Limitations of Conventional Medicine
Highlighting the need for a new approach.
A difficult and sobering reality is that conventional medicine often falls short in truly helping those with mental health issues, neurodevelopmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, or poorly functioning brains.
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Although psychiatric drugs have certainly been beneficial for many people, this isn't always the case.
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Noticeable improvements are often limited or absent for many individuals.
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Side effects are widespread and can range from mild to deeply disruptive.
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Coming off psychiatric medications can trigger intense withdrawal symptoms, making it difficult to stop once started.
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Many people remain on these drugs for years, often far beyond the durations they were originally studied or approved for.
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The long-term impacts on the brain remain unclear and are a growing concern.
These limitations are not fringe criticisms.
​​They are well recognised within the field of psychiatry itself, by researchers, clinicians, and former leaders alike.
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World Health Organisation (WHO) - Mental Health Reports.​
WHO has repeatedly warned that mental health systems are too focused on diagnosis and drug treatment, often at the expense of addressing root causes.
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“There is a growing concern that mental health services in many countries are over-reliant on psychiatric diagnosis and pharmacological treatment.” —WHO World Mental Health Report, 2022
In its publications, WHO has noted that long-term effectiveness of many psychiatric drugs is limited, and that functional recovery is often not achieved.
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“For many people, current treatments offer only partial relief. Others do not respond to them at all.”
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Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK)
In 2019, the RCPsych formally acknowledged that withdrawal from antidepressants can be:
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More severe than previously stated.
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Longer-lasting.
This was a major shift from their earlier position that withdrawal symptoms were “mild and self-limiting.”
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British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych) Editorials
In peer-reviewed commentary, editors and psychiatrists have raised concerns such as:​
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The difficulty of withdrawing from SSRIs and SNRIs
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Inadequate research on long-term safety and outcomes
For example:
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“Most antidepressants were tested in trials lasting 6–8 weeks, yet many patients take them for years or even decades.” —BJPsych editorial, 2022
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National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK)
While still recommending medications in many cases, NICE has:
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Advised greater caution in long-term prescribing.
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Emphasised non-drug options like CBT and lifestyle changes.
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Required updated warnings about SSRI withdrawal severity.
Their 2022 guidance on depression highlights a stepwise approach with drugs not necessarily as first-line.
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Dr. Joanna Moncrieff (Professor of Psychiatry, University College London)
A prominent researcher and psychiatrist, Moncrieff critiques the “the drug-centered model of psychiatry.
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“We have been led to believe that psychiatric drugs correct underlying abnormalities. But in fact, they create abnormal brain states.”
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She argues for a reevaluation of how we understand both the effects and goals of psychiatric medications.
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Dr. Irving Kirsch – Associate Director, Harvard Medical School Program in Placebo Studies
Kirsch is known for his meta-analyses of antidepressant efficacy:
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“The difference between antidepressants and placebo is minimal—and clinically insignificant for most people.”
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This list could continue for some time..
This page provides you with:
An overview of the effectiveness and risks of the main drugs used for the common psychiatric disorders.​
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As you will read, these are less promising than many are led to believe, with some concerning risks to be aware of.
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This makes a strong case for why a different approach is required.
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Explanations for the limited effectiveness and risks of these drugs.​
An overview of the effectiveness and risks of the main drugs for the common conditions.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) tend to be prescribed as a first-line treatment for anxiety and depression disorders.​
The effectiveness and efficacy of SSRIs are often a lot lower than people are aware of:
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In 2022, the most comprehensive analysis of antidepressant clinical trial data ever published, explained how antidepressants outperform placebo (a sugar pill) in only 15% of patients, and this was almost exclusively in those with the most severe depression.
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In children the effectiveness is worst, with most trials having no benefit over placebo, and often primary outcome measures (such as reduction in depressive symptoms) are worsened.
Outcomes in the real world were also not that promising.
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A large $35 million study showed that even when patients were given up to four courses of treatment with antidepressants, only 38% ever remitted (seeing a major reduction in their symptoms).
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Another study followed people getting treatment for depression at 5 different academic medical centres and followed them for 12 years.
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Even with treatment, 90% had persistent symptoms. In other words, 90% were not cured.
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On average, the people in the study had symptoms of depression 59% of the time.
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Their symptoms would fluctuate, go away and then come back, even if they took medication everyday.
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Almost two-thirds of those with depression don’t get all the way better, even temporarily with the first treatment they are offered.
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These studies aren’t outliers, they reflect what those working in the mental health field witness, with many people continuing to suffer despite years of medication use.
