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.
Episodes

Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Clinical psychologist Anders Sørensen shares his journey from traditional talk therapy to becoming a leading voice in psychiatric drug withdrawal. After realizing that medications were emotionally blunting his clients and preventing meaningful therapeutic work, Anders began researching safe tapering strategies.
Anders also discusses his new book Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming and Staying Off Psychiatric Drugs, and shares practical insights from years of clinical experience, research, and collaboration with the withdrawal community.

Friday Jul 18, 2025

Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
What happens when legal marijuana leads to psychosis, addiction, and family collapse? In this powerful interview, Dr. Yosef speaks with Aubree Adams, founder of Every Brain Matters, whose son suffered from cannabis induced psychosis after using high-potency THC products like dabs. This is not “just weed” — it’s an industrialized drug that is hurting people, especially teens. Aubree shares her family's harrowing story of watching her son become delusional, suicidal, and hospitalized — all linked to marijuana use. She exposes how the cannabis industry, medical system, and public policy continue to mislead families while ignoring the clear science linking THC to psychosis, addiction, and long-term brain damage. We dive into misdiagnosis, lack of support, withdrawal, and the painful reality of parenting a teen through marijuana addiction. Whether you're a parent, a clinician, or someone questioning the safety of today's weed — you need to hear this.

Friday Jun 06, 2025
Friday Jun 06, 2025
In this conversation, Dr. Joanna Moncrieff discusses her book 'Chemically Imbalanced'. She argues that there is no compelling evidence for a chemical imbalance in depression and questions the continued prescription of antidepressants. We explore the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, the ethical implications of using drugs to mask symptoms, and the need for a paradigm shift in mental health treatment. We discuss the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on psychiatric literature and the defensive stance of the psychiatric profession against critical viewpoints.

Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Laura Delano shares her journey from being a 'professional psychiatric patient' for over a decade to becoming a leading voice in the psychiatric drug withdrawal movement. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Laura was prescribed a cocktail of medications that only worsened her mental and physical health. After a near-fatal suicide attempt, she began questioning everything she was told about her diagnosis and treatment. Laura discusses her harrowing tapering experience, the impact of psychiatric labels, and how she ultimately reclaimed her life by challenging the mainstream narrative. Today, she’s the founder of Inner Compass Initiative and the author of Unshrunk, where she continues to educate and support those questioning their psychiatric treatment.

Tuesday May 06, 2025
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Imagine this: you’re at rock bottom, balancing single parenthood with overwhelming mental health struggles. After seeking help, an antidepressant seems like the answer—until things spiral. What starts as relief transforms into a whirlwind of impulsive decisions, relocation to a remote Alaskan town, and a ‘bipolar disorder’ diagnosis that only brings more medications and more side effects. But what if those very medications were the root of the problem? Discover the inspiring journey of TaperClinic’s coach Neseret as she breaks free from over a decade of psychiatric misdiagnoses and medications to reclaim her life against all odds

Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Functional psychiatry is changing everything you know about mental health. In this powerful interview, Dr. James Greenblatt—founder of Psychiatry Redefined and leading voice in functional psychiatry—reveals how nutrient deficiencies, overlooked infections, and gut health can be the real cause of depression, ADHD, anxiety, and even schizophrenia. We cover everything from lithium orotate and B12 to the ketogenic diet, psychedelics, and why the current psychiatric model often fails.
Dr. Greenblatt shares clinical cases, science-backed protocols, and why hope is very real, even for those labeled as “treatment-resistant.” If you or a loved one has been on multiple meds with little relief, this could be the interview that changes everything. Root-cause psychiatry is here, and it’s powerful.

Wednesday Mar 26, 2025
Wednesday Mar 26, 2025
Michael Coughlin was an entrepreneur with no history of bipolar disorder—until he took an antidepressant.
In this eye-opening interview, Michael shares how a doctor prescribed him Paxil for situational anxiety, triggering a terrifying spiral of adverse effects. Instead of recognizing the drug reaction, the mental health system labeled him bipolar and placed him on heavy antipsychotic medication.

Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
Wednesday Mar 19, 2025
Brooke Siem shares her journey from being prescribed antidepressants as a teen to rediscovering life after withdrawal. She discusses the emotional and physical toll of coming off medications, the impact on her identity and relationships, and the challenges of rebuilding her life.
Brooke discusses misconceptions about depression, the grief of lost time, and the role of curiosity in healing. Her story, as detailed in her memoir "May Cause Side Effects," offers hope and inspiration to anyone navigating similar struggles.

Thursday Feb 13, 2025
Thursday Feb 13, 2025
In this conversation, Dr. Josef and Laurie Hammer explore the transformative potential of amino acid therapy for mental health, particularly in treating anxiety and depression. Laurie shares her personal journey with amino acids, detailing how they helped her overcome her own struggles with mental health. The discussion covers the testing methods for neurotransmitter levels, the rapid effects of amino acids, treatment duration, costs, and the importance of vitamins and minerals in supporting neurotransmitter production. Laurie emphasizes that amino acids can provide immediate relief and are a viable alternative to traditional medications, while also addressing the risks and considerations involved in their use. The conversation concludes with Laurie's philosophy on treatment and who can benefit from amino acid therapy.







