Side Effects with Dr. Josef

Josef Witt-Doerring

A podcast investigating the hidden costs of modern psychiatric care. Hosted by Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a former FDA medical officer and internationally recognized drug safety expert, this show examines what patients are rarely told about psychiatric medications, including overlooked withdrawal syndromes, long-term risks, and the real-world outcomes many experience after treatment.Through in-depth expert interviews and candid conversations, we explore where mainstream psychiatry falls short and what informed, ethical care should actually look like. If you or someone you care about is questioning psychiatric treatment, struggling with medication side effects, or considering tapering, you’ll find clear education, critical context, and evidence-based guidance here.Learn more about safe, physician-guided tapering and educational resources at taperclinic.com. Learn more about our Tapering Program.

  1. 1 HR AGO

    50 Ways to Avoid Psychiatric Medication

    Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast Most people don't need psychiatric medication. What they need is a serious look at how they're living, what they're eating, who they're spending time with, and whether their life has any real meaning in it. In this video, I walk through 50 rules I give patients who want to protect their mental health and stay off the prescription treadmill. These aren't theories. They're the same principles I come back to again and again in my practice, because they work, and because the alternative starting down the road of psychiatric medications is something I've seen go badly for too many people. I cover what to eat and what to avoid, how to protect your sleep, why daily movement matters more than most people realize, and why taking responsibility for your own health is something no fifteen-minute doctor visit can replace. I talk about building discipline, creating distance from your own thoughts, refusing a victim mentality, and acting before you feel ready. I go through the substances that quietly wreck people's mental health caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, high-potency cannabis and explain why I'm cautious about routine prescriptions and deeply cautious about psychiatric medications in particular, which tend to lead to more medications, not fewer. I also talk about the things that don't show up on a lab report but matter enormously: writing down your values, doing work that means something, living in service to other people, mentoring someone coming up behind you, and fighting for what you believe in. And I talk about relationships calling your friends, choosing a partner who wants you to grow, practicing forgiveness without becoming a doormat, and getting involved in the lives of children and family. If you're already on psychiatric medication and you want to come off safely, stay until the end. I've put together a free guide to help you start that process the right way. This video is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Do not stop or change psychiatric medications without working with a qualified clinician. Get our free tapering course: https://membership.taperclinic.com/free-taper-guide  Join +6000 people learning how to taper on our newsletter: https://membership.taperclinic.com/newsletter   CONNECT WITH ME: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjosefwittdoerring/  - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjosefwittdoerring  - X/Twitter: https://x.com/DrJosefWD  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjosefwittdoerring/  - Website: https://taperclinic.com/  DISCLAIMER: All the information on this channel is for educational and/or entertainment purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos, or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, these videos can maybe help you prepare for your discussion with him. We do our best to spread awareness with these videos, but for legal reasons we can’t answer health questions in the comments. If you leave questions, we’ll make videos about common questions in the future! If we catch incorrect health information, hate speech, illegal solicitation of drugs in the comments, we will remove them.

    12 min
  2. 1 APR

    Ultimate Guide to Getting Off Antidepressants

    Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast Your doctor put you on this in 20 minutes. Nobody told you getting off would take a protocol. The dizziness. The brain zaps. The feeling that you're falling apart. That's not your depression coming back. That's your nervous system recalibrating after years of chemical dependency. There's a difference and most doctors don't know it. Antidepressant withdrawal fails for three reasons: undertrained prescribers, the wrong formulation, and no plan for the final stretch. This video covers all three. What you'll learn: → Why standard tablets make precise tapering nearly impossible → How compounded liquid formulations change everything → The 5–10% monthly reduction framework that works → The Traffic Light Method — how to read your body and adjust in real time → Why the last 25% of your taper is harder than the first 75% and what to do about it You've been on this long enough. You deserve a structured exit, not a guess. Watch the full protocol. Then book a call if you're ready to do this properly. Get our free tapering course: https://membership.taperclinic.com/free-taper-guide  Join +6000 people learning how to taper on our newsletter: https://membership.taperclinic.com/newsletter   CONNECT WITH ME: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjosefwittdoerring/  - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjosefwittdoerring  - X/Twitter: https://x.com/DrJosefWD  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjosefwittdoerring/  - Website: https://taperclinic.com/  DISCLAIMER: All the information on this channel is for educational and/or entertainment purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos, or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, these videos can maybe help you prepare for your discussion with him. We do our best to spread awareness with these videos, but for legal reasons we can’t answer health questions in the comments. If you leave questions, we’ll make videos about common questions in the future! If we catch incorrect health information, hate speech, illegal solicitation of drugs in the comments, we will remove them.

