Not necessarily. Some people take medication for a period of time — through a difficult season, until symptoms are more stable, or while other supports are being put in place. Others have conditions that respond best to longer-term treatment.

This isn’t something we decide once and never revisit. We’ll continue to talk about what’s working, whether medication is still helping, and whether your goals have changed. If longer-term treatment makes sense, we’ll explain why and make that decision with you.

That’s common, and it gives us useful information about what to try next. Sometimes a medication wasn’t given a full trial because the dose was too low or there wasn’t enough time to see a benefit. In other cases, side effects made it difficult to continue, or your diagnosis and symptoms may look different now than they did then.

We’ll review what you’ve tried, how you responded, what side effects you experienced, and why you stopped. That history helps us make more informed decisions and avoid repeating treatments that clearly weren’t a good fit.

We start with your symptoms, treatment goals, and medication history — including what has helped, what hasn’t, and, when relevant, how close family members have responded to certain medications.

We also consider your overall health, other medications and supplements you take, potential side effects, and any safety considerations. Practical factors matter too, including cost, insurance coverage, and how often a medication needs to be taken.

From there, we talk through the options together. You should understand what we’re recommending, why we’re recommending it, and what to expect before you start.

Yes. Wanting to come off a medication is a reasonable thing to bring up, and it's a conversation we're glad to have. How we approach stopping a medication depends on the medication itself, how long you've been taking it, and how you've been feeling. Some medications may require a gradual taper to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms and allow us to monitor for symptoms that may return.

The goal is to move at a pace that feels manageable and safe, monitor how you're doing, and adjust the plan if needed rather than having you navigate the process on your own.