RACGP endorses drug-specific tapering plans for 15 antidepressants
The resource features step-by-step instructions on slowly reducing antidepressant use.
A set of drug-specific antidepressant deprescribing guidelines targeting a “poorly understood” area of clinical practice has received RACGP endorsement.
Developed by University of Queensland researchers, the tapering plans cover 15 of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, including sertraline, citalopram and fluoxetine.
The plans feature step-by-step instructions for reducing antidepressant doses at different rates: ‘faster’, ‘slower’ or ‘even slower’.
They include an algorithm to help decide tapering speed based on risk factors for withdrawal symptoms (see below) and instructions on accessing or creating the mini doses used for tapering.
