The clinic helps people to stop psychiatric medications prescribed for common mental health conditions (like anxiety, depression and insomnia) that are no longer needed or no longer wanted.

We are now open to referrals from any GP in England (see referral form). 

These medications include:

• Antidepressants such as Citalopram (Cipramil), Escitalopram (Cipralex), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Faverin), Mirtazapine (Remeron), Paroxetine (Seroxat), Sertraline (Lustral), and Venlafaxine (Efexor).
• Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam (Valium), and Lorazepam (Ativan).
• Z-drugs, such as Zopiclone (Zimovane), and Zolpidem (Stilnoct). 
• Gabapentinoids, such as Pregabalin (Lyrica), and Gabapentin (Neurontin). 
• Antipsychotics, when prescribed for sleep or mood problems (but not for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) such as Quetiapine (Seroquel). 

While these medications can be helpful, sometimes people take them for longer than they need, and the side effects of the medication can outweigh the benefits.

Some people’s conditions will have improved, they may have found other ways to manage it, or they simply may wish to stop the medication for personal reasons. 

We know that stopping can be difficult because of:

• withdrawal symptoms (unpleasant mental or physical symptoms that arise because you have become used to the medication), or 
• because of a return of the condition for which you were prescribed the medication.  
  

Our clinic can reduce the chance of these effects by overseeing gradual reductions of the medication done at your pace (using different options to allow for very small reductions), with support from our specialised staff and a peer support group. The staff at the clinic include people who have themselves stopped these psychiatric medications. 

Clinicians in the service are:

• Dr Mark Horowitz
• Professor Joanna Moncrieff
• Dr Louise Bundock

If you are interested in stopping one of your medications or simply want to find out more about the possibility, ask your GP to make a referral to our service (National Psychiatric Drug Deprescribing Service).