Alternative to Meds Center

Olivia continues to do well.  She is completing finals for fall semester.  She got less and less anxious in the 2 or 3 months after comign home from A2Meds.  She had difficulty reading at first, but the miracle has happened, I think she is “normal”.  One semester for her to complete her BA at a very good private college.

My experience at Alternative to Meds Center in San Francisco, California, has been an outstanding success. I received excellent treatment from a staff that is experienced, caring, and hard working. My detoxification was smoother than I could have ever imagined due to the scientifically proven diet and supplements. I was able to get opiates and benzodiazepines out of my system in a safe environment with minimal discomfort. The individualized setting allows personal care from a well trained staff while learning a diverse skill set that will help me with whatever I do in the future. I have undergone detoxification from a lower dosage of medication in the past and I now realize the process does not have to be as painful as it was in other treatment centers. While I was quite skeptical about the nutritional aspects of the program, I now realize the important role that a healthy, organic diet plays in my body, especially during a detoxification process. The Alternative to Meds Center did an excellent job, from case managers down to the chefs, in providing answers to my questions and showing me a proven process that I can continue to implement in my life when I leave the facility.

Greg-Austin, TX

When I came to Alternative to Meds Center I was going thru severe withdrawals from Methadone and Benzodiazepines [and was afflicted with Lupus]. Thru the tapering program, nutritional, and supplemental and therapeutic options provided, I was able to complete the detoxification process with minimal pain and discomfort. The staff was very accommodating and willing to answer any questions I had. I would recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a natural health alternative for healthy living.

Heather Rudbeck

I wanted to write about my experience with Alternative to Meds Center. I came to ATMC for assistance in withdrawing from antidepressants. Before I came to the Center I was experiencing extreme adverse side effects from Prozac and was unable to work, socialize or even get out of bed. I had no idea what was going on and thought I was going crazy and would never be well again. When I went to my doctor for help, my doctor continued to increase my dose and then added benzos to help offset the side effects of the Prozac. My doctor had no answers for why I was feeling this way or experiencing any of these symptoms. I eventually came to realize on my own that it was the Prozac that was affecting me so badly. My doctor then told me to go ahead and go off cold turkey. I knew better and attempted to taper myself off the medications, way too quickly, which in turn created more symptoms and side effects. I was desperate and scared.

I called an addiction hot-line hoping they could point me in a direction that would help me withdrawal from this medication. The woman on the phone told me she knew of a great place and had someone call me back. I received a call back within two minutes. Diane called me and told me about the Alternative to Meds Center and she explained why I was having some of my symptoms. She put my mind at ease immediately. Finally, someone who could give me some answers and knew what I was talking about and going through.

I got on a plane two days later and arrived at ATMC. The house was beautiful and my driver was very reassuring. I was very scared to be so far away from home and felt desperate to return home. I quickly went to a staff member who shared with me that he knew how I felt and explained his story to me and how he was able to safely withdraw from his medications.  I felt very reassured. I continually went to different staff members who had no problem dropping what they were doing to explain what was happening and what to expect. This was a very important piece of my recovery.

I was taught how anti-depressants worked and the importance of nutrition, not only for recovery but for the rest of my life. I helped in the kitchen with a fantastic cook who taught me various ways of healthy cooking, not to mention his innate ability to cheer me up and pull me out of a pit. We had various speakers come in who only enhanced this program.

The entire staff at ATMC was incredible. I cannot express this enough. Each and every staff member had something helpful to offer me, even if it was to get me out in the community and talk about regular life and not to focus on withdrawing. I asked for regular counseling sessions and my counselor never hesitated to talk with me. He helped me find support groups for when I returned home and never judged me or my feelings. This meant a lot to me. The owner/founder was also very involved and encouraging. He knew what we were all going through and it made this program even more helpful. I am so grateful for the program he has started and continues to improve upon.

The doctor I worked with was incredibly helpful. He not only offered me information about my complications but he was compassionate and listened with interest in what I was saying. The blood tests and food allergy tests were also very extensive and informative and put some “science” into what I was experiencing.

I would recommend this center for anyone who is considering going off psychotropic medications of any kind. This is definitely a serious endeavor and should not be done on your own. The side effects and withdrawal symptoms I experienced at home were torturous and I wish I had not tried to taper off by myself. But I was glad I could go to ATMC to get help with this traumatic experience. They helped me in so many ways and I am forever grateful. Always remember to ask questions and seek help. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help.

