Podcasts about benzodiazepine information coalition

In today's episode, we are honored to have Melissa Bond, a gifted writer and narrative journalist, joining us.  Melissa's life took a challenging turn when stressful events triggered her insomnia. Determined to find relief, she explored different natural remedies and eventually turned to prescribed medications like Ambien and high-dose Benzodiazepines. However, she found herself facing the harsh realities of drug dependency and its deleterious side effects.  Out of her courageous struggle and ultimate triumph, Melissa penned her remarkable memoir, "Blood Orange Night." Within this powerful book, she recounts her personal journey of overcoming a profound addiction to prescribed benzodiazepines.Join us as we gain invaluable insights from Melissa's experiences and delve into the complexities of drug dependency and the path to recovery.This episode serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of understanding the risks associated with medication use and the resilience it takes to emerge stronger on the other side.BIO:Melissa Bond is a narrative journalist, poet and matriarch to Salt Lake City's Slam Scene. The Salt Lake Tribune and the New York Post have both done features on Bond's book Blood Orange Night, her memoir about becoming dependent upon and then withdrawing from benzodiazepines. Blood Orange Night was published by Simon & Schuster in June 2022 and was selected by the New York Times as one of the best audiobooks of 2022. Bond has been featured on PBS Story in the Public Square, Radio West, the podcasts Risk!, Endeavors, Psychology Unplugged, The New York Times Podcast, RadioWest and Mom's Don't Have Time to Read Books. Learn more at MelissaABond.comSHOW NOTES: 

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Christy Huff, a cardiologist and medical director of the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, to discuss the complexities surrounding benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium. Intended as a cautionary tale and educational resource, this conversation delves into the risks, safe usage, and strategies for stopping benzodiazepine use, emphasizing the importance of not quitting cold turkey. Dr. Huff shares her personal experience with benzodiazepine withdrawal and her advocacy work for better physician education and patient-centered deprescribing. Tune in to learn more about the potential dangers of benzodiazepines, how to approach tapering responsibly, and how to work with your healthcare provider for the best possible outcome. Host: Brent Franson, Founder & CEO, Most Days Guest: Dr. Christy Huff Music: Patrick Lee Production: Artifact

GUEST BIO: Nicole is a Physician Assistant residing in Virginia. She obtained a BS at James Madison University in 2000 and then went on to complete the Master of Physician Assistant program at Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2004. She practiced in an Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine setting until severe illness from benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome left her unable to work.In 2005, she was prescribed Xanax for “work-related stress.” Over the course of five years, she developed many classic symptoms of benzodiazepine tolerance withdrawal, which multiple psychiatrists misdiagnosed as mental illness. This resulted in prescribed polypharmacy to “treat” the troubling symptoms of tolerance, including two benzodiazepines prescribed simultaneously, a Z-drug, an antidepressant, and an antipsychotic. In late 2010, after discovering a magazine article authored by a journalist experiencing similar symptoms from his prescribed benzodiazepine, Nicole was prompted to research further and made the connection between her own troubling symptoms and the medication. This was followed by her immediate decision to withdraw. Unfortunately, lacking the proper guidance or information at the time regarding the absolute need for a slow taper, she was negligently cold-turkeyed in a detox center. This ultimately resulted in a severe and protracted withdrawal syndrome that persists to date.When symptoms allow, Nicole writes about benzodiazepines and their potential to cause severe and/or protracted withdrawal syndromes and volunteers her time helping with ongoing benzodiazepine awareness initiatives including Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group of the Colorado Consortium. Nicole also co-founded The Withdrawal Project and she does marketing, distribution and outreach for Medicating Normal-The Film. She is an associate at the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. She hopes to continue to use her lived experience to advocate for more education and awareness around benzodiazepine risks and harms as well as for changes in prescribing and withdrawal practices. Other interests include the primal lifestyle.SHOW NOTES: 

As the Fentanyl fire burns, there is a "forgotten fire" ablaze. Mainstream media and politicians alike are (rightfully so) making headlines of our current opioid epidemic. Out the of the bright lights and tucked away from everyday conversation, there is a multi-billion dollar industry pushing anti-depressants and Benzodiazepines as the solution to our mental health crisis. On the 151st anniversary of the Great Chicago fire and the fire in Peshtigo Wisconsin, maybe we can draw some insights, wisdom or just reflect on the future of our collective mental health. Or, maybe not. You decide. WAVI - "Making brain care more accessible, actionable, and preventative" Happy Healthy Brain Foundation Colorado Consortium Benzodiazepine Action Work Group https://corxconsortium.org/work-groups/benzodiazepine/ The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices https://benzoreform.org/ The Benzodiazepine Information Coalition https://www.benzoinfo.com/ Benzo Free website and podcast (D Foster) https://www.benzofree.org/ “Benzo Free:  The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal” (D Foster) https://www.amazon.com/Benzo-Free-Anti-Anxiety-Reality-Withdrawal/dp/173227861X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16KI20S4PGKLX&keywords=benzo+free+book&qid=1664916369&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjIyIiwicXNhIjoiMC41MCIsInFzcCI6IjAuNzIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=benzo+free%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1 “Medicating Normal” documentary website https://medicatingnormal.com/ Watch “Medicating Normal” on Amazon Prime https://www.amazon.com/Medicating-Normal-Robert-Whitaker/dp/B09KDF2VQ8 “Medicating Normal” YouTube Channel – Interviews with patients and medical experts https://www.youtube.com/c/MedicatingNormal “As Prescribed” documentary website https://www.asprescribedfilm.com/ The Ashton Manual https://benzo.org.uk/manual/  BenzoBuddies support forum http://benzobuddies.org/ BenzoBrains YouTube channel (Jocelyn Pederson) https://www.youtube.com/c/BenzoBrains SurvivingAntidepressants.org support forum https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/    

***WARNING/MEDICAL DISCLAIMER***  This audio content is for conversational purposes only and does NOT constitute medical, mental health, or any other kind of personal or professional services or advice.  Consult with your doctor or health care professional before making any changes to your prescription medication. “NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH RESEARCH: “FDA Updates Black Box Warning for Benzodiazepines” https://www.center4research.org/fda-updates-black-box-warning-for-benzodiazepines/   . The agency warns patients to talk with their healthcare providers in order to develop a plan for safely and slowly tapering off a benzodiazepine.1 . . . Benzodiazepines already have a black box warning, which warns that taking benzodiazepines at the same time as opioids can lead to extreme sedation, slow and ineffective breathing, comas, and even death.6 FDA's 2020 decision keeps this previous warning about combining benzodiazepines with opioids and adds additional warnings about the risks of addiction, as well as dangerous withdrawal symptoms. “https://www.center4research.org/fda-updates-black-box-warning-for-benzodiazepines/   While experiencing the transition from high school to college, John Staight was prescribed alprazolam (i.e. Xanax), a powerful benzodiazepine (benzo). As a responsible patient, John acted in good faith, and took his medication as prescribed.  He trusted the “all-knowing doctors” and mental health professionals with his life. Decades later, at a cliffs edge, his trust in the mental health system would be permanently broken.  Listen in, as John shares how he navigated the heroes' journey and now lives to educate and help others escape the clutches of antidepressants and benzodiazepines. “No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth” Plato Colorado Consortium Benzodiazepine Action Work Group https://corxconsortium.org/work-groups/benzodiazepine/ The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices https://benzoreform.org/ The Benzodiazepine Information Coalition https://www.benzoinfo.com/ Benzo Free website and podcast (D Foster) https://www.benzofree.org/ “Benzo Free:  The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal” (D Foster) https://www.amazon.com/Benzo-Free-Anti-Anxiety-Reality-Withdrawal/dp/173227861X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16KI20S4PGKLX&keywords=benzo+free+book&qid=1664916369&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjIyIiwicXNhIjoiMC41MCIsInFzcCI6IjAuNzIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=benzo+free%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1 “Medicating Normal” documentary website https://medicatingnormal.com/ Watch “Medicating Normal” on Amazon Prime https://www.amazon.com/Medicating-Normal-Robert-Whitaker/dp/B09KDF2VQ8 “Medicating Normal” YouTube Channel – Interviews with patients and medical experts https://www.youtube.com/c/MedicatingNormal “As Prescribed” documentary website https://www.asprescribedfilm.com/ The Ashton Manual https://benzo.org.uk/manual/  BenzoBuddies support forum http://benzobuddies.org/ BenzoBrains YouTube channel (Jocelyn Pederson) https://www.youtube.com/c/BenzoBrains SurvivingAntidepressants.org support forum https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/ “What I Have Learnt From Helping Thousands of People Taper Off Antidepressants and Other Psychotropic Medications”  (Adele Framer, Founder of SurvivingAntidepressants.org, in Sage Journals) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2045125321991274 “Death Grip:  A Climber's Escape from Benzo Madness”  by Matt Samet https://www.amazon.com/Death-Grip-Climbers-Escape-Madness/dp/125004328X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UINZ48R09R5T&keywords=Death+grip+benzo&qid=1664917147&sprefix=death+grip+benzo%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1 “Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life”  (Dr. Allen Frances) https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Normal-Out-Control-Medicalization/dp/0062229265/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1A7RR0FSZXJ0U&keywords=saving+normal&qid=1664917255&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjcxIiwicXNhIjoiMS4zNiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNjAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=saving+normal%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1 “Yes, Benzos are Bad for You”  (article by Dr. Allen Frances in Psychology Today) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/saving-normal/201607/yes-benzos-are-bad-you “Anatomy of an Epidemic:  Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America” (Robert Whitaker) https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-Astonishing/dp/0307452425/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25OPKBEADLMP8&keywords=anatomy+of+an+epidemic&qid=1664917567&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjYwIiwicXNhIjoiMS4xMCIsInFzcCI6IjEuNDIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=antaomy+of+an+%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1 The Inner Compass Initiative https://www.theinnercompass.org/ The Withdrawal Project https://withdrawal.theinnercompass.org/ “A Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs” (Will Hall, The Icarus Project and Freedom Center” http://nycicarus.org/articles/reduction-psychiatric-drugs/  “The Serotonin Theory of Depression:  A Systematic Umbrella Review of the Evidence”  (Dr. Joanna Moncrieff et. al, Nature) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0 Dr. Joanna Moncrieff's website https://joannamoncrieff.com/ Dr. Roger McFillin on twitter: https://twitter.com/DrMcFillin The Radically Genuine Podcast by Dr. Roger McFillin https://radgenpod.com/ “The Better Brain:  Overcome Anxiety, Combat Depression, and Reduce ADHD and Stress with Nutrition”  (Dr. Julia Rucklidge and Dr. Bonnie Kaplan) https://www.amazon.com/Better-Brain-Overcome-Depression-Nutrition/dp/0358697131/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HSY6D8ZSWHER&keywords=the+better+brain+by+bonnie+j.+kaplan+and+julia+j.+rucklidge&qid=1664987325&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjk5IiwicXNhIjoiMC45OCIsInFzcCI6IjAuNjUifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=julia+ruck%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1 Newsweek articles on antidepressant withdrawal, antidepressant effectiveness, and lack of evidence for “chemical imbalance” theory of depression https://www.newsweek.com/2022/09/30/antidepressants-work-better-sugar-pills-only-15-percent-time-1744656.html https://www.newsweek.com/how-kick-antidepressant-drugs-without-triggering-relapse-new-research-1745509 New York Post Article “Why we should stop casually prescribing antidepressants to teens” (Brooke Siem, chef and author of “May Cause Side Effects”) https://nypost.com/2022/08/27/why-we-should-stop-casually-prescribing-antidepressants-to-teens/ Media interviews with psychiatrist Dr. Joanna Moncrieff regarding her recent serotonin research publication and antidepressant effects https://youtu.be/d65J2Kqv4xQ https://youtu.be/6eF6f3tQ6aw https://youtu.be/Lx7hfk3cpg4 Mad in America Podcast and website – source for a critical look at the evidence for current mental health practices and psychiatric medications https://www.madinamerica.com/mia-radio/ Interview with author Matt Samet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0TY9CRBcM&t=1s   National Suicide Prevention Lifeline . . . 988 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/    

