I have a very big concern. Please do not think that this is a joke, because I am actually very worried about it. I believe that there has been a conspiracy by doctors and/or the pharmaceutical companies to ruin my mental powers. For example, I used to be.. in the opinion of others and myself... a highly motivated, interesting, and intelligent person. Now, at 20, I feel that my memory is becoming much worse, im lethargic, and I seem dull. There is no physical explanation for these symptoms. My thyroid test and blood counts... everything is physically normal. However, things such as this degeneration don't simply happen. They have to have some sort of impetus behind them. Thus, I believe that my decreased brain function has been engineered by a third party... most notably my doctors. Or, perhaps the doctors themselves aren't trying to destroy me but are simply being used as pawns by the pharmaceutical companies. The doctors convinced me to take seroquel, lithium, and effexor in order to be "normal" but in reality these drugs are slowly desroying me and my intellect. However, I'm at the mercy of the doctors because if i go off of them I could experience withdrawals comparable to those of a junkie going off of a street drug. And esp. if I go off the lithium the doc will detect it in my blood levels and get mad. Does any one have any suggestions on how to escape this. I am desparate.

Thanks

It appears that one of your major concerns is that the doctor will get mad if you go off the lithium. The doc is not your daddy and you are an adult - granted a very young adult, but legally responsible for your own actions. You can go off the meds if you so choose. There is no substantial evidence to suggest that withdrawal from lithium is anywhere near withdrawal from heroin. However, something prompted the docs to put you on the medication in the first place but you don't speak to that. In what ways were you not "normal." How long have you been taking these meds? What is the reason the docs prescribed them? You're concerns about the meds are understood; however, have there been any benefits from the meds? Who else are you able to speak with about your concerns?

Frank, could these symptoms that you are having be just side effects from the medication? All medications have side effects. Did you discuss this with your doctor? You sound paranoid like this is a grand conspiracy. Is this paranoia a symptom of the mental illness that they are trying to treat?

Thank you for responding. However, I wasn't talking about the lithium withdrawal that would be bad, I was talking about the effexor withdrawal (which even my psychiatrist admitted could be unpleasant). And in answer to your question, Sannah, I was put on these meds for being diagnosed as bipolar.

so you think that the pharmaceutical companies are out to specifically target you ? What exactly is so special about you? What separates you from all the other people taking these drugs?

The fact is the pharmaceutical companies don't know who you are... they don't really care who you are, all they care about is if their drug sells and makes money.

Talk to your doctor about switching medications if you feel the ones prescribed to you are not working the way you like them. Switch them around regardless of your withdrawal symptoms or not. You have to ween off the drugs.

seroquel was very bad in alot of case i have been involved with matter of fact i took my daughter off it for a few reasons......it is a new drug to be used for this diagnoses. i am bi-polar and i dont take any of them medications you are talking about, so others are out there!! i am 30 i have felt like nothing will work for me at times and have thought hummm maybe my doctors are making bad choices for me but in the end you are the one who makes the choices on what you do for your mental health..... and if your not going to protect your self who will ..... you know maybe a new doctor.. or like the others said tell them how you are feeling.......or maybe you need a 2nd oppion on your diagnoses .... there are many reasons behide things you are feeling etc.......