I am someone with strong convictions and am not someone who would write a testimonial if I didn’t believe in what I was writing about. I feel it is important to say this and let folks out there know that they are NOT alone and there is help and hope. I searched endlessly trying to find someone who knew what was going on and how I felt and I found them.

Thanks to the entire staff at ATMC. I am so very grateful to ALL of you!!

Tracey

Denver, Colorado

When I came to Alternative To Meds center I was taking Lamictal, Geodon, Lorazepam, Ambien Cr, Levoxl, Estradiol, etc.

I was extremely depressed, suicidal, anxiety attacks and panic attacks to a point I couldn’t do my major job or function. During a fishing trip our boat capsized and I floated in diesel fuel until we were rescued. While at the center I was tested and found I had high levels of mercury. I’ve started the I.V. chelation therapy.

I’ve been here at the center for 2 weeks and I feel like I’m getting my life back, there is a sparkle in my eyes and a smile on my face most of the time. I have energy and feel some happiness again. My medications have been reduced at a comfortable rate so far. I couldn’t get myself off my meds but today I have hope. The food is very healthy to give me a whole body healing. And it tastes good too.

Tiki W.

Over a year ago I started this journey hoping to get relief. I was very ignorant to the realities of prescription drugs. Not only their long term problems but their addictive nature and problematic withdrawal. Many places will detox you in rapid fashion. There is only one location that allows you to detox slowly or taper as it is called, from Rx drugs. I have been on 15 drugs in one year after withdrawing from Effexor too fast. I, in the process, became addicted to Klonopin which should be taken for 2 months maximum. They kept me on it for 1.5 years.

I am a college grad, & former Miss America winner… an over-achiever by very definition and my life deteriorated in a way I could never have imagined because of Rx drugs and my new found fears surrounding them. With psychological support and supplementation, I am now drug free and headed to fight my addiction and heal my wounded family and self. While I don’t agree with certain elements, I do feel that programs like this are necessary and worth fighting for. Your family is saved from seeing the withdrawal and you are able to get off meds the right way. So I know I have done the right thing, my life has been changed. I am finding myself again.

-Anonymous.

Yes, we are grateful for Olivia.  She’s a very bright, sensitive and talented young woman.  Today she was drawing as we talked on speaker phone.  She’s not done art since her father and I divorced when she was seven, although her high school art projects were brilliant.  I hope that it’s gratifying for Lyle to see an individual recover under his very eyes, and he can now see the real Olivia.  The changes in her since this all happened also seem to be for the better, she’s more open, more accepting, more grateful and much much wiser.  The other clients there at Alt 2 Meds call her “raven”.  She says the Vets are good at labelling and she likes her name.  My raven.  I called her River when she was young, but Raven is perhaps more targeted.  She’s always had this very watchful, aware quality, and the birds association with intelligence is also fitting.

Yes, words do not completely express what her recovery means to me.  It would take poetry and song to speak the language of heart and spirit required for the totality of meaning for this experience to a mother’s heart.  As I said on the phone, this means my life, her life, her sister’s life, and unborn generations.  My lineage for seven generations into the future, no less.

Love, Cheryl
(Olivia’s mom)

The things I have succeeded to do to stop the medication:  I am leaving [Alternative to Meds Center] in three weeks.  I have succeeded in being in meetings. And doing things that help my concentration.  I’m doing sports.  I play tennis.  I do yoga 4 times a week.  I go swimming once a week.  I think sport activities help the problems in my mind and the problems in my body.

-N.E.

I am thrilled with my results from the sauna. It immediately showed signs that the program actually does work. I felt the drugs coming out and as a result I look and feel amazing! I look forward to watching others succeed from this experience.

-K.D.

I have been on and off psychiatric medications for fifteen years always coming off my medications cold turkey, because I was coming off them cold turkey I constantly suffered from withdraw symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia.
Every time I took my medication it felt like I went through a death.

I finally couldn’t take this feeling anymore and called my sister who got on the phone and found the Alternative to Meds Center for me. She explained I would be entering a taper program and using a special diet and supplemental program. Using the taper program I have had no problems coming off my medication and everything has been smooth, no hallucination, delusions or paranoia.

The vitamins and minerals seem to be doing the job because I feel more energized and calm with a feeling of self-worth.

The diet I am on is controlling my hypoglycemia and because it is being controlled I don’t experience any of the ups and downs I used to have.

In general I feel much better and I am excited to live my life medication free.