    19 min
  3. 28 MAR

    A Psychiatrist’s Guide to Better Sleep

    Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications:  membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast The problem isn't your bedroom. It's your nervous system. Chronic insomnia isn't a nighttime problem. It's a daytime one. When your system runs on high alert for 16 hours straight, work, screens, pressure, performance, it doesn't know how to switch off at 11pm. That's not a sleep disorder. That's a system that's never been allowed to rest. In this video: → Why hyperarousal is the root cause most doctors miss → The cultural pressure driving a generation into sleeplessness → 5 things you can do today to start rewiring your nervous system → Why the anxiety about not sleeping is making it worse You don't need another sleep hack. You need to understand what's actually happening. Get our free tapering course: https://membership.taperclinic.com/free-taper-guide  Join +6000 people learning how to taper on our newsletter: https://membership.taperclinic.com/newsletter   CONNECT WITH ME: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjosefwittdoerring/  - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjosefwittdoerring  - X/Twitter: https://x.com/DrJosefWD  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjosefwittdoerring/  - Website: https://taperclinic.com/  DISCLAIMER: All the information on this channel is for educational and/or entertainment purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos, or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, these videos can maybe help you prepare for your discussion with him. We do our best to spread awareness with these videos, but for legal reasons we can’t answer health questions in the comments. If you leave questions, we’ll make videos about common questions in the future! If we catch incorrect health information, hate speech, illegal solicitation of drugs in the comments, we will remove them.

    19 min
  4. 21 MAR

    Why Your Anxiety Isn't a Chemical Imbalance

    Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications:  membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast The "chemical imbalance" theory of anxiety has been repeated for decades, but the science tells a different story. In this video, I break down what research actually shows about anxiety, why the serotonin myth persists, and what a more accurate understanding of your nervous system means for how you approach treatment and recovery. Whether you've been told your anxiety is a lifelong condition you can only manage with medication, or you're just starting to ask harder questions, this one is worth your time. Get our free tapering course: https://membership.taperclinic.com/free-taper-guide Join +6000 people learning how to taper on our newsletter: https://membership.taperclinic.com/newsletter  CONNECT WITH ME: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjosefwittdoerring/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjosefwittdoerring - X/Twitter: https://x.com/DrJosefWD - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjosefwittdoerring/ - Website: https://taperclinic.com/ DISCLAIMER: All the information on this channel is for educational and/or entertainment purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos, or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, these videos can maybe help you prepare for your discussion with him. We do our best to spread awareness with these videos, but for legal reasons we can’t answer health questions in the comments. If you leave questions, we’ll make videos about common questions in the future! If we catch incorrect health information, hate speech, illegal solicitation of drugs in the comments, we will remove them.

    10 min
  5. 19 MAR

    The Diet Cure for Schizophrenia

    Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast What if the food on your plate was making your symptoms worse or better? Schizophrenia affects millions, yet conventional treatment almost never touches diet. A growing body of research is pointing to a surprising link between what we eat and how our brain functions, and for some patients, dietary changes have led to improvements that medication alone couldn't achieve. In this video, we dig into the science behind gluten sensitivity, gut-brain communication, and the nutritional deficiencies tied to psychosis and why this conversation is being left out of most psychiatric offices. Get our free tapering course: https://membership.taperclinic.com/free-taper-guide Join +6000 people learning how to taper on our newsletter: https://membership.taperclinic.com/newsletter CONNECT WITH ME: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjosefwittdoerring/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjosefwittdoerring - X/Twitter: https://x.com/DrJosefWD - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjosefwittdoerring/ - Website: https://taperclinic.com/ DISCLAIMER: All the information on this channel is for educational and/or entertainment purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos, or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, these videos can maybe help you prepare for your discussion with him. We do our best to spread awareness with these videos, but for legal reasons we can’t answer health questions in the comments. If you leave questions, we’ll make videos about common questions in the future! If we catch incorrect health information, hate speech, illegal solicitation of drugs in the comments, we will remove them.

    11 min

About

A podcast investigating the hidden costs of modern psychiatric care. Hosted by Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a former FDA medical officer and internationally recognized drug safety expert, this show examines what patients are rarely told about psychiatric medications, including overlooked withdrawal syndromes, long-term risks, and the real-world outcomes many experience after treatment.Through in-depth expert interviews and candid conversations, we explore where mainstream psychiatry falls short and what informed, ethical care should actually look like. If you or someone you care about is questioning psychiatric treatment, struggling with medication side effects, or considering tapering, you’ll find clear education, critical context, and evidence-based guidance here.Learn more about safe, physician-guided tapering and educational resources at taperclinic.com. Learn more about our Tapering Program.

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