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Another Look at Prescription Drugs for Mental Health
by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ September 24, 2026
*Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following through Mom’s eyes.
On May 6, 2017, my daughter Nikki took her last prescription drug for her mental health.
It took nearly a year to slowly taper off every medication, and another full year after the final pill before she felt even the slightest relief from withdrawal.
The process was grueling. Watching her endure firsthand, I can only describe her symptoms as similar to someone withdrawing from street drugs—tremors, hallucinations, confusion, severe body pain and so much more.
One moment remains etched in my memory. Nikki sat rocking in my chair, staring at a picture of a horse hanging on the wall while clutching a stuffed animal. I stood at a safe distance, afraid to move, afraid to speak. In that moment, I truly believed I might lose my daughter.
Years have passed, and Nikki still lives with long-term negative effects from the medications—symptoms that, even now, healthcare providers fail to acknowledge.
Gaining awareness through our journey with prescription drugs
During the seven years Nikki was treated with mental-health prescription drugs, she experienced severe side effects: worsen depression, nausea, throat-closing sensations, extreme negative thoughts, hallucinations, confusion, memory loss, and unhealthy weight gain. All of which are listed on the medication guide.
Yet not a single healthcare provider suggested she might be on the wrong treatment plan.
As years went by, the healthcare prescriber at the time insisted she needed medication, and never recognized these medications were causing more harm than good.
Soon after withdrawing from all prescribed medications, Nikki was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and advised to have her thyroid ablated.
It took even more years for a professional to diagnosis and acknowledge her chemical sensitivities and recommend a diet of gluten- free and organic foods. Nikki was advised to limit preservatives not only in foods but products as well.
Fortunately, not everyone will experience the negative effects my daughter had while being treated with prescription drugs.
However, the key to any successful treatment plan is awareness and knowledge.
Here are some simple steps you should take before starting any treatment plan, prescription or otherwise.
First, make sure you have all the necessary testing done before entering into a treatment program, especially a thyroid blood test.
Second, determine that your diagnosis is accurate.
Third, research treatment plan options, such as talk therapy, self-care, DBT, CBT, etc.
Fourth, know that everyone is different and there is no one plan for everyone.
Fifth, and most importantly, realize there is no simple fix for your mental health.
Learn to always question
- Do you feel sick when eating certain foods or even drinking bottle water (which contains preservatives)?
- Does perfume smells give you a headache or create negative thoughts?
- When applying lotions or creams, do you feel agitated?
- How do you feel when taking medications — depressed or angry?
Many times negative symptoms happen that may not be obvious or even acknowledged by your healthcare provider.
Learn to analyze the way your body reacts to certain medications, foods and products.
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“The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than mere survival.”
-Aristotle –
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Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story and Mom’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
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