Stopping medication requires as much skill as starting it

Nationally recognized psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article "How deprescribing in psychiatry offers a path to safer care." Muhamad explores the growing movement to reduce unnecessary medications in mental health care, a practice that has long been established in geriatrics but is now gaining traction in psychiatry. He describes the "prescribing cascade" where side effects are treated with more drugs, leading to patients feeling trapped in a cage of routine and chemical dependency. The conversation highlights the critical importance of having an exit plan for every prescription and distinguishing between withdrawal symptoms and relapse. Muhamad advocates for a culture shift where clinicians are empowered to stop interventions when harm outweighs benefit, ensuring that medicine remains a tool for healing rather than a permanent burden. Learn how a disciplined approach to deprescribing can restore patient agency and rebuild trust in the medical system.

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