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Lives Reclaimed Through Safe Deprescribing
These stories highlight the courage of patients who took back their lives after psychiatric drug harm—with support from the TaperClinic team.
Psychiatric Medication Withdrawal & Recovery
Every day at TaperClinic, we witness quiet victories—symptoms easing, confidence returning, lives rebuilding. In this short video, our team reflects on some of the most powerful and inspiring moments we’ve shared with clients. These stories are reminders that healing is real, progress is possible, and no one walks this path alone. Whether it’s a message from a client celebrating their first full night of sleep in years or the joy of a graduation day, these reflections offer a window into what’s possible when care is personalized, compassionate, and grounded in belief.
Psychiatric Drug Tapering with TaperClinic
Psychiatric Drug Tapering with TaperClinic
During the initial year of COVID I started taking Xanax and became increasingly dependent on it. Based on past experiences, the thought of stopping cold turkey was absolutely terrifying and although I genuinely wanted to stop, I felt trapped by the prospect of imminent and horrible withdrawal.
Thanks to Dr. Marissa Witt-Doerring, I found an understanding, nonjudgmental and surprisingly effective way to wean myself off with virtually none of the issues I had so dreaded. I’m over the moon that I have successfully become benzo free with no interruptions to work or life in general. I’d highly recommend Dr. Marissa Witt-Doerring to help you get back to where you want to be!
Dr. Marissa Witt-Doerring was a great help in getting over my anxiety issues at the same time as slowly stopping usage of anti-anxiety medication. She clearly laid out the path forward and helped me along it one step at a time. I would recommend Dr. Marissa Witt-Doerring for anyone looking to make a change but struggling with how to make that happen.
I reached out to Dr. Marissa Witt-Doerring during a challenging and confusing time. I heard back quickly and was treated with respect and empathy which was a great comfort with what was going on at the time. I was fearful when I reached out. I appreciate the calm demeanor and levelheaded truthfulness when working with them. I have found them quick to respond and if something comes up. Their consistency of care has been helpful and comforting. They will work with you to find treatment and care options that fit your specific needs. As I write this, what comes to mind that they really hear me. The questionnaires and comments are actually read, and what you say is taken seriously and considered. I always feel heard.
After researching a series of seemingly unrelated health issues, it became apparent that the benzodiazepine I had been prescribed for insomnia—and had been taking for over a decade—was the likely culprit. The doctor who prescribed the medication agreed to let me taper off, but at a rate that was debilitating, so I needed a doctor who would assist me with the taper, not just allow me to do it. I found the Drs. Witt-Doerring on the website of a nonprofit that advocates for individuals who have been harmed by benzodiazepines taken as prescribed, and from the first phone call, I knew I had found the right doctors. I had the pleasure of working with both Dr. Josef and Dr. Marissa, and they were my supporters, and even my cheerleaders, from the start. They heard me, they allowed me to taper at a pace that was comfortable for me, and they were always available to answer questions and offer support. I finished my taper and am thrilled to have my life back. I feel better than I have in many, many years, and I have the Drs. Witt-Doerring to thank for that. I can’t imagine where I would be if I hadn’t found them. Having doctors who you can trust when navigating a mental health challenge that leaves you feeling vulnerable is invaluable, and I trust the Drs. Witt-Doerring implicitly. Needless to say, I would highly recommend them to anyone facing a mental health challenge.
I was initially a patient of Dr. Marissa Witt-Doerring and later Dr. Josef. I would highly recommend both of them. I also received support from one of their taper coaches, Trudy. She was great, too. I decided I wanted to taper a couple years ago when I realized that the mirtazapine I was taking was harming my health. I initially approached my primary care doctor for help since she was the prescriber. Although she meant well, she didn’t understand how to taper it safely, and she had me stop much too quickly. As a result, I became severely ill from withdrawal. At that point, none of my doctors knew what to do. Luckily, that’s when I found the Witt-Doerrings’ practice and became one of their patients. They helped me stabilize on a reinstatement dose. Then, they worked with me to redo the taper at a slower pace. They checked in often and adjusted the taper speed based on my withdrawal symptoms. There were some ups and downs during the withdrawal — that’s just part of the process — but I felt supported every step of the way. Because the taper was handled so carefully, the withdrawal symptoms were kept to a minimum. When I finished tapering mirtazapine, I then tapered bupropion. I am now completely off antidepressants for the first time in years, and my health is improving. I’ve lost about 20 pounds, I’m sleeping better, and my mood is more stable. My dysautonomia symptoms, which used to be quite disabling, have reduced significantly. I have some chronic health conditions, so I see a lot of doctors. I can say hands down that this is the best medical practice I’ve ever been a patient of. Everyone who works here is an expert on what they do. They take a whole person approach to health, and they genuinely care about their patients.
