Safe Tapering Practices for Anti-Depressants with Dr. Mark Horowitz

In this interview with Dr. Bret Scher, Dr. Mark Horowitz, a leading clinician and researcher in anti-depressant withdrawal and de-prescribing, delves into the complex world of de-prescribing anti-depressants. Dr. Horowitz shares his personal journey with antidepressant withdrawal, which led him to dedicate his career to understanding safe tapering practices.
He discusses the challenges that patients face when coming off medications, the withdrawal effects often mistaken for relapses, and how the current psychiatric guidelines may fall short in helping people safely taper. Dr. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of individualized tapering plans and the need for slower, more gradual reductions in medication, challenging the traditional approach of quick tapers over a few weeks.
Key Topics Covered
• The difference between withdrawal symptoms and relapse
• The effects of long-term antidepressant use
• Dr. Horowitz’s personal experience with tapering off Lexapro
• The role of clinicians and peer support in the de-prescribing process
Experts Featured
Dr. Mark Horowitz
X: @markhoro
markhorowitz.org/
Resources:
Safe tapering resources:
www.outro.com/
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs (The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines Series)
www.amazon.com...
Metabolic Mind’s Families & Peers page:
www.metabolicm...
Clinician Directory:
www.diagnosisd...
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 metabolicmind....
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.
#MetabolicMind
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis
#AlternativeTreatment
#PsychiatricMedication
#KetogenicTherapy
#Tapering
#Deprescribing

[@kata6966]

Thank you Metabolic Minds for having Dr. Horowitz on your channel. He is awesome!!

[@metabolicmind]

We agree!

[@BoredGirl11]

Thank you for this. More conversations on de-prescribing please.

[@MistyRane]

This was incredibly useful information. There are is so little support for patience safely tapering off these powerful drugs

[@outrohealth]

Thanks for having Mark on, friends!

[@metabolicmind]

Our pleasure! He provides so much great information!

[@nicolelaurentLMHC]

Can we please fund a study designed by Mark Horowitz to see if a medical ketogenic diet leads to less withdrawal symptoms?

[@metabolicmind]

Fantastic idea! Let's chat.....

[@jan_ellison_baszucki]

@@metabolicmind let's discuss.

[@BoredGirl11]

Have you noticed less withdrawal symptoms in your practice at all?

[@abidnessman]

Let me add another dimension to going off anti depressants after 20 years of usage. There are side effects, in my case appeared and impacted my life beyond benefits of anti depressant, at least I thought. Vision and insomnia. The original prescriber is no longer around and my PCP ignores my pleas for help. I managed a psychologist on video calls to help. In summary, this is not how I thought this would play out 20 years ago. Now retired, i am attempting to put things right re double vision, mega insomnia (no sleeping pill can touch), and as I ween off dosage of same drug (zoloft 25 mg now to 12.5 mg) i have depression knocking at my door. Thanks for letting me exhale on this undertaking.

[@BoredGirl11]

I love this guys analogies 😄❤️

[@metabolicmind]

We agree! His analogies were so helpful.

[@garyjagoe9541]

I was on Prestiq for 10 years. With help from my doctor I weaned off over 3 months. It’s now over 8 months since my tapering off. I believe my emotions were frozen during taking of Prestiq and have been left with over reactive emotions. ie. I now cry/weep when I’m in an emotional situation. Damaged brain? I’m now seventy and I do feel better over all. Trying the carnivore diet to see if it can help.

[@metabolicmind]

Thanks for sharing!

[@theantiqueactionfigure]

I jumped up and down with my doctor over the side effects from the ssri they gave me for pain control. Quit wellbutrin the day after it hospitalized me. Cold turkey, it was easy for me.

[@BeatrizHatfield-vc4ig]

Using Maudsleys Deprescribing Guidelines to taper multiple psychiatric drug cascade. Feeling hopeful

[@hayleyprice8345]

Yeah all those problems I think I need to talk to my doctor

[@hayleyprice8345]

I think support is also helpful

[@hayleyprice8345]

Slower with exercise and support I recently tried but things got to hard

[@kimberlyf4888]

I believe , as he states, that your regular, neighborhood, psychiatrist is not taking money from pharmaceutical companies, but their educational institutions are funded by those companies.

[@ML-yf2dl]

What about Atomoxetine? This medication suddenly isn’t available anymore and we only have one dosis (60 mg, capsules) and need to come off it for obvious reasons. Any advice…? 😓

[@hayleyprice8345]

I disagree with higher dose as of side affects

[@nicknorwitzPhD]

Mark Horowitz is way too close to Nick Norwitz 😅

[@metabolicmind]

You would make a great rock band, The Orowitzes

[@unsu-os]

I am on caffeine, drink two cups of light roast coffee (high caffeine) every day and want to quit and don’t know how, all my attempts failed

[@jamescalifornia2964]

You are doomed ... 😒👉 `☕️