Christy Huff, MD, is a cardiologist and director of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, a nonprofit that educates about the adverse effects of prescribed benzodiazepines. Dr. Huff attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern where she graduated Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed an internal medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis and a cardiology fellowship at U.T. Southwestern, with a focus in advanced cardiovascular imaging and noninvasive cardiology. Dr. Huff is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and was a private practice cardiologist in Fort Worth,Texas until 2011, when she became a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her daughter. Dr. Huff speaks and writes frequently about her lived experience with benzodiazepines. In 2015, she experienced adverse effects after three weeks of prescribed Xanax for insomnia. Over a three-year period, she slowly tapered off benzodiazepines utilizing Valium, and suffered protracted and disabling symptoms. Her personal experience led her to realize the serious risks of these medications and the potential severity of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, neither of which were emphasized during her medical training. Dr. Huff specifically advocates for better education of physicians regarding the adverse effects of benzodiazepines and how to safely taper patients off these medications. Her research interests include patient-centered benzodiazepine deprescribing and benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND). In addition to her work at BIC, Dr. Huff is a member of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse's Benzodiazepine Action Work Group.

Meghan is joined by Jocelyn Pedersen to discuss her thoughts and impressions regarding an end-time exodus, paralleling the exodus of ancient Egypt when the Lord brought the Israelites out of slavery. Topics include:- Spiritual parallels of the 10 plagues- Mindfulness - Isaiah's types of "labor" - Changing of times and seasons, signs in the Heavens Now is the Time 2022! The End Time Exodus and the Second ComingJocelyn Pedersen is originally from Pueblo, Colorado. She graduated summa cum laude from Brigham University with a degree in education and music. After working as a professional educator, she retired to care for her children until she became disabled by a medical injury. She then applied her experience as an educator and also with her injury in assisting others in getting safely off of and recovering from psychiatric drugs. Jocelyn went on to start her Benzo Brains YouTube channel and cofounded the first-of-its-kind not-for-profit, The Benzodiazepine Information Coalition which was instrumental in changing the FDA warning label for benzodiazepines. Jocelyn Pedersen is a published author with her book Seeds of Hope: A Journey Through Medication and Madness Toward Meaning. She is a founding member of the Council for Sustainable Healing, a nonprofit focused on providing resources for sustainable mental wellness and healing. Jocelyn is currently an advisor to the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices and manages a second youtube channel and Facebook page: Teachings of Jesus Christ, which focuses on sharing the message of the gospel of Christ through the lens of emotional wellness and Christ consciousness. If Jocelyn has any spare time she's either forcing her kids to watch old black and white movies with her or creating video content for the Isaiah Institute's Hebraeus Foundation.

Jennifer Swantkowski has her masters in social work from the University of Houston, a post-graduate fellowship in End of Life Care, and a PhD in Clinical Social Work from Smith College in Northampton, MA.  She has worked as a family therapist at the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA and was an adjunct professor at Boston College.  She then returned to Houston, Texas  where she served as an individual and family therapist at. The Menninger Clinic, was an instructor for individuals conducting their post-graduate Fellowships at Menninger and was also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston. For the last ten years, Jennifer has been in private practice working with adults providing individual and couples counseling.  In her practice, she focused mainly on professionals dealing with issues such as anxiety, addiction and relationship struggles;  as well as young adults who were failing to launch in their lives.  Unfortunately, due to a neuro-toxic reaction to an antibiotic and subsequent struggle to come off  the benzodiazepine prescribed for that injury, Jennifer stepped away from her clinical practice in 2020.  During this time away, she has focused on healing as well as heavily researching medication injury and benzodiazepine withdrawal.  She has written a book called The Waiting Room: My Journey of Recovery from Medication Injury and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal that will be out in early July of this summer.  She is currently working on a second book and creating YouTube videos on her channel ( jenniferswanphd) where she  discusses various issues related to benzodiazepine withdrawal as well as a separate series called Therapy from the Sidelines where she discusses a wide array of psychological topics.   She is passionate about being a part of advocacy and awareness efforts and serves as a member of the Medical Advisory Board for the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. 

In September 2020, the FDA announced a benzodiazepine boxed warning. Drugs commonly known as: Valium®, Xanax®, Halcion®, Ativan®, and Klonopin® now include the risks of: abuse, addiction, physical dependence and withdrawal reaction. The warning is only the first step, because many problems have not been addressed. Especially the harmed patients that have been prescribed off-label and without proper informed consent.If you or someone you care about is currently taking benzodiazepines please visit the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. Their mission is to educate about the potential adverse effects of benzodiazepines as prescribed   On today's podcast we discuss benzodiazepines. Center for Integrated Behavioral Health - https://www.centerforibh.com/Roger K. McFillin, Psy.D., ABPP - https://twitter.com/DrMcFillin_PsyD?s=20Radically Genuine Podcast email - RadGenPodcast@gmail.comIf you are in a crisis or think you have an emergency, call your doctor or 911. If you're considering suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK to speak with a skilled trained counselor.Additional Resources:Benzodiazepine Information Coalition

Christy Huff, M.D. currently serves as the director of the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. She is also a cardiologist, graduating at the top of her class, and attending top post-graduate training programs in noninvasive cardiology.Dr. Huff was prescribed benzodiazepines many years ago, and became physically dependent on this potentially dangerous class of psychiatric drugs. After a difficult tapering process to help her get off of benzodiazepines, she has now been benzo-free for several years.As director of the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, she wants to deliver some important messages to doctors and patients who have been prescribed benzodiazepines, or may be prescribed benzodiazepines in the future.Benzodiazepine physical dependence is not the same as addiction. In fact, the vast majority of people who develop a physical dependence on these drugs are not at all addicted. Physical dependence means that a person has withdrawal symptoms when the drug is removed from their system. Addiction implies self-harming behaviors, characterized by cravings and compulsions to continue consumption of drugs that have a high abuse potential. Benzodiazepine physical dependence is not addiction.People who have become dependent on these drugs do have hope. It is possible to safely taper off of benzodiazepines, using a slow taper method, such as the Ashton Method described in the Ashton Manual. While the process can sometimes be difficult, and the recovery period after completing the taper can take time, patients who quit benzodiazepines do eventually stop feeling withdrawal symptoms, and they do learn ways to address anxiety without the need for prescription drugs.I encourage listeners of this episode to visit https://benzoinfo.com. There is extensive information on the site for doctors and patients. While you are there, search for articles written by Dr. Huff. Her articles are informative, and they offer hope for the struggling benzodiazepine-dependent people who are looking for answers.Please also visit Dr. Leeds' practice website at https://drleeds.com and the podcast website at https://therehab.com. Thank you!

Nicole Lamberson is a Physician Assistant residing in Virginia. She obtained a BS at James Madison University in 2000 and then went on to complete the Master of Physician Assistant program at Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2004. She practiced in Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine settings until severe illness from prescribed psychiatric medication polypharmacy and a subsequent protracted withdrawal syndrome left her unable to work. Aside from her role with Medicating Normal doing marketing, distribution and outreach, she co-founded The Withdrawal Project, an effort of the nonprofit, Inner Compass Initiative. She also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and is a founding member of the Colorado Consortium's Benzodiazepine Action Work Group. She also founded and co-administrates a small support group for those injured by prescribed psychiatric medication. In the future, Nicole hopes to practice again with a focus on prescribed medication withdrawal management and also participate in education initiatives around psychiatric drug withdrawal for medical prescribers.Award-winning filmmaker, and co-director/producer of Medicating Normal, Lynn Cunningham produced, directed and edited films/TV for PBS and the History Channel in the 1980s and 90s (A Quiet Revolution: The Emergence of Alternative Education in Japan; Twenty Years of Co-Education; A Family in Progress; An Innovator's Story, Behind the Scenes, Walter Reuther & the Birth of the UAW, Tadao Ando, Butoh: A Body on the Edge of Crisis, etc).Twenty years ago, as she was becoming a parent herself, Lynn witnessed with crushing despair the dramatic transformation of a beloved family member. Once a bright, high-functioning scholar/athlete having graduated from an elite college, Lynn's relative had become in a few short years– a terrified, suicidal shell of her former self— diagnosed with serious mental illness. Putting their faith in the best psychiatric standard of care at the time in the late 90s, Lynn and her family were initially reassured by the relief and stability provided by medication and therapy. After a ten-year period, however, one medicine had become ten, and income from a vibrant, self-sufficient career was replaced with monthly disability payments. Unable to provide an answer to her relative's persistent self-doubt, “Is everything going to be OK?”” Lynn began searching for answers. She joined with her filmmaking partner Wendy Ractliffe, embarking on five years of research into the complex world of mental health treatment. After discovering Robert Whitaker's Anatomy of an Epidemic, they interviewed 100s of psychiatric patients and consulted with scores of experts across the country about their experiences. A personal quest to help one suffering individual turned into a mission to tell an untold story. In Medicating Normal, Lynn and Wendy began to piece together a stunning new perspective on the safety and efficacy of psychiatric drugs and society's over reliance on them to relieve pain and suffering.https://medicatingnormal.com/http://withdrawal.theinnercompass.org/http://www.theinnercompass.org/http://www.benzoinfo.com/https://corxconsortium.org/work-groups/benzodiazepine/***********************************Please visit our podcast website at https://therehab.comAnd Dr. Leeds' professional website at https://drleeds.comThank you!

