Resources for When It's Time to Discuss Stopping Antidepressants and Other Psych Meds With Your Prescriber

Hyperbolic Tapering Resources You Can Share With Your Doctor

I know tapering off psychiatric meds can feel overwhelming and scary—it's a big step, and you're not alone in wanting to do it safely.

If you're preparing to talk with your prescriber, here's some Evidence-Based Support on hyperbolic tapering: a patient-centered way to ease down your dose with smaller cuts as your dose drops (like 10% of your *current* dose), helping your body adjust smoothly and reducing the tough withdrawal or relapse risks.

These resources draw from a variety of experts, guidelines, and studies to give you a well-rounded view—print them or share digitally to help guide a plan that honors your needs. To view resources for stopping antidepressants, click on the provided link.

• The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs (2024) by Mark Horowitz and David Taylor: This comprehensive guide emphasizes hyperbolic tapering for safe deprescribing and stopping antidepressants and other psych meds, with practical steps like proportional reductions (e.g., smaller increments at lower doses) over weeks to years, tailored to minimize withdrawal based on receptor occupancy science. Link: https://www.amazon.com/Maudsley-Deprescribing-Guidelines-Antidepressants-Benzodiazepines-ebook/dp/B0CRMV5S71

• Hyperbolic Tapering of Antidepressants: Where Are We Now? (2025) by Mark Horowitz et al.: Reviews the current state of hyperbolic tapering, highlighting its role in achieving linear reductions in brain effects to prevent severe symptoms, with calls for more personalized approaches in clinical practice. Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/397439876_Hyperbolic_tapering_of_antidepressants_where_are_we_now

• Outcomes of Hyperbolic Tapering of Antidepressants (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2023) by Peter C. Groot and Jim van Os: Analyzes 608 patients using tapering strips for hyperbolic dose reductions (e.g., daily micro-cuts), showing reduced withdrawal symptoms, especially for venlafaxine and paroxetine—validates this method for patient-led, gradual tapers. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10185864

• A Method for Tapering Antipsychotic Treatment That May Minimize the Risk of Relapse (Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2021) by Mark Horowitz et al.: Proposes hyperbolic tapering for antipsychotics (e.g., 25-50% of current dose every 3-6 months), explaining how it supports even D2 receptor adjustments to lower relapse risks gently. Link: https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article/47/4/1116/6178746) (Note: Similar principles apply to other psych meds.)

• Alternate-Day Dosing to Taper Antidepressants Risks Severe Withdrawal Effects: An In Silico Analysis (Journal of Affective Disorders, 2025) by James R. O'Neill, Anders Sørensen, David Taylor, and Mark Horowitz: Warns against alternate-day methods, advocating hyperbolic tapering instead for steady unblocking of serotonin transporters, with modeled examples showing smaller cuts prevent symptom spikes. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032725015265

• The Relationship Between Dose and Serotonin Transporter Occupancy of Antidepressants—A Systematic Review (Molecular Psychiatry, 2021) by Anders Sørensen et al.: PET scan analysis of 10 antidepressants reveals hyperbolic dose-response curves, supporting proportional tapering (e.g., 10% monthly) for gradual, safer reductions without abrupt drops. Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-021-01285-w

• How to Stop Antidepressants (Therapeutics Initiative, 2025): Recommends very gradual hyperbolic tapering over months/years for high-risk patients, using liquids or compounding for tiny doses, based on UK NICE and specialty guidelines to markedly reduce symptoms. Link: https://www.ti.ubc.ca/2025/07/17/157-how-to-stop-antidepressants

• Successful Use of Tapering Strips for Hyperbolic Reduction of Antidepressant Dose: A Cohort Study (2021) by Peter C. Groot and Jim van Os: Third validation of tapering strips enabling precise hyperbolic cuts, with cohort data showing they effectively lower withdrawal symptom severity for personalized deprescribing. Link: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Successful-use-of-tapering-strips-for-hyperbolic-of-Groot-os/990c04737c171198e12d021a70f70ddc7ba8d956

• Withdrawing from Antidepressants (PhD Thesis, 2022) by Anders Sørensen: Explores hyperbolic curves in dose-SERT occupancy, suggesting slower, proportional tapers to ease symptoms—includes meta-analysis and critiques of standard guidelines. Full PDF available. Link: https://www.psykologanders.dk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PhD-thesis.pdf

• Tapering of SSRI Treatment to Mitigate Withdrawal Symptoms (The Lancet Psychiatry, 2019) by Mark Horowitz and David Taylor: Introduces hyperbolic tapering principles for SSRIs, with examples like reducing to sub-milligram doses over extended periods to align with non-linear brain effects. Link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(19)30032-X/fulltext) (Referenced in multiple sources.)

With these diverse insights from guidelines, studies, and experts backing you, take a deep breath—you're taking a courageous step toward what feels right for you. Your well-being is worth advocating for. Reach out if you need more support. #HyperbolicTapering #PsychMedWithdrawal #PatientCenteredCare