Tapering Guides

IMPORTANT: Before beginning any tapering schedule, reduction protocol or medication change, it is strongly advised to consult with a qualified medical professional. We acknowledge a deeply frustrating reality: for many patients, the medical system remains dangerously uneducated on safe tapering, and it is often peer support communities and lived-experience networks that provide the crucial information many miss. We believe patients deserve care from clinicians who are actively willing to bridge the gap by educating themselves on gold-standard frameworks like The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines. However, because every nervous system reacts uniquely to medication adjustments, we operate strictly as an independent peer support and advocacy initiative. Visitors are ultimately responsible for their own health decisions and are encouraged to use the resources to advocate for themselves and collaborate with a supportive, open-minded healthcare professional that can help to design a safe, individualised pacing strategy. NEVER attempt abrupt cessation or rapid reduction without careful individualised planning. Click to read our full Medical Disclaimer

Clinical Tapering Guidelines

The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs

Authors: Mark Horowitz, M.D., Ph.D & David Taylor, Ph.D

The first major clinical guideline to incorporate hyperbolic tapering principles into deprescribing protocols. Based on receptor occupancy pharmacology, it provides evidence-based schedules for gradually reducing psychiatric medications, directly challenging the rapid tapers still standard in most clinical settings. Essential for patients and clinicians seeking safe discontinuation strategies.

The Ashton Manual: Benzodiazepines, How They Work and How to Withdraw (PDF)

Author: Prof. Heather Ashton

The Ashton Manual presents insights into the impacts of benzodiazepines on both the mind and body, elucidating the mechanisms through which these effects manifest. It offers comprehensive guidance on safely discontinuing usage following extended periods, furnishing tailored tapering plans for various benzodiazepines. The text delves into withdrawal symptoms, both immediate and prolonged, elucidating their underlying causes and strategies for managing them.

RELEASE Toolkit of Education and Training Packages for Doctors & Patients (Australian Resource)

Website: releasetoolkit.com.au

The RELEASE toolkit website contains information and resources to support people to stop antidepressants by minimising withdrawal symptoms via slow hyperbolic tapering of antidepressant dose (usually months). The RELEASE toolkit includes resources that have been co-designed with both doctors (GPs) and people with lived experience of long-term antidepressant use. Resources include tapering plans for 15 of the most common antidepressants, including ‘faster’, ‘slower’, and ‘even slower’ versions, and using custom prescription capsules or self-made liquid suspension. The RELEASE resources have been officially recognised by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) as an Accepted Clinical Resource and have been officially recognised as an endorsed activity by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP).

NOTE: Tapering via custom compounded liquids or specific commercial tablet strengths can vary between Australia and Ireland. An Irish GP will need to cross-reference the toolkit's tapering schedules with local pharmaceutical preparations.

Taper.Community

The most comprehensive website for safely tapering psychiatric medication. Contains evidence-based guidance, shared experiences, and drug-specific taper journals. Sign up for free to create a personal taper plan.