The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gaba...

If you are taking certain prescribed medications and you have decided to come off of them for whatever reason, and you want to minimise possible discomfort, this is a great tool for safe guidance to achieve your goal. Unfortunately, many healthcare providers can prescribe certain medications, but in my opinion, they have no real idea how to get you off of them. The guidelines provided to them are often outdated and can cause unnecessary discomfort; however, those guidelines are gradually being reviewed and amended to align with those included in this amazing book. If you want to educate yourself and your prescriber, this is exactly what you need.

The book is well founded and evidence based. It gives clear guidelines in unusual prescribing scenarios. For example: Some prescribers can be scared of using preparations like diazepam liquid in very low doses, out of fear that this is not licensed. In the absence of official guidelines this book can be used as reassurance to do the right thing. Most of the advice is common sense. Some sections, such as the one about deprescribing benzodiazepines, can be a bit repetitive, but this does not affect my 5 star review.

The authors are to be highly commended for compiling such an important collation of the information 'to date' (November 2023) on the complex issue of the deprescribing - of antidepressants, benzos, gabapentinoids and z-drugs. Having contributed to the patient experience gathered within the reference material cited, it is heartening to see this now being used constructively to inform prescribers - with the express purpose of limiting the damage that we have seen far too many people experiencing - whilst the medical profession has been slow to recognise what has been happening to real life patients. This book will surely raise awareness and kick-start long overdue proper recognition and further exploration of the issues raised - especially in the preliminary discussion section. The future 'proof of the pudding' around the specific drug guidance will itself yield essential information and better understanding of 'what works' in real life for real patients. And then there is the problem of polypharmacy: all too often antidepressants are now the 'gateway' drugs, leading on to the other drugs covered within the book.

Great resource for anyone wanting to have an understanding on coming off/ tapering from antidepressants or benzodiazepines. Contains examples of how to taper and information on each drug. Mark Horowitz is a co author and is a wonderful advocate and expert here. I recommend this book for those wishing for help and understanding of this incredibly difficult journey for some. I only wish our medical environment would read this as part of their training and use it with patients who struggle here, where it can be as difficult physically and mentally as it gets. An estimated 50% of people struggle with withdrawal from these drugs which can take years.

Good news:- Useful and practical handbook designed to help clinicians and patients safely reduce or stop psychiatric medications. Bad news:- I can't say what I think here as the review would not be published 🙏

What you need if you're wanting to stop SSRIs. Fantastic hope now.

As a senior data analyst, I was uniquely positioned to leverage advanced analytical skills to develop a highly tailored tapering plan for discontinuing aripiprazole. By analyzing pet brain scan data and extrapolating similar patterns to the graphs featured in The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, I was able to create a precise strategy for reducing my dose over a period of more than two years. This gradual approach helped me avoid significant withdrawal effects and led to the resolution of many iatrogenic issues caused by the medication, such as compulsive behaviors. While I successfully achieved full discontinuation, I eventually experienced a mild relapse, characterized by acute symptoms, which led to reinstatement at my original starting dose. Though this outcome may seem disheartening, it has provided me with a valuable learning opportunity. I’m now in a position to demonstrate a balanced approach to medication use, acknowledging the importance of treatment when needed without succumbing to the stigma of "pill shaming." At the same time, I remain optimistic that I can once again work toward a medication-free life, especially if I address the external stressors that contributed to my earlier challenges. This experience highlights the importance of both data-driven decision-making and flexible, patient-centered treatment plans in managing long-term medication use. With the next volume of the Maudsley guidelines due in January 2025, I hope to gain further insights to fine-tune my approach.

I bought this to explain to my doctors that a fast taper of Diazapam is dangerous. I have been put through hell twice by psychiatrists, GPs and pharmacists who don't have a clue how to deprescribe. They think I am making up the horrendous symptoms. Thank you so much to the authors for writing such a clear, concise and important book. I advise everyone on any psychiatric drug to get a copy because it will save your life.