Have you or someone you love been prescribed a benzodiazepine like Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Librium, Restoril or Klonopin?Did you know that they:- are among the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in the U.S.?- have significant potential for physical dependence and addiction?- can cause life-threatening overdose or withdrawal syndrome?- should be tapered and not stopped abruptly?My guest today is on a mission to educate and inform patients and physicians about benzos!***************In this episode, Cardiologist Dr. Christy Huff  & I discuss Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome including answers to the following questions:- What are benzos used for?- How did Dr. Huff start benzos?- What are the possible side effects of benzos?- What are the symptoms of benzo withdrawal syndrome?- How can a patient become more informed about possible side effects / adverse effects of medications?- What is the best way to stop taking benzos?- What is the difference between physical dependence and addiction?- How did benzo dependence affect Dr. Huff's life as a physician and a mom?- Why did it take so long and such a extensive medical workup to determine that Dr. Huff's symptoms were being caused by benzo withdrawal?- How did Dr. Huff eventually come off of Xanax?***************Christy Huff, MD, is a cardiologist and director of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, a nonprofit that educates about the adverse effects of prescribed benzodiazepines. Dr. Huff attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern where she graduated Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed an internal medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis and a cardiology fellowship at U.T. Southwestern, with a focus in advanced cardiovascular imaging and noninvasive cardiology. Dr. Huff is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and was a private practice cardiologist in Fort Worth,Texas until 2011, when she became a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her daughter..Dr. Huff experienced benzodiazepine adverse effects and injury firsthand after three weeks of prescribed Xanax use for insomnia in 2015. Over a three-year period, she slowly tapered off benzodiazepines utilizing Valium, and suffered a protracted and disabling withdrawal. Her personal experience led her to realize the serious risks of these medications and the severity of the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, neither of which were emphasized during her medical training. Dr. Huff specifically advocates for better education of physicians regarding the adverse effects of benzodiazepines and how to safely taper patients off these medications.For more from Dr. Huff check out:www.benzoinfo.comor IG:  @christyhuffmdIG: @bzinfocoalition***************Thanks so much for listening!  If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more, please leave a review, subscribe and share!You can always find more information on my website:www.drlexlifestylemedicine.comand....If you love the music, you can find more at:www.therealmichaelvm.com/music*****************All my love & gratitude to:my guest: Dr.  Christy Huff,my inspiration: my patients,my idea guy & confidence booster: Edward,my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,my tech & equipment guy: Pop,my angel: Susie,my music & sound guy: Mike VM,my mascot: Jules, my creative director & cheerleader: Emily,my love, Michael.

This week on the MIA podcast we are providing the audio taken from our recent psychiatric drug withdrawal town hall held in May 2021. For our third discussion, we are examining protracted problems that can arise after psychiatric drug withdrawal. Sometimes referred to as post-acute or post-withdrawal syndromes, these experiences can include chronic health problems and sexual dysfunction. What do we know and not know about responding to long- term health problems after coming off psychiatric drugs? For references and slides mentioned in the discussion, visit this link: https://www.madinamerica.com/pdwref/ Panelists Adele Framer Adele Framer resides in San Francisco, USA. A survivor of 11 years of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome, in 2011, under the pseudonym Altostrata, she founded the peer support site SurvivingAntidepressants.org, currently containing more than 6,000 longitudinal case histories from its 14,000 members. A widely recognized patient advocate, she is a lay expert in psychiatric drug tapering and withdrawal syndromes. Will Hall Will Hall is a schizophrenia diagnosis survivor and longtime organizer with the psychiatric survivor movement. He is a PhD candidate at Maastricht University and lead researcher on the Maastricht World Survey on Antipsychotic Drug Withdrawal, and author of the Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, as well as host of Madness Radio and a co-founder of the Hearing Voices Network USA. David Healy David Healy is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton Canada. He has been raising concerns about withdrawal from antidepressants since the mid-1990s and was an expert witness in a successful legal case about withdrawal and dependence in 2004. He figures we have made little or no progress sorting the issues out and now have a major public health crisis on our hands. Nicole Lamberson Nicole Lamberson is a physician assistant as well as a patient suffering protracted harm following a rapid medical “detox” from prescribed benzodiazepines/Z-drugs & other psychotropic polypharmacy. She co- founded The Withdrawal Project, serves on the Medical Board of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, & does outreach for Medicating Normal-The Film.

Is this pain part of benzo withdrawal? What about this ache? Or memory loss? Or Confusion? Or Restlessness? It seems incomprehensible that all these symptoms are related to benzo withdrawal. And yet, quite often, that is the reality we face. In today's episode of the podcast, we look at our symptoms and investigate how to ease the constant worry about each and every one. We also hear a benzo story from Oklahoma, share a comment about fear and disbelief, and discuss our return to an audio only format. I hope you enjoy it. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/benzo-withdrawal-symptoms-questions-confusion-obsession-bfp075Video ID: BFP075 Chapters 00:00 Introduction06:07 Mailbag11:10 Benzo Story30:16 Feature: Introduction36:44 Feature: Why So Many Symptoms?41:20 Feature: Dealing with Symptoms Stress51:48 Moment of Peace  Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. MAILBAG PODCAST EPISODE #10: “Insights on Withdrawal: A Conversation with Elizabeth McCarthy” — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/insights-on-withdrawal-a-conversation-with-elizabeth-mccarthy-bfp010 FEATURE Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual.Ashton, C. Heather. “Protracted Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines: The Post-Withdrawal Syndrome.” Psychiatric Annals 25(3)(1995):174-179. Accessed April 14, 2018. doi:10.3928/0048-5713-19950301-11.“Benzo Withdrawal & Post Withdrawal Symptoms.” Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. Accessed December 30, 2020. https://www.benzoinfo.com/benzodiazepine-withdrawal-post-withdrawal-symptoms.Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://easinganxiety.com/book. Frances, Allen. “Yes, Benzos Are Bad for You.” Pro Talk: A Rehabs.com Community, June 10, 2016. Accessed October 13, 2016. https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/yes-benzos-are-bad-for-you/.Trickett, Shirley. “Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines.” Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 33(254)(September 1983):608. Accessed April 17, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1973010/.  The PodcastThe Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.comMAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMERAll content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITSVideo footage used in Moment of Peace was provided / licensed by…— Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com) Music provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross Meditation Music— Title: “Always Mine”— Artist: Keith Anthony Holden PRODUCTIONEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2022 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

Share this post with others: Is this pain part of benzo withdrawal? What about this ache? Or memory loss? Or Confusion? Or Restlessness? It seems incomprehensible that all these symptoms are related to benzo withdrawal. And yet, quite often, that is the reality we face. In today's episode of the podcast, we look at our symptoms and investigate how to ease the constant worry about each and every one. We also hear a benzo story from Oklahoma, share a comment about fear and disbelief, and discuss our return to an audio only format. I hope you enjoy it. Welcome to Episode #75 In today's episode of the podcast, we dive into the mysterious grab bag that is benzo withdrawal symptoms. Where do they come from? Why are there so many? How do I deal with the unending doubts and questions about them? We also hear a story from Miami, Oklahoma, discuss fear and doubt, and share our thinking behind the return of the podcast to an audio-only format. I hope you enjoy it. Chapters 00:00  Theme00:58 Introduction06:07  Mailbag11:10  Benzo Story30:16  Feature: Introduction36:44  Feature: Why So Many Symptoms?41:20  Feature: Dealing with Symptom Stress51:48  Moment of Peace Episode Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. MAILBAG PODCAST EPISODE #10: "Insights on Withdrawal: A Conversation with Elizabeth McCarthy" — https://www.benzofree.org/podcast/insights-on-withdrawal-a-conversation-with-elizabeth-mccarthy-bfp010/ FEATURE: Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual.Ashton, C. Heather. "Protracted Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines: The Post-Withdrawal Syndrome." Psychiatric Annals 25(3)(1995):174-179. Accessed April 14, 2018. doi:10.3928/0048-5713-19950301-11.“Benzo Withdrawal & Post Withdrawal Symptoms.” Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. Accessed December 30, 2020. https://www.benzoinfo.com/benzodiazepine-withdrawal-post-withdrawal-symptoms.Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. http://www.benzofree.org/book.Frances, Allen. "Yes, Benzos Are Bad for You." Pro Talk: A Rehabs.com Community, June 10, 2016. Accessed October 13, 2016. https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/yes-benzos-are-bad-for-you/.Trickett, Shirley. "Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines." Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 33(254)(September 1983):608. Accessed April 17, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1973010/. Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YOUTUBE (Easing Anxiety): https://www.youtube.com/easinganxiety— YOUTUBE (Benzo Free): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAqLGyg8cLxj0-2WSJzYU8g— INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/easinganxiety PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK— COMMENT: On this video in YouTube— COMMENT: On the blog post on our website— FEEDBACK FORM: https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback— EMAIL: feedback@easinganxiety.com SUPPORT US— Make a Donation: https://www.easinganxiety.com/donate Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Introduction Today, I shared a bit of background regarding the decision to return to an audio-only format for the podcast. Mailbag In today's mailbag, we shared a comment about fear, disbelief, and misinformation during benzo withdrawal. Benzo Story

