The Holistic
Psychiatry Clinic Consultant Psychiatrists
Psychiatry Clinic Consultant Psychiatrists
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Structured Deprescribing
For people who want to reduce or stop long-term psychiatric medication — safely, gradually, and with full consultant oversight. This is not about stopping abruptly. It is a careful, medically supervised process built entirely around you.
⸺ Common misconceptions
What deprescribing is — and what it isn’t
Many patients arrive carrying fears and assumptions about reducing medication. Let us address them honestly.
Stopping medication means going cold turkey and risking serious withdrawal.
Structured deprescribing is gradual, supervised, and planned — withdrawal risk is carefully managed at every step.
If medication was prescribed, it must still be needed.
Many prescriptions are never reassessed. A thorough review often reveals that needs — and better options — have changed.
Wanting to reduce medication means rejecting psychiatry or going against medical advice.
Requesting a medication review is a medically valid and increasingly supported clinical decision.
If I reduce medication, my original symptoms will come back worse than before.
With proper support and a bespoke taper plan, most people reduce successfully without relapse when timing and pace are right.
How our deprescribing process works
Every step is consultant-led, documented, and adapted to your individual clinical picture. There is no one-size-fits-all timeline.
01
Initial Psychiatric Assessment
A comprehensive, unhurried consultation covering your full psychiatric history, current medication, reasons for wanting to reduce, lifestyle context, and goals.
60–90 minute video or in-person consultation. Full clinical notes provided. No pressure to proceed if the assessment suggests this is not the right time.
02
Bespoke Taper Plan
A personalised, medically guided tapering schedule accounting for your specific medication, dosage, duration of use, nervous system sensitivity, and life circumstances.
Written plan provided. Hyperbolic tapering where indicated. Timing built around your life — not a generic protocol.
03
Supported Reduction Phase
Regular check-in appointments to monitor progress, adjust the plan as needed, and address any emerging symptoms before they become problematic.
Frequency tailored to your needs. Clear escalation pathway if symptoms worsen. Flexibility to pause or slow at any point.
04
Stabilisation & Discharge
Once at your target dose or off medication, we support a consolidation period — ensuring changes are stable before transitioning to independent management.
Shared care letter where appropriate. Long-term self-management guidance. Optional follow-up sessions available.
What we work with
We review a broad range of psychiatric medications. All reviews follow clinical evidence and prioritise your safety above all else. Suitability is always assessed individually before any taper plan is created.
Antidepressants
Including long-term use of sertraline, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and citalopram. Particular expertise in managing discontinuation syndrome through gradual, hyperbolic taper protocols.
Antipsychotics
Including quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and aripiprazole. Requires careful monitoring — suitability is assessed thoroughly before proceeding, with close attention to original indication.
Mood Stabilisers
Review only where clinically appropriate and where the original diagnosis has been thoroughly reassessed. Requires careful shared decision-making and robust monitoring throughout.
Sedatives & Hypnotics
Including diazepam, lorazepam, zopiclone, and zolpidem. High dependency potential means structured taper protocols are essential — self-managed reduction is not recommended.
ADHD Medication
Including methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, and atomoxetine. Always reviewed in the context of a full neurodiversity assessment to ensure the original diagnosis remains accurate.
Polypharmacy
Many patients arrive on multiple medications prescribed over many years. We have experience rationalising complex regimens safely and collaboratively, one step at a time.
This service may be right for you if…
Book an initial consultation and we will assess whether structured deprescribing is appropriate for you — without pressure and with complete transparency.