Support  groups, activists and other web sites - page 1

More Support groups and information - for page 2 click on this link

also see sub headings in left menu under  - WITHDRAWAL - BLOGS - GOLDEN RULES etc

Millie Kieve's APRIL charity blog is http://aprilcharity.blogspot.com/

APRIL does not have the resources to offer a telephone helpline yet. The following organisations offer support for withdrawal or side effects problems.

UK Telephone & Online Help

  • Psychiatric Medication Helpline at the Maudsley Hospital  

National Centre for Psychiatric Medicine still available April 2013

  • 0203 228 2317 9am to 5pm weekdays only excluding Bank Holidays

If you want immediate advice on any mental health medication call the above Mental Health Medication Helpline at the Maudsley Hospital. The helpline provides independent advice and information about mental health drugs. The helpline is staffed by experienced mental health pharmacists and provides independent advice and information about drugs to patients and carers.

  • MIND data base of many local groups, mental health advocacy, free or low cost counseling, booklets on anxiety and other problems, information about conditions and drug treatments.  http://www.mind.org.uk/  
    Telephone: 08457 660163 (UK local call rate)

  • SAMARITANS 

    24hr service for anyone feeling distressed and wishing to speak to someone 
    Telephone - 08457 909090 (UK local call rate
    http://www.samaritans.org.uk/

Bereavement Support

 Acne drugs

  • Accutane / Roaccutane / Sotoret / Amnesteem (isotretionoin)

A web site with information about adverse drug reactions including depression and suicide  www.roaccutaneaction.com

Dairy food links to acne www.acnemilk.com

Congressman Bart Stupak who made waves in the US resulting in stronger suicide warnings from the FDA for Accutane

History of Accutane legislation in the USA

http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/472/Green.pdf

Anti-Malaria drugs

Lariam /mefloquine is an anti-malarial drug with a history of causing    severe psychiatric adverse effects.
http://www.lariaminfo.org/

Antibiotics - fluoroquinolones

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/fqtoxicity/ 

Advocacy and Mediation Health Issues

http://www.carersfederation.co.uk/icas/

http://www.actionforadvocacy.org.uk/

http://www.pohwer.net/how_we_can_help/independent.html 

Older Person's Advocacy Alliance http://www.opaal.org.uk/ 

Lesbian & Gay MH Advocacy and other support http://www.pacehealth.org.uk/Mental-Health-Advocacy(2340437).htm

Litigation

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is the independent charity which promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident.  A 'medical accident' is where unintended harm has been caused as a result of treatment or failure to treat appropriately. AvMA believes that whatever the cause of a medical accident, the people affected deserve explanations, support, and where appropriate, compensation. Furthermore, we all deserve to know that the necessary steps will be taken to prevent similar accidents being repeated.

http://www.avma.org.uk/pages/about_us.html

Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Withdrawal effects SSRIs Benzos, Z drugs and adverse side effects

  • Depression NHS treatment guidelines http://www.nhs.uk/Pathways/depression/Pages/Treatment.aspx
  • British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies(BABCP). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT has been found to be more successful  than drug treatment for many people. The CBT is a short-term psychological treatment which is particularly suitable for specific, focused problems ranging from phobias and panic attacks to eating disorders and depression.
    http://www.babcp.com
    01254 875277 
  • Pharmacy Information about psychotropic drugs:
    (Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust ) 11am - 5pm 
    Telephone:   020 7919 2999
  • Childline
    www.childline.org.uk
    Free and confidential helpline: 0800 1111
  • MIND
  • database of many local groups, mental health advocacy, free or low cost counseling, booklets on anxiety and other problems, information about conditions and drug treatments. They also provide a special legal service to the public, lawyers and mental health workers. http://www.mind.org.uk/help

  • MindinfoLine Call: 0845 766 0163 (at local call rate)
  • Connexions Direct
    Help and advice for teenagers can offer you all the information and advice you
    need to make the decisions and choices in your life.
    Telephone: 080 800 13219
    http://www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfm?pid=1 

Benzos and SSRIs
 

  • BAT (Battle Against Tranquillisers)
    http://www.bataid.org/
    PO BOX 658, Bristol, BS99 1XP. Telephone 0117 9663629/9653463

  • CITA (Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction)
    Tel: (Information / Helpline): 0151 932 0102 (10am -1pm Mon - Fri)  (Office): 0151 474 9626
    Web: www.citawithdrawal.org.uk

  • CITA was founded in 1987 to help patients and their families to cope with addiction to benzodiazapines and withdrawal from these drugs. CITA is also a resource to draw on for information generally about addiction to prescribed drugs and anxiety management and lobbies for recognition of this problem.

    The helpline is staffed by ex-benzodiazepine users, nurses and counsellors and provides support and reassurance for those withdrawing from benzodiazepine and other prescribed drugs, especially anti-depressants. Literature and tapes are available.
  • BACK TO LIFE -  A non charity arm of CITA was founded by nurse, Pam Armstrong. Pam sadly died in 2010. Though her legacy lives on and her sensible comments can be heard on the video 'Coming off Medicines' from our 2008 conference.

The organisation still continues her wonderful legacy of work to help and support people worldwide - web site http://www.backtolife.uk.com/ 
A fee is charged for one to one support during withdrawal from medication.

  • BENZODIAZEPAN ADDICTION, WITHDRAWAL AND RECOVERY
    Professor Heather Ashton's benzodiazepine withdrawal protocol is free on some web sites including
    www.benzo.org.uk

SSRI Withdrawal Support

Nutrition and hydration

Between 15% to 60% of patients in hospitals are known to be suffering from malnutrition.

Dehydration leads to confusion and the build up of toxic levels of drugs in the kidneys. Drinking a full glass of water when taking medicine is advisable.

http://www.nutrition.org.uk

http://www.bapen.org.uk/

APRIL received the following message, please take a look at the web site and review the information, there is concern over the influence of Pharmaceutical manufacturers in the decision making progress.

"European Union Laws are set to ban therapeutic natural health products by 2010. The ban will then be exported internationally through Codex Alimentarius. The Alliance for Natural Health www.anhcampaign.org are fighting this. (click on campaign on the home page and then into Codex.) The ANH is an alliance of members in over 40 countries. ANH directors are all specialists in their fields of science, medicine and law and have the support of an international scientific committee. If you want more information on Codex go to www.natural-health-information-centre.com/codex-alimentarius.html

http://www.anhcampaign.org/ 

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

If you still find you need information or wish to share your experience with us please send us an email! We do find your experiences of value in our campaigning. We will do our best to respond personally, although we can not promise to reply to every email received. Please report adverse side effects to www.yellowcard.gov.uk if in the UK -= or to your country's regulator or the FDA


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