This Saturday is World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day. This day belongs to everyone all over the world—victims of benzodiazepines and their families, friends, caregivers, supportive doctors/medical providers as well as other concerned citizens who wish to bring awareness and force change around the problem of long-term prescription and iatrogenic dependence to benzodiazepines. World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day belongs to the world, and everyone is welcome to participate in whatever way they may wish. If everyone can do just a little something, together we can all make a huge difference. World Benzodiazapine Awareness Day: https://w-bad.org/ Benzodiazepine Information Coalition: https://www.benzoinfo.com/ "Medicating Normal" film: https://medicatingnormal.com/ Ray's Facebook page with all the details: https://www.facebook.com/ray.renati #WORLDBENZODAY #worldbenzoday Leave a Review Here: https://cutt.ly/GreenRoomOnAir ----------------------------------------------------------------- GreenRoomOnAir.com RayRenati.com Music by Carly Ozard: carlyozard.com

This week on MIA Radio we present a special episode of the podcast in advance of the events being held to mark World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day, July 11, 2020. The reason we are sharing this interview early is to help draw attention to a special screening of the film Medicating Normal which will be shown on World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day itself. Following this special screening of the film, there will be an online panel discussion featuring people with lived experience of taking and coming off benzodiazepines. If you haven’t yet seen the film, this screening is not to be missed. The film will be shown at 1 pm EST on July 11 and you can get tickets here. The film is presented by the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, a non-profit organization that strives to educate about the potential adverse effects of benzodiazepines taken as prescribed and the Periscope Foundation which is a non-profit organization that funded the making and continues the outreach of Medicating Normal. For our interview this week I am delighted to get the chance to chat with Angela Peacock who appears in the film and will be a panel member for the online discussion. Angie served in the US Army from 1998-2004 and was medically retired after one tour in Iraq. She was medicated for post-traumatic stress since that time, going on and off benzodiazepines several times under a doctor’s care until coming off for the final time in January 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and graduated in May 2019 from Washington University in St. Louis- Brown School of Social work with a Masters in social work. As a 2019 Veterans of Foreign Wars-Student Veterans of America, Legislative Policy Fellow, she is advocating for change in Benzo policy at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is embarking on a community outreach effort to improve medication and health literacy among military veterans and their family members. Angie chats about her experiences of being prescribed benzodiazepines, her journey off multiple medications, her continuing work in veterans advocacy and her thoughts about the film Medicating Normal. Medicating Normal special screening and panel discussion World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day Benzodiazepine Information Coalition Three Suicides: Honoring Lives Lost to Benzodiazepines The Many Battles of a Benzo Injury: Jean’s Story

Until I started doing this podcast, I was mostly ignorant to the extent of the harm sometimes caused by psychiatric and antibiotic medications. In spite of my own 2 week experience with disabling withdrawal symptoms from an antidepressant 20 years ago, and contemporary reports of withdrawal symptoms from friends and clients, I still had no idea how pervasive - and sometimes permanent - these brain injuries were. As frightening as that was to learn, the prescriptions for psychiatric medication for depression and anxiety have soared in during the COVID pandemic.  And let’s face it folks, we are still in the early stages of the pandemic - if we get blue skies with double rainbows we may have a vaccine in 18 months, but that’s really wishful thinking - the global economy has taken an unprecedented hit, and that means many people’s jobs and financial security are going to be at further risk. This will only add to the feelings of anxiety -- but let’s be clear, it is normal to feel anxious about how the world is suddenly changing in so many ways. Learning coping skills, having strategies to feel more safe in an unknown future, and using supportive relationships are natural ways to feel better about feeling anxious. In this episode, we hear what happened to Jocelyn Pedersen after taking a benzodiazepine for less than a week. Jocelyn was so physically sick from the benzo brain injury, she had to spend much of the time horizontal on the floor with her baby while her neighbour’s helped with household chores. Jocelyn’s body was a complete mess: she couldn’t sleep, eat, watch tv, read, her bowels were dysfunctional and she was losing weight fast. That’s just the start of Jocelyn’s journey with benzodiazepine medications -- a medication journey, as Jocelyn describes, that goes through madness. Jocelyn’s health care experience is a textbook example of how the medical system pushes psychiatric medications without understanding how the meds can cause brain injury. This often leads to doctors denying side effects or withdrawal symptoms, effectively gaslighting the patient, psychologizing physical symptoms, and pathologizing human emotions. It was a long arduous road for Jocelyn to get back to her usual high functioning self, and along the way she started sharing her experiences and what she learned and now Jocelyn has a large following on social media. On her YouTube channel Benzo Brains, Jocelyn shares real world information about benzodiazepines and strategies on successfully managing the withdrawal symptoms. Jocelyn has just written a memoir about her experiences with benzos and the health care system called “Seeds of Hope: A Journey Through Medication and Madness Toward Meaning”. Available on Amazon: https://t.co/267G0VaBiz?amp=1 Connect with Jocelyn Pedersen: People can pre-order Seeds of Hope: A Journey Through Medication and Madness Toward Meaning through moongladepress.com and when it's released June 1st on Amazon.com: https://t.co/267G0VaBiz?amp=1My channel is YouTube.com/c/BenzoBrainsSome other helpful resources are benzoreform.orgbenzoinfo.combenzo.org.uk/manualcouncilforsustainablehealing.org SHOW NOTES:   About Jocelyn Pedersen: After experiencing a severe injury to her brain and body from prescription medications, Jocelyn co-founded the non-profit, Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. She is a speaker at CME's and continuing education courses for doctors and healthcare providers on the dangers of benzodiazepines and how to help patients safely withdraw. Jocelyn is also subject in the upcoming As Prescribed documentary film and the author of Seeds of Hope: a Journey through medication and madness toward meaning. When she's not busy managing her Benzo Brains YouTube channel or serving as an advisor to The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices and The Council for Sustainable Healing, you can find her rocking out to big band music and forcing her kids to watch MGM musicals with her. 0:06:00 Jocelyn grew up in Pueblo, Colorado and her childhood was mixture of good and bad things, mental and physical abuse - but also grew up with a lot of spiritual support at Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints and it stabilized her and taught her to overcome 0:07:00 Jocelyn got an academic scholarship to Brigham Young University so she moved to Utah and she loved college and graduated with a BS (Bachelor of Science) in childhood educations - college was a way to escape and re-start her life 0:08:00 Jocelyn got married and they moved to North Carolina and they had their first baby, but he passed away, so they decided to move closer to family for support and moved to Utah 0:09:00 Jocelyn started teaching at a local school for 2 years until she got pregnant again - she writes about her experience in her memoir that will be released in June: "Seeds of Hope: A Journey through medication and madness toward meaning" -- a couple of years later she had another baby, a girl to go with a boy 0:10:00 Jocelyn's father was a chiropractor so she grew up with a healthy distrust of allo medicine - but her story really starts when Jocelyn sought out a sleeping pill from her doctor - her baby daughter was in the hospital with meningitis, and then her toddler son was admitted to the hospital twice, so Jocelyn was not getting enough sleep - the economy was bad at the time, her husband was out of work 0:11:00 The doctor prescribed Ambien and assured Jocelyn it wouldn't pass through her breast milk to her baby - Jocelyn doesn't like taking medications, but thought she'd take it temporarily to get back into her sleep cycle 0:12:00 But within a couple of days, Jocelyn could tell her baby daughter was being affected by the Ambien - after 5 or 6 days Jocelyn stopped the Ambien and that's when things fell apart and her insomnia got much worse, she had ringing in her ears, running to the bathroom all the time, couldn't eat, losing weight, couldn't read a book, watch tv, and suddenly also had pain and couldn't even go for a walk 0:13:00 Jocelyn had a bunch of tests done but they all came back normal, so no explanation, except being told 'you have post partum depression', or 'you're having a nervous breakdwon', or 'you have anxiety' - but Jocelyn knew about depression from the death of her first baby, and this wasn't that 0:14:00 After about 4 months of literally lying on the floor with her baby and neighbours coming by to help - Jocelyn had been a high energy person: running, yoga, working out - but then she started to get suicidal thoughts 0:15:00 Jocelyn was told by the doctor she had major depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder and was given Effexor and Ativan - the first day she took the meds she slept well for the first time in 4 months - only later would Jocelyn realize that Ativan is practically the same as Ambien 0:16:00 So the Ativan stabilized the injury from the Ambien - originally Jocelyn was only to take the Ativan for a brief period, but the doctor increased the dose to 2 mg - 'it was like magic', Jocelyn felt better, like her old self, except for the pain, which was diagnosed as Fibromyalgia, and she was given Cymbalta for the pain - so for the most port Jocelyn was able to lead a normal life, she was a believer that she must have needed the meds 0:17:00 Jocelyn had studied and learned a lot about natural medicine and didn't like the idea of continuing to take Cymbalta, and it put weight on her 0:18:00 But the doctor would say, 'don't stop the Cymbalta until you've stopped the Ativan, now Lorazepam - but every time she tried to cut down, her symptoms would get worse, she couldn't sleep - so she stayed on them for another 3 years - but eventually tried to wean off again - she did stop progesterone cold turkey and got really sick 0:19:00 Her blood pressure sky rocketed, she gained a lot of weight, and falling asleep in the middle of the day - so she cold turkeyed it and the first time she experienced full on crazy, shaking all the time, and couldn't function 0:20:00 Jocelyn realized later the Cymbalta had really messed with her blood sugar and that's why she had put on so much weight - Jocelyn successfully weaned of the Cymbalta, but was still taking Lorazepam at night, but she and her husband wanted to have another baby but the literature said that Lorazepam could cause birth defects - they decided to go ahead and try to have another baby and that Jocelyn would try to taper off the Lorazepam 0:21:00 But Jocelyn later learned it doesn't really cause birth defects, but can cause of miscarriages if stopped to fast - Jocelyn did get pregnant and started to taper by 1/8th 0:22:00 Just cutting an 1/8th of a mg caused intense disabling symptoms: couldn't shower, read, watch tv, losing weight, and anxiety of a whole other dimension 0:23:00 It was torture, and then she had to cut the dose again, and then again - by the time Jocelyn got to half way she was ready to give up and kill herself because she couldn't handle the unending torture - luckily her husband started researching online - because Jocelyn couldn't - and found BenzoBuddies.org and Benzo.org.uk and he found the Ashton Manual, which a lot of people use to withdraw 0:24:00 They realized that Jocelyn wasn't crazy and that a lot of people were having the same experiences - and Jocelyn was probably tapering too fast - Ativan has a half life, so Jocelyn would experience sudden symptom onsets daily - so she switched to a longer lasting benzo to complete her taper 0:25:00 At the time, Jocelyn was too sick to go to the doctor - the next time she saw a doctor was at the ER when she thought she was having a miscarriage - they brought the Ashton Manual and requested Valium to stabilize Jocelyn, the doctor was resistant but finally agreed 0:26:00 The Valium provided some relief, but it was still hell and she didn't feel like she was going to take her own life - her family has seen Jocelyn struggle with Ambien withdrawal a few years before, and hearing the testimonials of others, helped them all to understand 0:27:00 Jocelyn had been drug injured with Ambien, but misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression - Jocelyn's doctor, a friend of the family, did not recognize withdrawal symptoms of Ambien 0:28:00 Jocelyn did have a miscarriage, which she is thankful for in some ways as she wasn't well enough to take care of a newborn at the time - Jocelyn continued to taper 0:29:00 Jocelyn tried various versions of tapering before discovering water titration, which she shows how to do on her YouTube channel - she had learned that in Facebook support groups - Jocelyn did reach out to mainstream medicine, she has a chapter in her book called 'Physician Heal Thyself' - all the doctors thought they knew about withdrawal, but none of them did, and none of them had read the Ashton Manual 0:30:00 One doctor told Jocelyn that she just couldn't handle being a Mom and should take some Prozac - the only doctor who was reasonable was Jocelyn's family doctor, but all he was willing to do was to prescribe the Valium 0:31:00 But when he was gone and Jocelyn had to deal with one of the other providers at his clinic, she was given the 3rd degree every time - it took Jocelyn about 18 months to taper off 13 mg dose of Valium - the newer benzos are many multiples more powerful then Valium, yet its the the Valium doctors are hesitant to prescribe 0:32:00 Jocelyn had to learn to accept where she was during the taper, that she had a brain injury - she also had support with the kids during the day, when her son started back to school... 0:33:00 she reached out to people in her church community and a different family came over each day to help her - Jocelyn does not know how she could have managed without community support because her husband was working 2 jobs 0:34:00 The big turning point for Jocelyn was finding a functional medicine doctor, a ND (Naturopathic Doctor) - she found one in her area and helped her with her benzo belly - he did tests that allopathic doctors don't do 0:35:00 He was able to pinpoint deficiencies - she started on a high protein diet because she was hypoglecemic - after about a week on his protocol Jocelyn started improving a lot, sleeping well 0:36:00 Then her son was prescribed an antibiotic and it injured him - it was like deja vu: once again no doctor is believing them - turns out her son developed an autoimmune illness and is allergic to everything - he was a normal boy, running and playing, then suddenly he's in a wheelchair and crying out in pain every few minutes 0:37:00 The paedeatric allergist said her son always had the autoimmune illness, refused to believe it was caused by an antibiotic - but the functional medicine doctor was able to help cut down on the inflammation and allergic reactions, but they are still figuring it out - he has a lot of trauma from that, and from a Mom who was disabled twice in his life - Jocelyn had to learn not to give power to health providers, and to heal herself 0:38:00 Yoga, meditation, diet, stem cell therapy for trigeminal pain -- nerve pain in her face -- it literally hurt to breath - the stem cell was very helpful, but she has to go back every 4 months or so as the pain comes back 0:39:00 How can someone help you if they don't even believe you? -- some doctors are open, but plenty are just closed minded 0:40:00 During her taper, Jocelyn was asked to be a moderator of a Facebook group, so she helped people find resources - then another friend asked her start another group to help people apply for disability or medical malpractice suits or correct medical records - Jocelyn realized they needed some 'weight' behind them, as they were 'just' sick patients, so Jocelyn suggested they start a non-profit 0:41:00 The Benzodiazepine Information Coalition - but then her son got sick and she had to step back to care for and home school him - but it was toward the end of her taper that she made her first Youtube video, just for her friends in the support group - and it got lots of shares - then when she was frustrated with doctors she made another video and that was picked up by Mad in America, and things just picked up 0:42:00 Her videos help people with brain injuries and their families get the support then needed - her Youtube channel is Benzo Brains - Jocelyn is doing really well. now, living life fully - she does get more stressed out physically 0:43:00 Her body is kind of delicate now, but she is really happy, with peace and joy - but if she doesn't get enough sleep or eat write, a dark blanket descends on her brain, but she knows it is only temporary - but it is painful having a son who is still suffering, but she's not coming from a place of fear 0:44:00 Jocelyn believes the suicidal thoughts that came from withdrawal are product of the medications causing the repeated thought 'kill yourself, kill yourself, kill yourself' 0:45:00 Most of the people dealing with withdrawal are good people, just doing what your doctor told you - Jocelyn was asked to speak in 2017 at the benzodaizipine medical symposium for doctors 0:46:00 Jocelyn met a lot of wonderful people, including a woman, a benzo survivor, who asked Jocelyn to write a book - initially Jocelyn declined but then thought it could be a good tool to get the message out there 0:47:00 It took a while to write while taking care of kids and her own healing journey, but it will be published June 1st - Seeds of Hope: A journey through madness, medication and meaning - she wants to give people hope that are in the same situation 0:48:00 The publisher approached Jocelyn to write the book - some of her benzo awareness efforts have been black balled by google or facebook or youtube 0:49:00 Obviously there are forces out there they do not want this information in the public spere, but Jocelyn believes there also people out there that know something is wrong - benzo perscriptions have increased 10 fold over the last decade - doctors are just substituting benzos for opiates - so big pharma's profits increased by 10 fold - since COVID, anxiety meds prescriptions have increased 34% 0:50:00 Alliance of Benzo Best Practices is a group of doctors who understand, and researchers who want to do research for the FDA to change recommendations, and to re-educate doctors on these drugs 0:51:00 The stuff pharma puts out, does not warn people about what these drugs can do   Connect with Jocelyn Pedersen:   People can pre-order Seeds of Hope: A Journey Through Medication and Madness Toward Meaning through moongladepress.com and when it's released June 1st on Amazon.com: https://t.co/267G0VaBiz?amp=1My channel is YouTube.com/c/BenzoBrainsSome other helpful resources are benzoreform.orgbenzoinfo.combenzo.org.uk/manualcouncilforsustainablehealing.org   Be a podcast patron Support Medical Error Interviews on Patreon by becoming a Patron for $2 / month for audio versions.  Premium Patrons get access to video versions of podcasts for $5 / month. Be my Guest I am always looking for guests to share their medical error experiences so we help bring awareness and make patients safer. If you are a survivor, a victim’s surviving family member, a health care worker, advocate, researcher or policy maker and you would like to share your experiences, please send me an email with a brief description:  RemediesPodcast@gmail.com  Need a Counsellor? Like me, many of my clients at Remedies Counseling have experienced the often devastating effects of medical error. If you need a counsellor for your experience with medical error, or living with a chronic illness(es), I offer online video counseling appointments. **For my health and life balance, I limit my number of counseling clients.**  Email me to learn more or book an appointment:  RemediesOnlineCounseling@gmail.com Scott Simpson:  Counsellor + Patient Advocate + (former) Triathlete I am a counsellor, patient advocate, and - before I became sick and disabled - a passionate triathlete. Work hard. Train hard. Rest hard. I have been living with HIV since 1998. I was the first person living with HIV to compete at the triathlon world championships. Thanks to research and access to medications, HIV is not a problem in my life. I have been living with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) since 2012, and thanks in part to medical error, it is a big problem in my life. Counseling / Research I first became aware of the ubiquitousness of medical error during a decade of community based research working with the HIV Prevention Lab at Ryerson University, where I co-authored two research papers on a counseling intervention for people living with HIV, here and here.  Patient participants would often report varying degrees of medical neglect, error and harms as part of their counseling sessions. Patient Advocacy I am co-founder of the ME patient advocacy non-profit Millions Missing Canada, and on the Executive Committee of the Interdisciplinary Canadian Collaborative Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Research Network. I am also a patient advisor for Health Quality Ontario’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, and member of Patients for Patient Safety Canada. Medical Error Interviews podcast and vidcast emerged to give voice to victims, witnesses and participants in this hidden epidemic so we can create change toward a safer health care system. My golden retriever Gladys is a constant source of love and joy. I hope to be well enough again one day to race triathlons again. Or even shovel the snow off the sidewalk.