There’s also evidence to suggest antidepressants can increase the risk of chronic depression, with more recurrent episodes.
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Long-term studies found medicated depression can run a much more chronic course, with a small percentage of people enjoying sustained remission.
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Relapse rates turn out to be more common than before the use of antidepressants.
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It is theorised that this is due to the brain undergoing compensatory changes / adaptation to these medications and the neurotransmitter activity alterations they elicit.
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This results in the drugs having less effect over time whilst also increasing the dependency of these drugs.
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This could explain the higher relapse rates, especially when the drug dosages are reduced.
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Despite the low remission rates, SSRIs commonly have a number of side effects ranging in severity.
The physical symptoms may include:
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Nausea, vomiting, constipation.
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Insomnia, sedation, sexual dysfunction.
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Fainting, sweating, headaches, palpitations, rashes, weight gain.
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Blurred vision, tremors, high fever and seizures.
The emotional and psychiatric side effects are particularly concerning:
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‘Emotional numbing’ or more accurately ‘emotional anaesthesia’ can occur.
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Similar to how the medications can reduce your sexual drive, your drive in life and the richness / depth you feel are often greatly reduced.
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However for some it is worth the trade-off to reduce the emotional pain they feel, but for others it is not.
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Self-harm, violence to others and suicide risk can also be increased.
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Bipolar disorder can also be at greater risk.
Unfortunately, coming off these medications takes a long-time and many experience withdrawal symptoms.
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56% experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to wean off SSRIs, with over 50 discontinuation symptoms being described.
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A number of studies reported the mean duration of these symptoms ranged between 5 days and 79 weeks.
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Benzodiazepines are a different form of medication which may be used for anxiety.
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Although they can help to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, they are advised to be only prescribed over short durations due to the high addictive potential and significant withdrawal symptoms one can experience when taking them.
The reasons behind the limited effectiveness and risks of these psychiatric drugs
The theory behind the use of these drugs is to fix a chemical imbalance within your brain.
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These chemicals are your neurotransmitters and are a major factor in how your brain functions.
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Different drugs, which greatly influence specific neurotransmitters, are prescribed for specific disorders.
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This approach falls short for two main reasons.​
1. It's highly unlikely that they will correctly "balance out" or optimise your neurotransmitter levels.​
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Your existing neurotransmitter levels aren't known or assessed prior to being prescribed these drugs.
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They presume your levels based on your diagnosis which is highly unreliable.​
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Should your levels be out of balance, these drugs don't address WHY your neurotransmitters may be out of balance in the first place.
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They don't address the root-cause issues, but attempt to control the levels by disrupting your brain's physiology, instead of supporting it.
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Due to the complexity and interconnectedness of the brain:​
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Neurotransmitter activity cannot be truly balanced/optimised by greatly disrupting it's natural physiology.
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Dramatically disrupting a few variables in a complex and integrated system makes it very challenging to deliver your desired outcomes and is bound to have ripple effects, knock-on impacts, and various consequences.
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Your brain is highly malleable and can adapt to these drugs, making their effects less potent over time and increasing your brain's reliance on them.
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These reasons are expanded upon in the following section.
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2. They ignore the many other biological factors that have been shown to influence your brain's physiology and function.
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Research has moved on beyond just viewing these disorders from a neurotransmitter imbalance issue, with many new factors being identified.
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These factors are explained within the "Programme Approach" and "Prominent New Theories" tabs.​
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For the most part, these drugs don't target these areas and in some cases they may cause further disruption to them, as evident from the various side effects experienced when consuming them.
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With all the new research we are now in a much stronger position to naturally support your underlying physiology.
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Helping upgrade your physiology from the ground up, improving it's functions and reducing the need for these psychotropic drugs.
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This is what is missing in conventional medicine and what we focus on providing you.​
Why psychiatric drugs don't result in optimal/balanced neurotransmitter levels.
1. Prescriptions are made without having a firm understanding on your existing neurotransmitter levels.
Psychiatric drugs are prescribed on the assumption of given neurotransmitter levels for certain disorders/symptoms.​
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No biological markers are tested which could help understand your level of neurotransmitters.
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Instead, based on your diagnosis and symptoms, specific neurotransmitter levels are assumed, and drugs are prescribed to either increase or decreases these, bringing them "back into balance".
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For ADHD: Stimulants are often provided, increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine.
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For depression and anxiety: SSRIs are provided to increase levels of serotonin.
