Tapering psychotropic medications can be challenging, but it is possible to do so safely with the right guidance and a comprehensive self-care program. Many of our clients seek alternatives after experiencing side effects or deciding they no longer want to rely on pharmaceuticals.
This process requires patience, support, and a well-rounded, holistic approach. The research on tapering psychotropic medications highlights the importance of integrating personalized strategies to ensure success. To help you navigate this journey with your clients, I’m sharing the story of one of my clients that illustrates how tapering medications can be done gradually and thoughtfully, ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining overall well-being.
Read about Noah’s story, a survivor of complex trauma who had been taking 150 mg of bupropion and 150 mg of quetiapine for 12 years when they decided to reduce and eventually eliminate the medications.
They also smoked cigarettes. Over the course of 14 months, Noah successfully detoxed from nicotine and both medications. Here’s how we did it:
Building a Self-Care Routine for Tapering Success
To support their goal, Noah began with a robust self-care program. Over six months, they developed a routine that included:
- Exercise: Daily walking for one hour, five days a week, along with three days of high-intensity interval training.
- Dietary Changes: Reducing sugar, increasing fatty fish, animal protein, fresh vegetables and fruits, coconut fat, olive oil, raw nuts, and raw butter. They also switched to organic cream for their coffee.
- Supplementation: Incorporating B vitamins, extra folate, B-6, B-12, fatty acids, and inositol.
- Skin Brushing: Daily to support circulation and detoxification.
3 Main Steps in Noah’s Medication Tapering
Step 1: Nicotine Detox
Before tapering off medications, Noah chose to detox from nicotine since bupropion is known to aid in nicotine withdrawal. They used a herbal extract containing lobelia, oat milky seed, and skullcap to help reduce cravings. Over four weeks, Noah successfully quit smoking, managing “mental cravings” for the ritual of smoking but no longer feeling physical cravings.
Step 2: Tapering Bupropion and Quetiapine
Once nicotine detox was complete, we shifted focus to tapering off bupropion and quetiapine. Given Noah’s reliance on quetiapine for sleep, we created a slow taper plan. The schedule involved reducing the dosage of each medication by approximately 10 mg per month over 12 months.
As Noah tapered, their mood and energy remained stable, but as quetiapine was reduced, the dependency on the medication for sleep became more apparent. To support sleep, we introduced:
- Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES)
- Increased doses of magnesium threonate
- Herbal supplements like valerian, hops, passionflower, and lavela
While Noah progressed, there were moments of frustration, especially when they felt dependent on quetiapine for sleep. However, I reassured them that relearning how to sleep without medication would take time and that they were making excellent progress.
Step 3: A Successful Transition
At the 14-month mark, Noah successfully withdrew from all medications. They continued in therapy and maintained their self-care routine. Their journey opened up new opportunities, including a renewed social life built around their commitment to health and self-care, such as joining new classes and a gym.
Noah’s story illustrates the importance of a personalized, integrative approach to tapering off medications. Patience, consistency, and a supportive care team make all the difference in creating a sustainable path toward wellness.
To learn more about how you can safely guide your clients through medication tapering, visit my new page, Deprescribing and Tapering Antidepressants, Anti-Psychotics, Anxiolytics, and other Psychotropic Medications.
She served as a Fulbright scholar on traditional medicine, a Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School, and a National Institutes of Health-funded research scientist in mind/body medicine.
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