Angela Peacock, MSW, is a US Army veteran, benzo survivor, member of BIC's medical board, and a tireless advocate for those who struggle with PTSD and psychiatric drugs. Her story is highlighted in the new film, "Medicating Normal."Premiering at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on January 16th and 17th, “Medicating Normal” is a documentary feature film about the overprescribing of psychiatric drugs and its effects. Join us for our fascinating conversation with Angie on today's podcast. Welcome to Episode #52 Listen to our wonderful conversation with Angela Peacock, whose story is one of five highlighted in the new documentary feature film, "Medicating Normal." D's conversation with Angie covers a wide range of topics including polypharmacy, benzos, withdrawal, veterans issues, PTSD, BIC, and her involvement in the film. Angie has so much wonderful information to share, and it's a conversation you won't want to miss. Last week we had an enlightening conversation with Lynn Cunningham, producer/ director of the film. Go back and check that one out when you have a chance. Episode Index Each time listed below is in minutes and seconds. Introduction: 0:57FEATURE: Conversation with Angela Peacock: 11:29Moment of Peace: 52:34 Episode Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. Links for Angela's SitesYOUTUBE: Healing from Benzos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeF7Z4_K9_GJ7V27uNYu7hA YOUTUBE: Being Human RV: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDKHkLjlQGz7Rgv0Z8kHQw FACEBOOK: Being Human RV: https://www.facebook.com/BeingHumanRV/ WEBSITE: Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Links for the film "Medicating Normal"Film's Website: https://medicatingnormal.com/ Film's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/medicatingnormalfilm/ Film's Youtube Channel (with Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh-enG_cv0MbGoU4XdT9mxA Screenings and How to Host a Screening: https://medicatingnormal.com/watch/ BENZO FREE LINKSWebsitePodcast Home PageFeedback FormDisclaimer Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Introduction In today's intro, D spoke about acceptance and expectations and making the most of this experience with benzos. Feature: Conversation with Angela Peacock Our conversation with Angela Peacock was an incredibly informative one. She has so much experience in so many areas and has dedicated her time to helping others recover from mental health difficulties, PTSD, and psychiatric medication overprescribing. ANGIE'S BIO: Angela Peacock served in the US Army for almost seven years and was medically retired after one tour in Iraq. She was subsequently medicated for PTS, a victim of polypharmacy, and went on and off benzodiazepines several times under a doctor's care until coming off for the final time, in January 2016. despite suffering from protracted benzodiazepine and polypharmacy damage, she recently completed her masters in social work, from Washington University in St. Louis. She has been a veteran advocate for many years, speaking nationally about trauma and resilience, female veterans, and post-traumatic stress. She was a Veterans of Foreign Wars- Student Veterans of America, Legislative Policy Fellow in 2019, where she advocated for safer prescribing practices and informed consent concerning benzos at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She serves on the medical board at Benzodiazepine Information Coalition,

