The Antidepressant Solution Summary:

"Here from Joseph Glenmullen, M.D., author of the landmark study Prozac Backlash, is the essential guide to helping millions of patients overcome antidepressant ""addiction,"" dependence, and withdrawal by using a five-step program to safely and effectively taper off the drugs. More than twenty million Americans -- including over one million teens and children -- take one of today's popular antidepressants, such as Paxil, Zoloft, or Effexor. Dr. Glenmullen, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, recognizes the many benefits of antidepressants and prescribes them to his patients, but he has also led the way in warning the public of the dangers associated with overprescribing these drugs. Now, in the wake of overwhelming evidence, the FDA has finally stepped forward and urged pharmaceutical companies to include warning labels on antidepressants to caution doctors and patients that the drugs -- and more important, withdrawal from them -- may cause agitation, anxiety, hostility, impulsivity, and even suicidal tendencies. Dr. Glenmullen's last book, Prozac Backlash, sounded the alarm about possible dangers. Now, this new book provides the solution. The Antidepressant Solution is the first book to call attention to the drugs' catch-22: Although many people are ready to go off these drugs, they continue to take them because either the patient or the doctor mistakes antidepressant withdrawal for depressive relapse. Unfortunately, approximately 70 percent of prescriptions for these drugs are written by family doctors who may not be familiar with the safest procedures to wean patients off them. Now, however, The Antidepressant Solution offers a step-by-step guide for patients and doctors alike, including: 1. Evaluating whether the patient is ready to taper off the drug 2. Making the initial dosage reduction 3. Monitoring withdrawal symptoms 4. Making additional dosage reductions 5. Completing the taper safely Written by the premier authority in the field, The Antidepressant Solution is an invaluable book for all those concerned with going through the process -- from friends and family members to doctors and patients themselves. "