Have you ever had a patient show up on ten different psych medications—and none of them seem to be working?
They’re struggling. You know psychiatric deprescribing needs to happen, but the problem is: Where do you even begin?
Adjust One Medication at a Time
I had a mentor early in my career as a psych NP who gave me advice that’s stuck with me ever since:
When deprescribing, adjust one medication at a time.
This gives you clarity. You can actually track what’s changing—what’s helping, what’s hurting—and avoid total confusion if your patient suddenly shifts.
It’s especially important when your patient’s current treatment plan is already chaotic or overly complex. Too many adjustments at once? That’s how we end up with clinical whiplash and unclear next steps.
Why Systematic Deprescribing Matters
It’s tempting to change multiple things when your patient’s struggling—especially if they want fast relief or you feel pressured to fix things quickly. But careful, step-by-step psychiatric deprescribing allows you to:
- Control for variables
- Avoid overlapping side effects
- See clearly what’s actually helping
- Build trust with patients by explaining each move
Here’s a short example that shows exactly what can happen when we don’t go one step at a time 👇
Watch the quick Instagram video
If You’re a Student or New Grad NP…
If you’re a psych NP student, new grad, or practicing provider who’s feeling stressed, under-resourced, or unsure of how to manage complex psych med regimens, I created something for you.
Check out my free training on diagnosing and treating mental disorders confidently and systematically.
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You don’t need to figure this out alone—and yes, you can build both confidence and clarity around med management.
Want More Practical Tips Like This?
You might also like: Psychotropic Medication Updates Summer 2025
For more on safe deprescribing practices, see this clinical guideline:
Deprescribing Guidelines from US Deprescribing Research Network