Angela Peacock, MSW, is a US Army veteran, benzo survivor, member of BIC's medical board, and a tireless advocate for those who struggle with PTSD and psychiatric drugs. Her story is highlighted in the new film, "Medicating Normal."Premiering at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on January 16th and 17th, 2020, “Medicating Normal” is a documentary feature film about the overprescribing of psychiatric drugs and its effects. Join us for our fascinating conversation with Angie on today's podcast.https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/conversation-with-angela-peacock-on-benzos-veterans-and-the-film-medicating-normal-bfp052Video ID: BFP052Chapters 00:57 Introduction11:29 INTERVIEW: Angela Peacock52:34 Moment of Peace Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. INTERVIEWYOUTUBE: Healing from Benzos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeF7Z4_K9_GJ7V27uNYu7hA YOUTUBE: Being Human RV: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDKHkLjlQGz7Rgv0Z8kHQw FACEBOOK: Being Human RV: https://www.facebook.com/BeingHumanRV/ WEBSITE: Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ MEDICATING NORMALFilm's Website: https://medicatingnormal.com/ Film's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/medicatingnormalfilm/ Film's Youtube Channel (with Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh-enG_cv0MbGoU4XdT9mxA Screenings and How to Host a Screening: https://medicatingnormal.com/watch/  BIO - Angela PeacockAngela Peacock served in the US Army for almost seven years and was medically retired after one tour in Iraq. She was subsequently medicated for PTS, a victim of polypharmacy, and went on and off benzodiazepines several times under a doctor's care until coming off for the final time,in January 2016. despite suffering from protracted benzodiazepine and polypharmacy damage, she recently completed her masters in social work, from Washington University in St. Louis.She has been a veteran advocate for many years, speaking nationally about trauma and resilience, female veterans, and post-traumatic stress. She was a Veterans of Foreign Wars- Student Veterans of America, Legislative Policy Fellow in 2019, where she advocated for safer prescribing practices and informed consent concerning benzos at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.She serves on the medical board at Benzodiazepine Information Coalition,has supported hundreds of people recovering from benzo injury through her YouTube channel and online support groups, and is now one of five subjects in the upcoming film, “Medicating Normal.” The PodcastThe Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.comMAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMERAll content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITSMusic provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTIONEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2022 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

We talk to Dr. Christy Huff director of the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition about the side effects of benzos, how patients can cope, and how we can change our medical system to give patients informed consent. Dr. Huff’s Links: benzoinfo.com twitter.com/christyhuffMD   Mental Health Media mentalhealthmedia.org twitter.com/zookmann instagram.com/mentalhealthmedia   Theme song is Drugs of Choice by Hans Atom. https://soundcloud.com/hansatom

Benzodiazepines (Benzos) are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world for anxiety. Despite how common they are, most people, including doctors and pharmacists, don't know the extent of benzodiazepine withdrawal, including the vast array of symptoms, nor do they know how to treat it. Many doctors and stakeholders confuse addiction with chemical dependence, which can be extremely frustrating for the person going through withdrawal, who took the medication as prescribed. Folks afflicted often turn to online forums and seek out others with similar withdrawal symptoms for advice. They are part of the "prescribed harm" community. Between searching for answers and managing symptoms, many people become so frustrated and exhausted that they resort to taking their own lives. As Dr. Huff mentions in the podcast, in the past year alone, she knows of at least 30 people who were going through benzo withdrawal and ended up killing themselves. In this podcast, Dr. Huff opens up about how she felt while on benzodiazepines and her horrific experience coming off of them. She talks about the guidance she did/did not receive and what ultimately helped her. She does not mince words. Dr. Christy Huff is a cardiologist by training, a mom and currently serves as director of the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. To read Dr. Erin Stair's new comedic book on the Wellness Industry, click here: Yours in Wellness, Krystal Heeling.Follow Erin on Instagram here!

Have you ever heard of "benzo belly?" How about abdominal distension? The gut-brain connection? Since our digestive and central nervous systems are so closely linked, our gut can take a big hit during benzodiazepine withdrawal. In today's episode, we'll explore the symptoms of the gut and reveal some of their causes. We also have a benzo story from Switzerland which spans 44 years, have some great feedback in our mailbag, and highlight Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and the work they do. Welcome to Episode #11 In today's episode, we explore the symptoms of our gut. From benzo belly to abdominal aches to chronic inflammation, we'll examine all of it. We also spotlight Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC), share a benzo story from Switzerland, and have some great feedback to share in our mailbag. But first, let's list the resources used in this episode, and then we'll dive deeper into the content of episode 11. Episode Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. MAILBAGNEW TO BENZO COMMUNITY / RESOURCESWorld Benzodiazepine Awareness Day (W-BAD)Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC)The Withdrawal Project at The Inner CompassCIPRO AND QUINOLONESThe Ashton ManualNEJM Journal Watch: Adverse Effects of Fluorquinolones: Where Do We Stand?FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA updates warnings for oral and injectable fluoroquinolone antibiotics due to disabling side effectsFDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about increased risk of ruptures or tears in aorta blood vessel with fluoroquinolone antibiotics in certain patientsBIC: "Hidden Dangers of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics in the Benzodiazepine-Dependent Population" by Brad Verret BENZO NEWSBenzo Free Blog Post: "Happy World Happiness Day"Benzo Free Blog Post: "Welcome to the Benzo Community"Benzo Free Facebook Page BENZO SPOTLIGHTBenzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) BENZO BELLY: Our Gut in Withdrawal The Ashton Manual BENZO FREE LINKSWebsitePodcast Home PageFeedback FormDisclaimer Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Introduction In today's intro, we opened with the latest stats from the podcast, including 1,300 downloads in 33 separate countries. Then I shared about personal experiences with the flood of returning emotions which so many of us experience. Mailbag This is where we share questions and comments which were discussed: FOLLOW-UP: Welcoming help in identifying resourcesThis was a follow-up to a comment from Juerg in Switzerland last week who was seeking German-speaking resources for his wife. W-BAD had responded with some ideas and I encouraged others to let us know what else we don't know. FOLLOW-UP: Cipro and QuinolonesI reminded the listeners of the dangers of taking quinolone antibiotics while on benzos or during withdrawal. COMMENT: Addiction vs. DependenceAnne from Canton, Michigan, U.S., commented on the need to continue to differentiate in terminology between addiction and dependence for benzodiazepines. Benzo News Visit our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BenzoFree to see a list of the news articles we discussed. Benzo Stories I shared a longer story today, from Beatrice in Zurich, Switzerland. Featured Topic Today's featured topic: Benzo Belly: Our Gut in Withdrawal In today's feature, I discussed benzo belly and it's associated symptoms of the gut. I broke down the symptoms into abdominal pain, appetite change, benzo belly, constipation, diarrhea,

Have you ever heard of “benzo belly?” How about abdominal distension? The gut-brain connection? Since our digestive and central nervous systems are so closely linked, our gut can take a big hit during benzodiazepine withdrawal. In today's episode, we'll explore the symptoms of the gut and reveal some of their causes. We also have a benzo story from Switzerland which spans 44 years, have some great feedback in our mailbag, and highlight Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and the work they do. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/benzo-belly-our-gut-in-withdrawal-bfp011Video ID: BFP011 Chapters 00:00 Introduction08:27 Mailbag18:51 Benzo News20:35 Benzo Spotlight23:00 Benzo Story34:33 Benzo Belly: Our Gut in Withdrawal51:23 Closing  Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. MAILBAGNEW TO BENZO COMMUNITY / RESOURCESWorld Benzodiazepine Awareness Day (W-BAD)Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC)The Withdrawal Project at The Inner CompassCIPRO AND QUINOLONESThe Ashton ManualNEJM Journal Watch: Adverse Effects of Fluorquinolones: Where Do We Stand?FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA updates warnings for oral and injectable fluoroquinolone antibiotics due to disabling side effectsFDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about increased risk of ruptures or tears in aorta blood vessel with fluoroquinolone antibiotics in certain patientsBIC: “Hidden Dangers of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics in the Benzodiazepine-Dependent Population” by Brad Verret BENZO NEWSBenzo Free Blog Post: “Happy World Happiness Day”Benzo Free Blog Post: “Welcome to the Benzo Community”Benzo Free Facebook Page BENZO SPOTLIGHTBenzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) BENZO BELLY: Our Gut in WithdrawalThe Ashton Manual  Introduction In today's intro, we opened with the latest stats from the podcast, including 1,300 downloads in 33 separate countries. Then I shared about personal experiences with the flood of returning emotions which so many of us experience.  Mailbag This is where we share questions and comments which were discussed: FOLLOW-UP: Welcoming help in identifying resourcesThis was a follow-up to a comment from Juerg in Switzerland last week who was seeking German-speaking resources for his wife. W-BAD had responded with some ideas and I encouraged others to let us know what else we don't know.FOLLOW-UP: Cipro and QuinolonesI reminded the listeners of the dangers of taking quinolone antibiotics while on benzos or during withdrawal.COMMENT: Addiction vs. DependenceAnne from Canton, Michigan, U.S., commented on the need to continue to differentiate in terminology between addiction and dependence for benzodiazepines.  Benzo Stories I shared a longer story today, from Beatrice in Zurich, Switzerland.  Feature Today's featured topic: Benzo Belly: Our Gut in Withdrawal In today's feature, I discussed benzo belly and it's associated symptoms of the gut. I broke down the symptoms into abdominal pain, appetite change, benzo belly, constipation, diarrhea, distention, inflammation, nausea, groin pain, menstrual difficulties, pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary difficulties, vomiting, and weight change. I shared personal experiences with many of these symptoms and discussed their causes and even a few tips.  The PodcastThe Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.comMAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMERAll content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITSMusic provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTIONEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2022 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

