The Truth About Tapering Off Psychiatric Medications

Have you ever thought about stopping psychiatric medications? Maybe you have tried it.If so, you’re not alone. Many individual across the world have considered or tried stopping their psychiatric medications and success is variable.The withdrawal from psychiatric medication tapering can be incredibly complex, and doing it safely requires both medical and psychological support.But, as Dr. Anders Sørensen highlights in this interview, the guidelines around medication tapering and withdrawal miss a lot of important nuances that can prevent people from being successful.In this interview, psychologist and PhD researcher Dr. Anders Sørensen shares his decade-long experience helping people taper off psychiatric medications. He covers the biological and emotional aspects of withdrawal, the science behind tapering strategies like hyperbolic tapering, and why psychotherapy plays a vital role during and after the process. You'll also learn how short-term clinical studies shaped medical guidelines and why those guidelines may not reflect the lived experience of long-term patients.In this video, you'll also learn:Why withdrawal can feel like relapse—and how to tell the differenceWhat makes tapering more complex than just reducing the doseHow to understand withdrawal symptoms and avoid severe outcomesWhy “tapering to something” (like therapy or metabolic interventions) mattersHow psychotherapy can support emotional reintegration once medications are goneWatch for Dr. Sørensen’s forthcoming book “Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming and Staying Off Psychiatric Drugs” coming in summer 2025.Expert Featured:Dr. Anders SørensenX: https://x.com/_AndersSorensenSubstack: https://crossingzero.substack.com/Book Coming Soon: https://crossingzero.substack.com/p/curious-about-the-bookResources Mentioned:Clinical practice guideline recommendations on tapering and discontinuing antidepressants for depression: a systematic reviewhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35173954/Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.