Gentle guide to safely tapering off psychiatric medications

THE discourse surrounding psychiatric medications is often fraught with tension and differing viewpoints.

- LUTHO PASIYA

While some advocate for their necessity in treating mental health disorders, others assert that these medications can be overprescribed and potentially harmful.

Enter Jane Kotze, a voice emerging from personal experience, whose insightful book, The Tapering Journal: A Practical Guide to Safely Tapering Off Psychiatric Medications, offers a beacon of hope for those seeking to reclaim their mental wellness without the crutch of medication.

Kotze’s path is not merely one of clinical understanding; it is enriched by her own tumultuous journey.

Having been rapidly tapered off psychiatric medication by a trusted healthcare professional, Kotze found herself grappling with severe withdrawal symptoms.

Many in her situation would have faced the suggestion to return to the very medications that had previously proven ineffective.

However, armed with resilience and a newfound mission, she sought to create a resource that acknowledges the often-overlooked challenges patients face during the tapering process.

Since embarking on her tapering journey in November 2020, Kotze has gained profound insight into both the difficulties and triumphs associated with safely reducing medication.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, her early years were marked by profound grief.

By the time she turned 18 years old, she had lost nine loved ones, experiences that would profoundly influence her relationship with mental health.