This week on MIA Radio, we present a special episode of the podcast to join in the many events being held for World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day, July 11, 2018. In part 1, we chat with W-BAD Lead Operations Volunteer and Virginia Representative Nicole Lamberson who talks about the events being held for W-BAD. We hear from psychiatrist Dr Josef Witt-Doerring, who talks about a recent paper he co-authored entitled “Online Communities for Drug Withdrawal: What Can We Learn?”. We also hear from therapist and campaigner Chris Paige who discusses his own experiences taking and withdrawing from benzodiazepines. Finally, in part 2 of the interview, we get to chat with Robert Whitaker, science journalist and author of the books Mad in America and Anatomy of an Epidemic. First, I am very fortunate to have had the chance to talk with Nicole Lamberson. Nicole is Lead Operations Volunteer and Virginia Representative for W-BAD and she has kindly taken time out of her busy preparations to talk about how she became involved with W-BAD, some of the events and campaigns being held around the world and how people can get involved. Nicole has an immense passion for benzodiazepine awareness and its victims and hopes that her efforts ultimately spare many others from taking this painful, senseless, and totally preventable iatrogenic “journey”. We discuss: How Nicole first became involved with W-BAD. How discovering personal testimonies encouraged her to reach out to find out more about an awareness day held on the birthday of Dr Heather Ashton - July 11. What it feels like to be part of the benzodiazepine community. How there is is still no medical consensus about the effects of both taking and withdrawing from benzodiazepines. The W-BAD T-shirt campaign, which was organised in partnership with the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and As Prescribed, an in-production documentary by Holly Hardman. Pamphlet distributions happening in Auckland, Paris, Boston and Torrington. That Wayne Douglas, W-BAD founder is on the Dr Peter Breggin hour on July 11 at 4pm New York time. That people can visit W-BAD events to find out more. That on social media, people can follow events using @WorldBenzoDay and the hashtag #WorldBenzoDay. That people can participate in many ways and that one of the most important ways to participate is to submit reports of adverse effects and withdrawal reactions to the appropriate regulator, links to which can be found on the W-BAD website. How important it is to share stories and personal experiences. That W-BAD is for anybody, not just those who are damaged by the drugs but also for families and friends and those recovered too. Relevant links: W-BAD [IN]VISIBLE T-shirt campaign How to participate in W-BAD Benzodiazepine Information Coalition As Prescribed by Holly Hardman (documentary film in production) International Task Force on Benzodiazepines Dr Heather Ashton The 2017 W-BAD podcast featuring Professor Malcolm Lader, Jocelyn Pedersen and Barry Haslam. Next, we chat with psychiatrist Dr Josef Witt-Doerring. Josef trained in Queensland, Australia before becoming a psychiatric resident at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. He co-authored a paper published in Psychiatric Times entitled “Online Communities for Drug Withdrawal: What Can We Learn?” which received praise for openly addressing the issues of dependence and withdrawal and identifying the support activity that goes on in forums like Benzo Buddies and Surviving Antidepressants. We discuss: What led Dr Witt-Doerring to become a psychiatric trainee after attending medical school in Queensland, Australia. How reading Anatomy of an Epidemic led to an awareness of some of the consequences of psychiatric drug use from a critical perspective. What led to his research into online support forums for those who are seeking support for psychiatric drug withdrawal. That Josef was surprised at the amount of support activity in online forums like Benzo Buddies and Surviving Antidepressants. How the paper that Josef co-authored on learning from online communities found a great deal of support both amongst colleagues and patient advocacy organisations. How he feels that there is a general lack of awareness of dependence and withdrawal issues because the messages can be drowned out by more strident communications in marketing or promotional material. That the idea of ‘treatment resistant’ conditions is probably much more on a general doctors mind than adverse reactions or protracted withdrawal experiences. How Josef’s experiences have influenced his approach to prescribing central nervous system drugs. That he would like to think that if a doctor and patient can talk frankly and openly about the pros and cons of treatment, then that is likely to lead to a better relationship and a better outcome. That there is a dearth of support services for people struggling with the drugs, particularly at the end of treatment. How academic detailing programmes could help raise awareness and disseminate information that would lead to doctors being more confident about de-prescribing. How the language of addiction and dependence can sometimes be a barrier to recognition of drug withdrawal issues. That it may be better to look through a neurological injury lens rather than an addiction lens both in terms of understanding experiences but also to enable better treatment and support options. That the community of those affected should continue to share their stories and to raise petitions with professional organisations, such as the boards that licence psychiatrists and OBGYN’s. How, because of the huge variation in patient experience, it would be very difficult to mandate short-term prescribing. Relevant links: Online Communities for Drug Withdrawal: What Can We Learn? Benzo Buddies Benzodiazepine Information Coalition Surviving Antidepressants Malcolm Lader: Anxiety or depression during withdrawal of hypnotic treatments Our next guest is Chris Paige. Chris has a bit of an 'inside' perspective to add to the conversation for World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day in that he is a licensed therapist of over 20 years who was iatrogenically injured by a prescribed benzodiazepine. Chris has practised in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, and foster homes and has taught at the undergraduate and graduate level. He has presented papers at national and international conferences, appeared on Dateline NBC for his work with children of divorce and had his own national magazine column called 'On The Couch with Chris Paige'. Chris is on the board the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, a non-profit organization that advocates for greater understanding of the potentially devastating effects of commonly prescribed benzodiazepines as well as prevention of patient injury through medical recognition, informed consent, and education. Chris currently resides and practices in Florida. We discuss: How Chris first came to be prescribed a benzodiazepine in 2000. His recollections of being prescribed Klonopin (Clonazepam) for anxiety, taking between 1 and 2 milligrams per day. How, after three years use, he started to notice tremors and memory loss. That a neurologist explained that his symptoms may be medication related and advised a taper but gave no specific instructions. How Chris came off the Klonopin fairly rapidly but didn’t find it too difficult at the time. How, some years later, he was given an antibiotic for a prostate infection but rapidly developed psychiatric symptoms including anxiety, agitation and insomnia. That this led Chris to consult a doctor for some Klonopin tablets to manage this and that he took a total of 16 milligrams over the next 10 weeks. That he understands now that the antibiotic and the Klonopin compete at the same receptor in the brain, leading immediately to a tolerance to the drug. That because of this tolerance he became more sleepless, more agitated and more anxious and working was becoming increasingly difficult. How he came to be in a five-day detox programme in Vermont, where they took him off one and a quarter milligrams of Klonopin in just five days. How Chris realised that the detox approach was not right and wanted to leave. How the detox programme decided to replace the Klonopin with four different psychiatric drugs, two of which he has now ceased with two still to taper. That he felt that his brain and nervous system were severely shocked by making such rapid medication changes. How this led to Chris being admitted to psychiatric hospital which he describes as “possibly one of the most humiliating experiences he has ever endured.” How Chris felt when experiencing akathisia which was a relentless compulsion to move and gave him a feeling as if his whole body was being electrocuted and that he had been lit on fire. That he initially felt supported by friends and family but that quickly eroded when he didn't get better or accept harmful and dangerous treatment advice. That this led to the misunderstanding of his injury and it being mislabeled as an addiction problem. That ultimately the only places he found validation and support were online support forums. The losses that Chris endured during his struggles including his health, his psychotherapy practice and even his reputation. That Chris’s message is that there is hope for the future and the importance of reconnecting with the simple things in life. The lack of acknowledgement of the impact of trauma on a person’s life. Relevant links: Benzodiazepine Information Coalition Chris's profile at BIC In part 2 of this podcast, we will hear from science journalist and author Robert Whitaker.

In Episode #12, we're taking a quick moment to speak directly to those who have been harmed by medications. We're also reminding people about World Benzodiazepine Day which happens on July 11. Show note links: We've shared these before (when we talked about benzodiazepines on Episode #6) but sharing again... World Benzodiazepine Day is July 11. Learn more and participate now. www.w-bad.org  Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (another great resource). www.benzoinfo.com Report your side effects (also called adverse drug reactions) to the FDA. Don't wait. Do it today. Call 1-800-FDA-1088 or 1-800-332-1088. www.fda.gov/medwatch. Both patients and health care providers can report and if you're a family member of a patient, then you can report on their behalf. The FDA is unable to monitor drug safety without your reporting and there's a nationwide under-reporting of side effects. So please help and spread the word! If you enjoy listening to Overprescribed, please leave us a review and/or share the show, or your favorite episode, with your friends and family. Lastly, check us out on Twitter @_overprescribed and Facebook "Overprescribed". We'd love to connect with you.

Dr. Christy Huff is a cardiologist who has her own personal story, as a patient, with a class of drugs called benzodiazepines that is both eye opening, shocking and candid. Listen to what she has to say and find out what she's doing to help millions in order to prevent further injury and devastation from these drugs that are being taken as prescribed by people all around the world, not just the United States. Show note links: To learn more about the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC), visit www.benzoinfo.com To contribute a tax-deductible donation to BIC which will help them to do the work to raise awareness, initiate research and ultimately lower benzo injury and harm, click here. Are you taking a benzodiazepine and looking for a healthcare provider that will help you with safe tapering? Access a list of supportive benzo doctors from BIC's website who are willing to work with patients on a slow taper (list is organized by state). If you are a doctor/healthcare provider or know one that should be on the list, email the BIC team: bic(at)benzoinfo.com To access the benzodiazepine withdrawal support group mentioned in this episode, visit BenzoBuddies. Learn more about World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day (July 11) by visiting www.w-bad.org

