Dr. Josef

Dr. Josef DM “Taper” for more info
Board-Certified Psychiatrist
Former FDA Medical Officer
Founder, World’s Largest Psychiatric Drug Tapering Clinic
(4)

02/08/2026

Why do we demand so much evidence when something poses a risk of serious harm? From chainsaws to smoking, it seems like when billions are at stake, the bar for proof gets raised. Is this approach unique?

02/08/2026

Psychiatrist reveals the surprising popularity of ADHD meds in the finance world. Are people being tricked into a career they don't truly enjoy? It's like loving the bar only when you're drunk. What do you think?

02/08/2026

Can a bad trip on cannabis cause long-term neurological damage? New research suggests high-potency cannabis may uniquely predispose users to psychosis. A Danish study reveals cannabis is linked to higher rates of schizophrenia than other drugs. Something to consider.

02/08/2026

Psychiatric medications, though rare, can cause dark, taboo thoughts. David Carmichael, a Canadian man, experienced drug-induced psychosis after starting Paxil. Tragically, he killed his son, driven by delusions. The prosecution acknowledged the medication's role, leading to psychiatric care instead of charges.

02/08/2026

Many people have been on medication since their teens. What happens when they stop in their 40s and 50s? For some, it's like experiencing emotions for the first time, and learning to manage them. It can be a difficult, but ultimately freeing, experience. Ever felt emotionally muted?

02/07/2026

There's no long-term evidence that antidepressants are effective or safe for treating PTSD, a stance supported by the VA. They advise evidence-based therapies like prolonged exposure and EMDR, particularly for those under 25, due to a higher risk of suicidal behavior with antidepressants.

02/07/2026

Family doctors handle most mental healthcare, but they only spend an average of 7-10 minutes with each patient. How can they possibly understand a person's life well enough to recommend the right treatment? It's just not enough time.

02/07/2026

Before starting antidepressants, remember your emotions matter. Don't let anyone dismiss them as a simple chemical imbalance. Explore your physical health, relationships, purpose, and the substances you consume. If you've exhausted all non-drug approaches like therapy, medication might be an option.

02/07/2026

Imagine trying to reason with Kanye West during a manic episode. He's supremely confident, hard-headed, and resistant to being labeled. How do you convince someone like that to accept help and avoid impulsive decisions that could damage his reputation?

02/06/2026

Why does the US have the worst obesity and diabetes rates? So much spending goes to chronic disease. Improve the nation's health, costs go down. Healthy food = lower chronic disease burden. Also, people should choose their own health insurance.

02/06/2026

The more pain and hopelessness someone feels, the stronger the urge to use becomes. Suffering drives the desire for higher doses and more medication. But what if therapy and lifestyle changes were part of the solution? It's more than just money.

One of the most disturbing chapters in modern medicine isn’t ancient history. It’s Study 329.This was a clinical trial u...
02/06/2026

One of the most disturbing chapters in modern medicine isn’t ancient history. It’s Study 329.

This was a clinical trial used to justify prescribing the SSRI Paxil to children and adolescents. The problem is the study failed. The drug did not work. And it increased suicidal behavior in kids.

Internally, the company acknowledged this. The primary outcomes failed. The safety signals were alarming. By any ethical standard, this should have ended the story.

Instead, the data was ghostwritten, cherry-picked, and published in a prestigious medical journal with the names of leading child psychiatrists attached. Suicidal events were hidden under softer language. Failed endpoints were omitted from the summary most doctors read.

That single paper helped generate over 11 billion dollars in sales. It also shaped prescribing habits for years. Children were harmed. Families were devastated.

In 2012, the Department of Justice confirmed what the data already showed. The study was misleading. The marketing was illegal. GSK paid a 3 billion dollar settlement.

Yet the paper was never retracted.

This is not about being anti-medication. It’s about honesty, scientific integrity, and protecting patients. If psychiatry wants credibility, it has to confront its own failures.

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