Army warns against benzos and antipsychotics in PTSD: they can “intensify symptoms and lead to addiction”

I’ve written at length about the iatrogenic PTSD a lot of the people I network with exhibit once withdrawing from psychiatric drugs. In my experience in the withdrawal boards online the drugs that we see causing these issues most often are antidepressants and benzodiazepines, but people withdrawing from antipsychotics are simply much less represented in these online groups. It’s quite probable they too cause serious issues and I’ve certainly seen evidence of that.

Just yesterday I posted about Psychiatric Drugs as Agents of Trauma — “Drug Stress Trauma Syndrome.” So I figured while that post was still fresh I’d offer more evidence of its truth in the form of this article about the Army’s new direction.

The Army Surgeon General’s office is backing away from its long-standing endorsement of prescribing troops multiple highly addictive psychotropic drugs for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and early this month warned regional medical commanders against using tranquilizers such as Xanax and Valium to treat PTSD.

An April 10 policy memo that the Army Medical Command released regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD said a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which include Xanax and Valium, could intensify rather than reduce combat stress symptoms and lead to addiction.

The memo, signed by Herbert Coley, civilian chief of staff of the Army Medical Command, also cautioned service clinicians against prescribing second-generation antipsychotic drugs, such as Seroquel and Risperidone, to combat PTSD. The drugs originally were developed to treat severe mental conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The memo questioned the efficacy of this drug class in PTSD treatment and cautioned against their use due to potential long-term health effects, which include heart disorders, muscle spasms and weight gain. (read more)

When will civilian psychiatrists recognize the harm these drugs cause so many of us?

Articles from Beyond Meds that speak to the issue of iatrogenic PTSD (chemically induced PTSD from the treatment with psychiatric drugs)

●  PTSD, whistleblowing and chemical injury: There are some human experiences that others can’t really understand

●  Neuropsych doctor confirms thoughts about psychiatric drug iatrogenisis, PTSD, brain injury

●  Trying to reverse 2 years of hell with a shot in the neck (take note, those interested in PTSD and/or withdrawal syndromes)

●  Complicated PTSD

●  PTSD versus a post traumatic response

For extensive information on benzodiazepines as a class of psychiatric drug see here: Benzo Info