This week, we have a special episode to join in with the events being held for World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day. World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day seeks to raise global awareness of iatrogenic benzodiazepine dependence, the dangers of its adverse effects and the associated withdrawal syndrome, which can last for years. To give some context around the issues with Benzodiazepines, we have three interviews in this episode. Firstly we talk to Professor Malcolm Lader who is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry from Kings College London and is globally recognised as an expert on Benzodiazepines. Following that we talk with Jocelyn Pedersen. Jocelyn is a US based campaigner who shares her own experiences with Benzodiazepines and talks also about her views of the medical response to the issues of dependance and iatrogenic harm. Finally, we talk to Barry Haslam. Barry is a veteran UK campaigner who shares his experiences and also what we should be doing to help those dependant or damaged from use of these medications. Barry has been instrumental in raising awareness and taking action for last 30 years and is well known in political and medical circles. Interview 1, Professor Malcolm Lader In this interview we discuss: ▪Professor Lader’s training in medicine and how he specialised in psychopharmacology and psychiatry ▪That he went on to become involved in research, particularly around tranquilliser dependance and adverse effects ▪How Benzodiazepines were created in the 1950s, replacing Barbiturates because they were generally safer in overdose ▪That the first Benzodiazepine created was Librium (Chlordiazepoxide) soon followed by Valium (Diazepam) ▪That for a time, Valium was the most widely prescribed drug on the planet ▪That the advantages are that Benzodiazepines are relatively safe in overdose but they can result in dependance (likely a 1 in three chance) at therapeutic doses ▪That by 1975, Professor Lader’s Addiction Research Unit at the Maudsley hospital in London were becoming increasingly concerned by the number of people who were being referred to them for specialist help ▪How this led to Professor Lader’s famous quote on a BBC Radio 4 interview that it was “easier to withdraw people from Heroin than from Benzodiazepines” ▪That Opioid withdrawal caused an acute, very unpleasant withdrawal experience but Benzodiazepines caused a protracted withdrawal that was actually more difficult for many people to deal with ▪How they were left with patients who had successfully withdrawn from Opioids like Heroin but were still having trouble with the Benzodiazepines like Ativan ▪How the British Medical Association have only recently become engaged in the issues of dependance and withdrawal to give advice to their members (General Practitioners) ▪That the regulators don’t have sufficient influence to get doctors to prescribe Benzodiazepines in a more responsible way ▪That much of the long term use of psychiatric medications comes down to lack of monitoring of patients by doctors ▪That there have been cases where long term prescribing of Benzodiazepines has been seen to be negligent on the doctors part and that this has led to some out of court settlements ▪That the treatment of dependance is not simple or straight forward so it is much better to educate GPs upfront to intervene before people have the chance to become dependant ▪How we are now repeating some of the same mistakes made with Benzodiazepine prescribing with Opioid analgesics and antidepressants too ▪That the increase in prescribing of psychiatric drugs is partly down to greater recognition of mental health difficulties but also that we do not have enough people trained in non pharmacological interventions ▪That Pharmacists can play a pivotal role in monitoring, advising and supporting patients ▪How Professor Lader became involved in the educational resource the Lader-Ashton organisation ▪That Professor Lader welcomes this second Benzodiazepine Awareness Day because knowledge and education about the related issues is important ▪That people who are currently taking a Benzodiazepine should make themselves aware of the risks and benefits and talk to their prescriber if they are concerned ▪The concerns around the lack of research in this area and that we need ring fenced money to better understand how best to help and support dependant patients ▪That the prediction of the efficacy of psychiatric drugs from biochemistry to animal experiments to human treatment is very poor, so the Pharmaceutical industry is losing interest in psychotropic drugs ▪That psychiatric drugs largely offer symptomatic relief and so their usefulness is limited and we also need to focus on the safety issues Interview 2, Jocelyn Pedersen In this interview we discuss: ▪How Jocelyn first came into contact with benzodiazepines, having had family illness difficulties and finding that she suffered with insomnia but wanting something that was safe to take while pregnant ▪How her doctor recommended the nonbenzodiazepine tranquilliser Ambien (Zolpiden) which Jocelyn used for less than a week because she felt that it was affecting the baby ▪How Jocelyn, after stopping the Ambien even after such a short usage period, found that she couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat or even do basic things like reading or watching TV ▪That Jocelyn, in trying to explain the wide range of symptoms she was experiencing had a range of physical examinations and tests that all came back negative ▪That doctors explained away her constellation of symptoms as postpartum depression ▪How doctors then prescribed the Benzodiazepine Ativan at 1mg and Effexor, telling her to only take the Ativan until the Effexor ‘kicked in’ ▪That, for Jocelyn, the Effexor never did ‘kick in’ because she was suffering Benzodiazepine withdrawal ▪That upon doubling the dose of Ativan, Jocelyn felt better but she knew that it was only meant for short term use ▪How she found that every time she tried to reduce, even by a small amount like 0.25mg, she was unable to function ▪How three years later, Jocelyn decided it was time to get off the Ativan because she was suffering other health issues ▪How Jocelyn realised that Benzodiazepines like Ativan are teratogens and dangerous in the first months of pregnancy and that being pregnant, Jocelyn had no option but to withdraw ▪That on starting her tapering, Jocelyn was unable to do much else but writhe on the floor in agony, describing even a small reduction as “descending into hell” ▪How Jocelyn’s husband, having found online support groups like Benzo.org.uk realised that what was happening was Benzo withdrawal ▪That Jocelyn, then suffering a miscarriage, ended up in the ER, begging the ER doctor to switch her over to Valium ▪That Jocelyn then spent the next year and a half tapering from Valium ▪How Jocelyn then started to join online support groups, learning how to do a proper taper like that recommended by Professor Heather Ashton ▪That it is very difficult to communicate to friends and family members what is happening, with many assuming it is merely depression or anxiety ▪That it is important to avoid the use of addiction terminology, because people struggling with withdrawal have more in common with those that have a traumatic brain injury or neurological damage ▪That often the only thing between someone and even more suffering is the Benzodiazepine, so it’s not as simple as just wanting to get off ▪That it has been just over two years since Jocelyn finished her taper and there has been considerable improvement but there are still lingering effects ▪That changing her diet made a significant difference to Jocelyn’s health and wellbeing ▪How Jocelyn became involved with campaigning and started her own YouTube channel BenzoBrains ▪How she wanted to be able to add some validity when approaching legislators and lawyers so she founded the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, a non profit organisation ▪How these and other groups help to educate medical professionals, particularly in terms of avoiding addiction terminology but also to provide guidance on the right approach to take with someone who is dependant ▪How Jocelyn observes some mistakes in how doctors treat those who are iatrogenically harmed, particularly doctors who suddenly stop prescribing because they are worried about the legal aspects, this can leave a dependant person in a very difficult place ▪Secondly while doctors may be cautious about Benzodiazepines, they still readily prescribe other psychiatric medications and even recommend them to treat Benzodiazepine withdrawal effects ▪That a total ban or strict regulation and control of prescribing is an approach which would harm many people who are dependant ▪That what patients need is the proper information to help them successfully and safely get off the drugs ▪That people taking Benzodiazepines shouldn’t be scared by the horror stories but should take time to educate themselves and to accept that the path to being drug free might not be easy but healing is a journey and takes time ▪Jocelyn’s involvement with the forthcoming documentary film: As Prescribed directed by Holly Hardman ▪That much of the funding in this area of research goes to addiction services rather than specifically to help someone who is dependant ▪The difficulty that some people have in accepting that they may be dependant on a prescribed medication ▪The disempowering nature of the message that someone has to take a medication for life and that they have a chronic health condition ▪The message that Jocelyn has for people is that they are capable of more than they know and they can get through the experiences of withdrawal and be stronger for it Interview 3, Barry Haslam In this interview we discuss: ▪How Barry came into contact with Benzodiazepines in 1976 when he had a stress related breakdown due to the combined pressure of working full time  and studying ▪That Barry has no memory of the period 1976 to 1986 and he has had to piece together what happened from medical records and the recollections of family members ▪How a doctor put Barry firstly on Librium (Chlordiazepoxide), followed by a number of antidepressants and also Valium for a time ▪How Barry ended up on a huge dose of 30mg of Ativan (Lorazepam) per day ▪This happened because Barry was experiencing withdrawal effects because of tolerance to the drugs but the doctors didn’t recognise these effects so increased the dosage in response ▪That Barry suffered such powerful daily headaches that he ended up taking 12 opiate painkillers per day in addition to the Ativan ▪That in December 1985, Barry, suffering uncharacteristic aggression, felt that enough was enough and he had to quit the drugs ▪That he had some psychological support when he first started to withdraw but for the majority of the time he did it alone ▪How he dropped from 30mg to 2mg of Ativan in 9 months as well as stopping the opiate painkillers ▪For the last period he transferred to Valium (Diazepam) which took 5 months to come off ▪He did this with no guidance and very little support because the doctors had abandoned him ▪How he experienced many unpleasant physical symptoms including violent daily vomiting, hallucinations, feeling of things crawling under his skin and lost half of his bodyweight ▪How Barry feels that it was the love and support of his wife and family that got him through that 15 months of hell ▪That there is virtually nowhere for people struggling with withdrawal to go to get help and support ▪That these issues receive far less attention and funding than alcohol or nicotine dependance ▪That Barry feels that the health services are too frightened of litigation and that prevents them from directly addressing theses issues ▪How Barry joined an organisation called Oldham Tranx, a peer support group run by drug dependant patients and how Barry became chairman ▪How the local paper, the Oldham Chronicle supported Barry in his campaigning ▪How Addiction Dependency Solutions (now called One Recovery) started to help people in 2004 and is the first NHS funded facility in the UK ▪That we should get Government policy makers in the Department of Health to issue guidance to all local Clinical Commissioning Groups to ensure that similar services are set up across the country and in other parts of the world too ▪We should introduce peer support groups based on the model already in place in Oldham ▪How Professor Heather Ashton ran a withdrawal clinic in Newcastle for twelve years and learned a great deal from the patients experiences ▪That putting these services in place would save lives, Barry estimates that in the UK alone 20,000 lives have been lost since 1960 due to suicide, poisoning and road traffic accidents related to Benzodiazepine use ▪How Barry missed out on his daughters growing up because of the memory loss caused by the drugs up but now can enjoy seeing his three grandchildren grow into adults ▪How Barry has met so many good people in the community of those who needed help and support and that gives him the drive to continue campaigning ▪That even many years after the drugs have been stopped, they can continue to cause a range of health problems ▪That we need hard, clinical evidence of the damage cause by Benzodiazepine drugs as part of the evidence base for future legislative action ▪That this is national problem and needs to be tackled by national governments ▪That dependant patients should continue to put their experience back into the system and that will help society ▪Barry’s wish to have recognised the selfless and tireless work of Professor Heather Ashton including her withdrawal protocols that are used worldwide and that the British Government have never formally recognised her great service and the lives that she saved ▪That every doctors surgery should have a copy of Professor Asthon’s Benzodiazepine withdrawal manual ▪That Barry wants to pay tribute to all of those who have taken their own lives because of Benzodiazepines, either because the horrors of withdrawal or the increased suicidal thinking To listen on Mad in America: https://goo.gl/tyyLmt Podcast show notes: https://goo.gl/QU9XLU To get in touch with us email: podcasts@madinamerica.com © Mad in America 2017