Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring is a board-certified psychiatrist and a leading expert in psychiatric drug side effects and withdrawal. He is the CEO and Medical Director of TaperClinic, where he oversees all aspects of patient care, supervises clinical staff, develops individualized tapering protocols, and works directly with patients experiencing complex withdrawal syndromes. His mission is to provide safe, evidence-informed care for those seeking to reduce or discontinue psychiatric medications.
In 2020, Dr. Witt-Doerring co-founded TaperClinic with his wife, establishing a pioneering medical practice dedicated exclusively to psychiatric deprescribing and the treatment of psychiatric drug injury. Under his leadership, the clinic has grown into the largest medical practice in the world devoted solely to psychiatric deprescribing and a trusted resource for individuals navigating severe withdrawal syndromes and medication-related harm.
Dr. Witt-Doerring brings a rare and valuable perspective to his work, shaped by years of experience at the intersection of clinical psychiatry, regulatory science, and pharmaceutical drug safety. As a former Medical Officer in the Division of Psychiatry at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), he reviewed emerging adverse drug reactions and contributed to updates in drug labeling—gaining firsthand insight into the risks of psychiatric interventions and the systemic blind spots that often leave patients harmed and unsupported.
In addition to his work at the FDA, he has held clinical research and drug safety positions at several pharmaceutical companies. He pursued a specialized fellowship in Psychiatric Drug Development at Janssen Research & Development and Drexel College of Medicine, completed his psychiatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine, and earned his medical degree from the University of Queensland in Australia.
Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Witt-Doerring plays a leading role in physician education on psychiatric medication withdrawal and safe deprescribing. After completing the Psychiatry Redefined Fellowship in Functional and Integrative Psychiatry, he joined the faculty as an instructor, teaching clinicians about psychiatric medication tapering, withdrawal syndromes, and evidence-based deprescribing. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Independent Medical Alliance (IMA), where he helps develop physician education and continuing medical education (CME) programs through the IMA Academy. In addition, he writes and lectures for the Brownstone Institute on psychiatric medication safety, informed consent, withdrawal, and responsible prescribing practices.
Through his YouTube channel, podcast appearances, media contributions, and educational content—which have reached millions of viewers worldwide—he is committed to helping patients, families, and clinicians better understand the benefits, risks, and limitations of psychiatric medications. Increasingly sought after as a media commentator, Dr. Witt-Doerring provides expert analysis on current events in psychiatry, psychiatric drug safety, withdrawal syndromes, and the evolving landscape of mental health treatment.
With his unique combination of regulatory, research, educational, and clinical experience, Dr. Witt-Doerring has become a leading voice in the field of psychiatric deprescribing. He leads TaperClinic with a patient-first philosophy, ensuring that every individual receives the time, care, and expertise needed to heal.
With a deep commitment to patient education, Dr. Witt-Doerring’s long-term mission is to create free high-quality educational content that empowers the general public to make informed decisions about their mental health care. Thanks to his extensive experience and highly specialized understanding of psychiatric interventions, patients can trust that they are in capable hands when seeking treatment for adverse drug reactions at his private practice.
Peer Reviewed Publications
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