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For autism​:
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Autism presentations vary greatly and there is no medication primarily focused on some of the key aspects of autism.​
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That said, most do take at least one psychotropic medication due to many having other conditions in addition to autism:
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SSRIs for depression and anxiety symptoms.​
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Stimulants for ADHD symptoms.
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Antipsychotic medications to help with irritability and aggression. This reduces the activity of dopamine.​
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Latest research shows that it is wrong to assume these neurotransmitter levels.
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Those with the same diagnosed disorders often have wide ranging neurotransmitter levels, including being too high or too low, for example:
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Serotonin in depression: While low serotonin activity has been associated with depression, some individuals with depression have normal or even elevated serotonin levels. Also, those with depression were shown not to have statistically significant differences in levels of serotonin compared to healthy controls.
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Even when they look at healthy individuals there are wide ranging neurotransmitter levels, many of which overlap with those with diagnosed disorders.
Without a clear understanding for existing neurotransmitter levels, it makes it very challenging to identify and correct for the appropriate neurotransmitters with psychotropic drugs.
2. Your neurotransmitter activity is far too complex to be optimised through drugs.
There are 100 known neurotransmitters at work within your brain.
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There is an estimated 86 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses within your brain.
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100 known neurotransmitters can be released into these synapses; all influencing whether neurons fire or not, thus determining your brain's actions/functions.​
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The activity of these neurotransmitters is in a delicate dance, constantly changing to fulfil various functions whilst adapting to your experiences.
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Their release alters throughout the day and can be triggered by a wide variety of factors, including:
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Certain experiences, sensory input, and external stimuli.
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Time of the day​, hormone input, energy-related triggers, other neurotransmitters, and immune/inflammatory signals.
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It's not only their release which is important; they have receptors and re-uptake proteins which also greatly influence their activity.
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These receptors and re-uptake proteins can also become more or less sensitive due to certain factors.
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Scientists are not close to accurately monitoring and understanding the ideal activity for all these neurotransmitters.
There could be any number of issues with regards to your neurotransmitter activity.
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This includes issues related to the production, storage, release, re-uptake, and breakdown of these neurotransmitters.
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Numerous factors could be at play which are causing these various issues.​
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Psychotropic drugs don't target these underlying issues, or take into account the full complexity of neurotransmitter activity, making it virtually impossible to obtain optimal neurotransmitter function.​
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These drugs target just 1 or 2 neurotransmitters; greatly increasing or decreasing their activity artificially for extended periods of time.
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They overdrive many of your natural and regulatory processes within the brain which fine-tune their activity.
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​These drugs greatly disrupt your natural physiology instead of supporting it.
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These drugs don't seek to target why your neurotransmitters may be out of balance in the first place.​
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This often results in neurotransmitter levels that are significantly greater or smaller than that found in 'normal' conditions.​
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Many of the negative side effects experienced are due to these factors.​​​​​
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3. Your brain adapts to these drugs.
​​​​​Adding to the brain's complexity, is it's inbuilt feedback systems.
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Your brain wants to remain in a state of homeostasis/balance.
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Should certain factors become too high or too strong, it will reduce these factors.
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This includes hormones as well as neurotransmitter activity.​​
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An example of this is with caffeine consumption and your increased tolerance to it.
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You've likely experienced the increased energy and mood from coffee before.
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But overtime, as you continue to consume coffee, it no longer has such an effect and you need to take more to get the same benefits.​
This same principle can occur for neurotransmitter activity
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This raises concerns that long-term drug use can produce negative changes in the brain.
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This can result in reduced drug effectiveness over time, whilst at the same time increasing the reliance on the drug, due to the brain down-regulating its ongoing effects.​​
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Experts suggest that this can explain the difficulty in getting off these drugs, with withdrawal symptoms being incredibly common.​
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For example, those with depression are often prescribed SSRIs.
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These greatly increase the activity of serotonin which is associated with feeling content and in a good mood.​
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Over time the brain down-regulates the activity of serotonin, resulting in you needing more for the same effect.
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Should you start feeling good again, you may reduce or stop taking the drug.
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This may results in you having lower levels than you had prior to taking the drug, resulting in you feeling bad again amongst other withdrawal effects.
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You therefore need to go back on the medication.
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These drugs aren't meant to be used for long periods, and yet more and more people find themselves on these for the long-term, and frequently experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to come off them.​​​
Should you or your child be currently taking psychotropic medications, we can address these limitations.
Helping you experience a reduction in the side effects with a possibility of reducing the reliance on medication when working in conjunction with your doctor/psychiatrist.
