellness

http://www.nongambler.com

804-869-9725

Addiction Treatment Finds Success Treating Brain Deficiencies through the Belly

Addiction Treatment Finds Success Treating Brain Deficiencies through the Belly

Arche Wellness, a licensed addiction treatment program near Pittsburgh PA, has found success treating addiction by focusing on patients' malfunctioning gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. Patient data demonstrates that a consistent intake of toxins causes an addict's intestines to stop the natural absorption process. As a result of its effort to decrease toxic load, the body's GI tract inhibits absorption of many essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which leads to severe malnutrition, deficiencies and numerous mental health issues. The center now diagnoses and treats this condition using only vitamins, minerals and amino acids, improving the program's effectiveness and increasing treatment success.

Allison Park, PA (PRWEB) February 19, 2009 -- Today Arche Wellness announced its revolutionary four-step biochemical restoration process for treating addiction. Serving individuals throughout the state of Pennsylvania, the Department of Health licensed rehabilitation center provides a medically intensive, outpatient treatment model using only vitamins, minerals and amino acids for those struggling with addiction to alcohol, heroin, methadone, buprenorphine and prescription painkillers.

The four-step system was conceived upon the realization that almost all addicts suffer from some level of gastrointestinal (GI) problems and severe malnutrition. Patient data consistently demonstrated a correlation between GI distress and non-compliance and relapse in treatment. Through laboratory testing, the program now diagnoses the status of each patient's GI tract and repairs the body's ability to fuel itself as the first stage of treatment. Through the administration of medically supervised nutrient infusions, the center restores each patient's biochemical balance and repairs the malfunctioning GI tract to resolve the root cause of drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Once the GI tract is functioning properly, the body adequately fuels itself resulting in faster improvement of cognitive functioning and mental health and increased effectiveness in counseling and exercise interventions.

"Many programs look at nutritional deficits in the brain, but few if any examine the malfunctions in the mechanism that fuels the brain where the deficiency actually starts - in the gut," said Erin McClelland, MS, Executive Director of the center. "Active addicts put a lot of toxins in their bodies. These toxins cause the intestines to stop absorbing in an effort to slow contamination of the body. It is a common, natural response to a high systemic toxic load. The result is a body that is not receiving the appropriate level of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. So even when patients stop using, they remain tired, anxious and depressed."

The standard intensive, eight week program includes laboratory testing and infusions, as well as supplements, substance abuse counseling, nutritional education, physical training and spiritual enhancement. "This ensures a comprehensive, complete treatment approach and leaves no issues to chance," McClelland said. To help further this goal, the program includes twelve months of continuous aftercare free of charge, which is unprecedented in the rehabilitation field.

The use of integrative medicine and the inclusion of aftercare aren't the only features that distinguish Arche Wellness from other treatment facilities. They also utilize the Toyota Production System's philosophy of continuous improvement to achieve success. In other words, the program is an ongoing cycle of planning, implementing, refining and analyzing. As a result of this process, the center will soon be offering a specialized, less expensive service for heroin and painkiller addicts under the age of 30 because data shows these patients can recover faster with less treatment. More information on this and other Arche Wellness programs is available at www.archewellness.com.

###

Contact Information Erin McClelland

Arche Wellness

http://www.archewellness.com

724-444-1333

724-