Side Effects with Dr. Josef

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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Episodes

The WORST Sleeping Medication

Thursday Jun 18, 2026

Thursday Jun 18, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
Doctors are prescribing Seroquel for sleep and that's a problem, in this video I explain why.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

Thursday Jun 11, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
Insomnia didn't care about my medical degree. In this candid sit-down, I open up about my own struggle with sleepless nights and team up with my sleep coach to break down what actually worked for me.
We cover the things no one told me about insomnia, the mistakes that kept me stuck, and the practical guide that finally helped me get the rest I'd been chasing.
Whether you've battled insomnia for years or just started losing sleep, I hope this honest conversation gives you something to hold onto.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

How to Correctly Stop Xanax

Thursday Jun 04, 2026

Thursday Jun 04, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
Thinking about getting off Xanax? In this video I break down what a safe approach to stopping actually looks like. Why tapering matters, what withdrawal can feel like, and why working with a doctor is essential. Quitting benzodiazepines cold turkey can be dangerous, so this is about doing it the right way.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

Wednesday Jun 03, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin are among the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety and insomnia but what happens to your brain when they're used over months or years? In this video, we break down what current research says about the long-term effects of benzos on memory, cognition, and the brain's GABA system, plus what's known about tolerance, dependence, and recovery after stopping. Whether you're taking them, considering them, or just curious, here's what the science shows.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

Wednesday May 27, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
After years in medicine, there are a few common pills I've quietly crossed off my own list and in this video, I'll tell you exactly which ones and why. From side effects most patients aren't warned about to better alternatives hiding in plain sight, here's what I'd want my own family to know.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

Monday May 25, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
Think you know ADHD? Think again. In this eye-opening conversation, a psychiatrist breaks down the biggest myths and misconceptions about ADHD and reveals what's really going on in the brain.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

Thursday May 21, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
Ever wondered what taking Xanax actually feels like? In this video, I break down the three distinct stages you experience when on Xanax, from the initial onset to the peak effects and what happens as it wears off.
Whether you've been prescribed it, are curious about how it works, or want to understand a loved one's experience, this video covers what to expect.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

Why Detox Centers Fail You

Saturday May 16, 2026

Saturday May 16, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
If you're on a prescribed benzodiazepine and thinking about going to a detox center, please watch this first.
Most detox centers are built for addiction, not prescription dependence. I've seen too many people get pushed through a rapid taper, leave on more medications than they started with, and end up destabilized for months or even years.
In this video, I break down why benzo detox is so often the wrong answer, what an aggressive taper can actually do to your nervous system, and the slower, patient-led approach I recommend instead.
If you're trying to come off a benzodiazepine, you need a plan that takes this seriously. My free tapering guide is linked below.
Get our free tapering course: https://taperclinic.com/free-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.

Thursday May 14, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
When someone starts an antidepressant, they're usually the one being asked how they feel. Their spouse rarely is.
But the people living with them often notice things the patient can't see from the inside. Emotional flatness. Loss of interest. Changes in intimacy. A partner who is technically "better" but somehow not quite there anymore.
In this video, I walk through what they told me, what it tells us about how these medications actually affect people, and what I think every couple deserves to know before one of them starts an antidepressant or decides whether to stay on one.
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.

Saturday May 09, 2026

Click here if you need help quitting psychiatric medications: http://membership.taperclinic.com/signup/?utm_source=podcast 
Most doctors are not trying to make their patients worse. But I've watched it happen, over and over, for years.
Patients come to me already on four, five, six medications. Each one was added in good faith, to solve a problem the last one created or failed to fix. By the time I see them, they're more anxious, more foggy, more exhausted, and more afraid than they were when any of this started. And they're being told the answer is another adjustment.
In this video, I explain how this happens. Why well-meaning doctors keep making patients sicker, what's broken in the way psychiatry is being practiced right now, and what you can do if you suspect it's happening to you.
If you've been on medications for years and feel worse than when you started, you are not imagining it. And you are not alone.
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.

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