#57: (UK) Psychiatric Drug Deprescribing Clinic (PDC) with dr. Mark Horowitz 🇦🇺 & Melanie Davis 🇬🇧 ft. Emma S. 🇬🇧

November 21nd, 2025

In this episode: Along with my occasional co-host Emma Saunders I talk to dr. Mark Horowitz and Melanie Davis about the National Psychiatric Drug Describing Clinic in the United Kingdom.

Melanie Davis is featured on Benzotired episode nine about her local support group called REST. Dr. Mark Horowitz is featured on Benzotired episode thirty-six about his book: “The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines”.

We discuss how professor Heather Ashton was an inspiration for the clinic, conditions to receive help from the clinic, alternatives to the clinic for people abroad, Mark’s book “The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines” and much more.

Find more information about the Psychiatric Drug Deprescribing Clinic @ https://psychdeprescribing.org/

Find Mark at Outro Health in the United States @ https://www.outro.com/

Find the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines @ Amazon and other booksellers.

Find the documentary TOXIC @ https://www.toxsick.org/

Find Emma Saunders @ https://thepsychmedsanctuary.com/

(00:00) Introduction

(01:46) Melanie - update on REST

(03:16) Melanie - becoming Senior Prescribed Drug Worker

(05:14) Melanie - involvement documentary TOXSICK

(07:07) Mark - how the clinic came about

(10:14) Mark - criteria to enroll

(12:37) Mark - duration of the treatment

(16:05) Mark - advice for people outside the U.K.

(19:01) Melanie - inspiration by Heather Ashton

(20:50) Mark - reception and translations of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines

(28:02) Melanie & Mark - comments on the reception

(29:21) Mark & Naftal - newer takes since the Ashton Manual, long holding and tolerance

(33:15) Mark - his taper and wellbeing

(36:29) Mark - data on long-term use of benzodiazepines

(39:15) Melanie- REST members seeing the play KORE

(41:30) Mark - where people can find information about the clinic