Frequently Asked Questions

If you have already reduced the medication or quit cold turkey please click here

General Questions:

Question: How long has The Road Back been in existence?

Answer: The program was developed in 1999.

Question: I have read your information about tapering in the past and the program has changed. Why?

Answer: We are continually looking for ways to improve our program.

The antidepressant withdrawal program, benzodiazepine withdrawal program and antipsychotic withdrawal program are now a patent pending process. The advancements since 1999 have been tremendous and the results obtained with this program are unmatched.

Medical doctors, psychiatrists, chiropractors, pharmacists, naturopaths, registered nurses and other health care providers are now using The Road Back program in their practice. A major university has used the book, How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely, our program is based on, for their doctorate program in psychopharmacology.

Question: I have anxiety and do not know where to start?

Answer: This depends on the type of medication you are taking.

Benzodiazepines and or sleep medication

If you are only taking a benzodiazepine or sleep medication, use Chapter 9. If you are also taking an antidepressant and or antipsychotic along with a benzodiazepine or sleep medication, use the first section of Chapter 10.

Antidepressants, antipsychotics and ADHD Medication

You will be using Chapter 10. The first section of this chapter is for you if you have anxiety and or insomnia as a major complaint and the second section in Chapter 10 is for you if fatigue and or depression are the major complaint.

Question: You recommend several nutritional products for the pre-taper or for handling my symptoms. I do not have a lot of money and can’t afford all of them and would like to know what I should do?

Answer: If you are just starting the pre-taper purchase the nutritional supplements. This way you will see how much of each supplement you really need to take daily. It may be less than you think.

There is no way to really say which one individual supplement would be the best to take if you only wanted one.

The Body Calm Supreme is stronger and tends to help the most for sleep, while the Body Calm and Essential Protein Formula are gentler but they could be the magic for your body.

Question: I would like to talk with someone for support during this process, do you offer this and if so, what will this cost?

Answer: Yes we do. You can send an e-mail to info@theroadback.org.

There is no cost for our assistance.

We want to assist you through the entire program.

Pre-Taper

Question: Do I really need to do a pre-taper?

Answer: Having a plan in place is essential. Even more vital is to ensure the plan will work for you. If you were to do a pre-taper as outlined in How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely, you will know how you will respond to the nutrients and how they assist getting rid of side effects. If a pre-taper can't get you feeling very well it is the wrong program for you.

Spending the time on the pre-taper and not rushing it will ultimately make the taper much easier.

Already Quit Medication and Suffering

Question: I have been off my antidepressant or benzodiazepine for a few days or weeks and I am suffering. What can I do?

Answer: If the withdrawal side effects have lasted for more than one week, you will need to do something. What you do next can end the suffering or prolong the agony.

If you came off an antidepressant or antipsychotic, you will need an Omega 3 that is high in EPA to help with the head side effects. No way around that. The Omega 3 works and works quickly. We do recommend the name brand Omega 3 Supreme manufactured by TRB Health. Omega 3 Supreme is extremely high in EPA and it has been found EPA, not the DHA portion of an Omega 3 is critical for these symptoms.

If you were taking a benzodiazepine, the Body Calm, Body Calm Supreme  should handle the side effects rather quickly. Follow the instructions in Chapter 9. The supplement biotin is option, but recommended if you have depression or a numbness or tingling of the extremities.

If you are experiencing nausea, ginger tea helps. Drink at least a few cups a day or until the nausea stops.

Question: I'm already off benzo's for 9 months but still have side effects.  Primarily anxiety, sleeplessness and wobbly/dizzy feeling.  I've just started the nutrition program this a.m.. How soon should I expect results?

Answer: This varies for each individual. I recommend you use the benzodiazepine pre-taper and follow it exactly.

Some people do not respond for about 14 days.

Supplements

Question: Why do you recommend many of the same nutritional supplements for all types of medication?

Answer: Even though the medication may be totally different with structure and function, what we are trying to do within the body at the cellular level is the same.

If a person is taking a benzodiazepine as well as an antidepressant it is vital to set the body up as well for the benzodiazepine taper. This is done by starting with the Body Calm and Body Calm Supreme instead of the Power Barley Formula. Most people taking these two medications will also have anxiety and insomnia as a side effect. Handling the most severe side effects first is what is important.

Which medication you are taking will determine the order in which the nutritional supplements are introduced and how much is taken.

Using an antidepressant but do not wish to quit

Question: I don't know if I'm ready to get off my antidepressants I don't have any serious side effects and I am much better than I was 3 months ago. But my biggest complaint is I can't seem to get my energy level back. I'm not lying around totally depressed but the things I enjoyed doing like cooking and taking care of our home seem too much for me. So I'm very interested in taking something to get my energy and motivation back. Could you suggest something for me?

Answer: I would suggest you try the Power Barley Formula with vitamin E. Follow the steps outlined for the antidepressant pre-taper exactly.

Question: Doing an Internet search, I have found other programs that seem very similar to The Road Back. What is the difference?

Answer: The programs you are probably asking about are going to give an "ok" result. These other programs are basically doing what we were doing in 2001. We know the results and we also know where and when they will come up short. That is why we continued researching and testing methods to give a better result and to reduce the time it takes to get off these medications.

Question: So, are you saying these other programs are using your old pre-taper and taper program?

Answer: About 90% of what they recommend is from our program of the early years. If you see a program talking about the antioxidant glutathione, using a tart cherry in liquid or capsule form for anxiety and or insomnia, DNA drug reaction testing and an Omega 3 fish oil, yes they are trying to copy our program.

Question: Would these other programs be as successful as The Road Back Program?

Answer: No. You see, they have copied what we were doing a few years ago and we know the results. The results at that time were better than any other option but there were still gaps in what needed to be done to better handle the wide range of side effects created by these medications.

Question: Are you referring to a program that uses a whey protein to increase glutathione levels?

Answer: Without getting into names, if you find a whey protein used to increase glutathione levels, yes.

Question: I have contacted this other program and they claim barley does not increase glutathione, does it?

Answer: The Power Barley Formula will increase glutathione levels just the same as many other foods. Eat carrots, watermelon or asparagus and you will create glutathione in the cells.  You see, without glutathione in our cells and liver we would die. Mankind has lived for at least thousands of years without eating or drinking a package of whey protein. Matter of fact, I have never seen a tree or plant sprout an aluminum package yet.

I am not saying these other whey proteins are bad, many are good and what they claim is truthful. However, when it comes to making glutathione in the body the claims and misinformation is staggering.