Safely reducing or stopping SSRIs, stimulants and benzodiazepines. Have you been on an antidepressant, ADHD medication, or anti-anxiety medication for years and wondered if you still need it? Maybe you feel stable and want to see how you do with less, or side effects like emotional numbness, sleep changes, weight gain, or low libido are affecting your quality of life. You are not alone, and you do not have to figure it out by yourself.

At Hope and Purpose Wellness, we offer medication deprescribing for adults who want to thoughtfully reduce or discontinue SSRIs (such as Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro), SNRIs (such as Effexor, Pristiq and Cymbalta), stimulant medications (such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta), and benzodiazepines (such as Ativan, Xanax and Klonopin). Our board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners create personalized tapering plans based on your history, current symptoms, and goals.

Stopping these medications suddenly can lead to discontinuation symptoms such as dizziness, irritability, “brain zaps,” fatigue, or a return of depression, anxiety, or attention difficulties. Benzodiazepines in particular should never be stopped abruptly, as withdrawal can cause rebound anxiety, insomnia, and in some cases seizures. A slow, supervised taper helps lower that risk and gives you a clinician who is watching closely along the way.