From the Revd David Williams
Sir, - Simon Parke (Comment, 16 August) has some
useful and interesting things to say about tranquilliser addiction.
What he does not seem to allow for sufficiently is the
idiosyncratic nature of our response to these drugs and our
ability, like Jean in his anecdote, to make a judgement about the
value of their prolonged or intermittent use, and to manage our
with- drawal.
For more than ten years, I was prescribed one of the infamous
benzodiazepines (Ativan) as treatment for serious anxiety and panic
attacks that seized me when taking services and preaching. It was a
GP in the 1970s who advised me of their efficacy. I freely agreed
to the treatment, and chose to continue with it. I myself requested
the repeat prescriptions. Although I was later warned that I might
become dangerously addicted, I never exceeded the specified dose.
Before coming off them, I had voluntarily reduced my intake by
gradual withdrawal.
By then, the medical profession had become so reluctant to
prescribe my tablets that I became increasingly embarrassed and
even ashamed of my minimal need of them. Repeat prescriptions were
no longer issued. Instead, I had to see the doctor and, sometimes
it felt, plead for a renewal of my supply.
The pressure to come off this treatment had become so intense
that, in spite of advice that the process of withdrawal could be as
difficult as withdrawal from heroin, I ceased treatment with no
obvious adverse side-effects.
Nevertheless, the demands of sudden and complete termination
exposed my underlying emotional vulnerability, and I suffered the
first of two serious breakdowns, which, in spite of a course of
psychotherapy, led to my retirement from work as a clergyman, aged
57.
I firmly believe that my years of active ministry could have
been prolonged if only I had been trusted as a mature and
responsible adult to manage and control my own treatment timetable.
Since my retirement, anti-depressant medication has been quite
freely dispensed to me and others like Jean. We have found them
useful for a time, and come off them when we were ready. Perhaps
there is here a lesson to be learned.
DAVID WILLIAMS
153 Crompton Way
Bolton, Lancashire BL2 2SQ
From the Revd Dr Rebecca Winfrey
Sir, - As a doctor, I am concerned about the implication in
Simon Parke's column on the evils of "tranquillisers" that
anti-depressants are addictive.
Drugs such as the sleeping tablet Valium are indeed addictive,
but these are a different group of drugs from anti-depressants.
Though I agree with Mr Parke that psychological therapies are very
important (and need to be more readily available), many severely
depressed patients are able to engage with talking therapies only
once anti-depressants have begun to lift their mood a little.
When the time is right, the dose can be gradually reduced to
nothing. Warning people to avoid anti-depressants by telling them
that they are addictive is not helpful.
REBECCA WINFREY
Manor Farmhouse
Manor Farm Lane, Castor
Peterborough PE5 7BW