Must Watch Interview with Dr. Josef Witt-Doering- For those considering Tapering their Medications!

[@jimmonade]

Such an important conversation! Thanks for doing this!

[@LevelheadedMind]

You're welcome 😊 we need to have more conversations like this to bring more awareness to the topic.

[@jasongendron8309]

@@LevelheadedMind This is off topic. But would you consider or have you ever prescribed prozac to someone in the middle of a benzodiazepine taper?

[@Godivahair]

As a psych NP, where can I learn more about tapering so I can do it more confidently for my patients? I did buy the Mausley Deprescribing guide, as recommended by you.

[@LevelheadedMind]

That's a great place to start. You can also look at resources like outro, the alliance for benzodiazepine best practices, and benzo information Coalition. They will have information to learn from. Outro has educational content geared towards patients but providers find them helpful. Dr. Greenblatt has a great book on antidepressant withdrawal with protocols that is also helpful. Dr. Josef is working on provider specific training which will also help to fill this need, so stay tuned.

[@bloominglotusalchemy]

Yea, great video, I love it all, especially your faith. ❤

[@123________]

Thanks Dr Josef

[@hulk-jv6cz]

Please make a video on pssd with doctor Josef.

[@nerdbamarich2063]

Fantastic interview

[@LevelheadedMind]

Thank you!

[@shannonratcliff-qv6in]

my son has hypothyroidism but bcos the paychiatrist says he knows nothing about hypothyroidism bcos hes a mental health doctor he keeps my son on clozapin for 20 years as treatment resistant scizophrenia bcos other meds didnt work i have said they dont work cos treating wrong illness he has been put on levo for his thyroid but still on SSRIs for life even though my son settled dopwn when put on levo

[@skeptik-ci5xo]

I feel the need to state that depression is not unhappiness, and unhappiness is not depression. The concept of happiness in and of itself is a matter of philosophy, and has little if anything to do with mental health. To think otherwise is a gross misunderstanding and oversimplification of depression. I don't think medications are the answer to everything; I have plenty of issues with them myself. But anyone who has a KZbin Channel to denouncing psychiatric medications, they need to offer alternative solutions that don't consist of denying the existence of mental illness. I don't see this much in the online neo-antipsychiatry movement.

[@boomerang6130]

I hear he makes patients sign $30K contracts for treatment. Is this true or not? If true, stay clear of this person. No one and I mean no one has a magic bullet for w/d from psychiatric meds, esp. benzos. If he is charging patients this amount, he is in it for the money and does not have the patient's best interest in mind.

[@LevelheadedMind]

He does not offer a magic bullet. Instead he offers to have expert guidance during your taper to reduce harm, which in my opinion is priceless! His program is comprehensive with coaching sessions offered regularly with supportive groups and a community that fosters hope and healing. You can't get that anywhere else.

[@ethanlubell4774]

I appreciate what dr Josef is doing but he is spreading tons of fear in the community. In my opinion these micro tapers off medications cause a lot more harm than good. Sure you don’t want to abruptly stop or go quickly but the people who have worked on their underlying factors are able to stop and remain off and don’t have “protracted withdrawal.” He also charges 2000 for the initial consultation and 750 for follow up visit. This shows to me he is doing what he does for the money sadly…

[@michellewilson1221]

Genuine question. If you are saying micro tapers, going too fast or abruptly stopping meds isn't good for tapering. How would you suggest someone do it? I have been on 45mg of mirtazapine for 2 years for functional dyspepsia (GI problems)...so not even for mental health. I am tapering now... I was decreasing 10 % a week until now with little problem. I felt icky 2 days then I was fine. I started the 15 mgs this past week, and its the first time, five days later I got dizzy.. a few days later its better and I can do my daily functions, but I am concerned about going down in dose right now. I was planning on going down 25% weekly until I am off of it, but after this decrease I am nervous to do that and when.

[@LevelheadedMind]

We discuss the concern related to cost and what is included in his program, plus the fact that a lot of work is done outside of the visit to enhance the patient experience and make the treatment individualized. He also includes drop-in sessions to answer questions and access to coaches. He understands that tapering medication requires a team-based approach which unfortunately means increased costs, since everyone in the team needs to be paid, as well as the infrastructure and systems required to conduct the work and make the team readily accessible, also come with a cost.

[@jimmonade]

@@ethanlubell4774 I’ve tried therapy and other things to help but never got better. I found his channel early on and I have to admit when I started my mental health journey looking for meds and help his channel scared me to death! I gave up for a while and fell deeper into anxiety and depression. I finally started taking meds and found this channel LevelHeaded Mind and it has literally changed my life for the better. I am happy and so far so good. I wouldn’t say he’s all in it for the money as time is money and he’s definitely bringing awareness to important real life issues. It’s good to make informed decisions, which is why the conversation between Dr Josef and Jezel is much needed as you see all sides.

[@FreeWanderingThinker]

I have lost years of my life and almost my life itself because of protacted withdrawal. Only those who have gone through this know what that means. Dr. Witt-Doerring is one of very few doctors worldwide spreading the truth about these poisons. The truth is for many people very hard to accept.

[@baalbek06]

I think everyone needs to find their own tapering rate. Kudos to people who have a body chemistry that allows them to taper more rapidly. I am happy for you. That being said the only way I was able to get off of poly pharmacy was through hyperbolic tapering at a very slow pace. It took longer but I succeeded and now I am psych drug free. It was well worth going at a snail's pace, at least for me. Congratulations to all those who can taper more rapidly.

[@makemoneynow8690]

Average person can't afford your treatment. We need insurance to cover your costs. 99% of psychiatrist do not know or understand how to taper properly, so patients cannot get help and cannot afford your treatment no matter how wonderful your treatment is.

[@lululove6175]

So true. So we still end up suffering.

[@lululove6175]

Thanks Dr. Josef