Deprescribing
Deprescribing is not about rejecting medication. Rather, it is about ensuring that each medication continues to serve a clear purpose, with benefits that outweigh potential risks over time.
It is a careful, evidence-based process in which the ongoing need for psychiatric medications is thoughtfully reassessed and, when appropriate, medications are gradually reduced or discontinued under close medical supervision. I offer specialized psychiatric deprescribing and medication optimization for adults seeking a more deliberate and individualized approach to their care.​
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What Is Deprescribing?
Deprescribing involves a structured review of current medications, diagnoses, treatment history, and clinical response. The goal is to determine whether all prescribed medications remain necessary and beneficial, particularly in cases of long-term use or polypharmacy.
When deprescribing is appropriate, medications are tapered slowly and thoughtfully, with close monitoring for withdrawal effects, symptom recurrence, or emerging concerns. This process emphasizes safety, collaboration, and individualized decision-making.
Who May Benefit From Deprescribing?
Psychiatric deprescribing may be appropriate for individuals who:
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Are taking multiple psychiatric medications (polypharmacy)
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Have been on medications long-term without recent reassessment
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Experience side effects that outweigh perceived benefits
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Are uncertain about the original indication for continued treatment
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Feel “overmedicated” or emotionally blunted
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Wish to revisit treatment goals at a different stage of life
Not every patient is a candidate for deprescribing, and not every medication should be reduced. A careful psychiatric evaluation is essential before making any changes.
How the Deprescribing Process Works
Deprescribing is a gradual and individualized process that typically includes:
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A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation
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Review of current and past medications, diagnoses, and responses
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Discussion of goals, concerns, and preferences
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Careful risk–benefit analysis for each medication
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Slow, monitored tapering when appropriate
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Ongoing follow-up and adjustment as needed
Abrupt discontinuation of psychiatric medications can be risky. Deprescribing emphasizes patience, clinical judgment, and close follow-up.
The Role of Psychotherapy in Deprescribing
For most, psychotherapy can be an important adjunct to psychiatric deprescribing. Therapy may help patients develop coping strategies, address underlying contributors to symptoms, and navigate the psychological aspects of medication changes.
I am able to integrate psychotherapy into care when clinically appropriate, ensuring that medication decisions and therapeutic work remain closely aligned.
Polypharmacy and Long-Term Medication Use
Over time, psychiatric treatment plans can become complex. Medications may be added during periods of acute illness and then continued indefinitely, sometimes without a clear plan for reassessment. In other cases, medications prescribed by different clinicians accumulate without a unified strategy.
Psychiatric deprescribing offers an opportunity to step back, review the full picture, and determine whether simplification or optimization of the medication regimen may improve overall functioning and quality of life.