Let's talk about how to safely deprescribe antidepressants

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]Let's talk about how to safely de-prescribe antidepressants and reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. Feeling anxious or depressed while reducing or stopping an antidepressant does not automatically mean someone is relapsing.

[00:00:14]These symptoms are actually very common during withdrawal. While withdrawal effects are often mild and brief after short-term antidepressant use, long-term use can lead to withdrawal symptoms that are more severe, prolonged, and even debilitating. Research suggests that tapering antidepressant over much longer periods, months, and sometimes even years rather than weeks, is more likely to be successful and better tolerated.

[00:00:40]One approach that appears to work best is called proportional or hyperbolic tapering. This means making smaller and smaller dose reductions as the total dose gets lower. Some people may need to taper down to very small doses before stopping completely. To make these small reductions possible, patient may need access to liquid form of medication or compounding tablets or capsules.

[00:01:07]The pace of tapering should always be individualized and adjusted based on how well a person tolerates such reduction um with withdrawal symptoms guiding this process. If you are considering stopping an antidepressant, doing so gradually and with medical guidance can make a significant difference in minimizing withdrawal effects. Thank you for watching.