Mark Horowitz: My Own Withdrawal Rewrote the Science Behind Hyperbolic Tapering

What if the hardest part of coming off an antidepressant isn’t the first cut, but the last few milligrams? On this week’s episode of The Gaslit Truth Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Mark Horowitz, clinician, researcher, and someone who’s lived withdrawal himself.

He shares how his first carefully planned taper off Lexapro still collapsed into panic and derealization—and how that experience led him to hyperbolic tapering, survivingantidepressants.org, and ultimately co-authoring the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.

We unpack why the brain reacts so strongly at low doses, why tiny reductions can make a big difference, and why standard advice often fails. We also talk about the everyday gaslighting many patients face when they report feeling worse and are told it’s “their disorder,” not a drug effect.

And here’s the unsettling part: most psychiatric drug studies last 4–8 weeks, yet millions stay on these medications for years. That gap leaves huge questions about long-term effects and withdrawal—questions Dr. Horowitz is helping bring to light.