I agree with RFK on nothing. But on this epidemic, he may be right |
I agree with RFK on nothing. But on this epidemic, he may be right
May 29, 2026 — 1:45pm
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The first time I tried to come off venlafaxine, a common antidepressant which I had been taking for more than a decade, it didn’t go well. I was living in the United States at the time with no medical insurance and, therefore, no regular access to a doctor. Nevertheless, I did it by the book, tapering down over several months – from 75mg, to 50mg, to 25mg, to zero.
Newly liberated, on my first drug-free day, I sat down to write an email. With a growing sense of panic, I realised that all I could type was nonsense. No matter how hard I concentrated, my screen would fill with only a string of jumbled characters.
“I don’t want to be dramatic,” I said to my husband, “but I think I’m having a stroke.” He told me to take the pill again. I did. Half an hour later, I was fine.
Losing control of your mental faculties is a frightening experience, but my temporary distress was quickly replaced by a more frightening realisation: if I couldn’t get off them, that meant the drugs were now in control.
A few months ago, having returned to Australia from the US, I decided to try again. Although I now had access to a GP (a luxury in America), the withdrawals have been horrendous, arguably worse than the original symptoms for which they were prescribed.
Five million Australians are on mental health medication. Rebekah is among those asking why
Mercifully, the confusion did not return; however, I have experienced daily “brain zaps”, humiliating crying fits, constant nauseating anxiety and, most........