Symptoms: Akathisia, brain zaps, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, suicidal ideation, severe anxiety/panic, muscle/joint pain, GI disturbances
I was started on an SSRI nearly 30 years ago. This was for anxiety and poor sleep at a time when I was stressed: as an NHS doctor I was sitting the RCPsych membership exam and had a new baby boy who did not sleep well.
I have been unable to ‘discontinue’ this SSRI, however slowly I taper. Following my attempts to discontinue my prescribed SSRI, I have had severe withdrawal symptoms including akathisia and suicidality—such that in 2005 I had to be hospitalised and was started on a range of other psychotropics, none of which eased my suffering. I eventually agreed to ECT and had severe biographical memory loss. It took me more than 2 years to get back to work as an NHS psychiatrist for older adults.
I am now retired from being a doctor. I have campaigned to raise awareness of harms related to antidepressants and psychiatric drugs, and I have also campaigned for Sunshine legislation. It is my view that medicine and science are anything but ‘disinterested’ from the commercial ‘big business’ world we now live in. For speaking up, I have faced gaslighting and stigma from the profession I gave 25 years to, and in which I was a trusted, loved and respected doctor.
Read more on Dr. Scott-Gordon’s website: “Putting patients first — that is all I have tried to do”