
Episode notes
A benzodiazepine taper protocol for PMHNPs built on the 2025 joint guideline: 5-10% cuts every 2-4 weeks, when to pause, and how to get through the last steps.
In this Deep Dive episode, two hosts walk through “Benzodiazepine Taper Protocol: 2026 PMHNP Guide” from the Psych NP Fellowship blog by Lindsay Hill, DNP, PMHNP-BC.
Key takeaways:
• The 2025 joint guideline, backed by 10 societies including AANP and the APA, recommends starting with 5-10% dose cuts every 2-4 weeks and rarely going faster than 25% every 2 weeks.
• Physical dependence is expected after steady use. Withdrawal risk is real with use on 4 or more days a week for 1-3 months at moderate to high doses, or for 3 months or longer at any dose.
• Fixed milligram cuts get steeper as the dose drops. A 0.25 mg cut is 12.5% at 2 mg of clonazepam and 50% at 0.5 mg.
• When withdrawal symptom ...
Keywords
Psych NP Mentor
Psychopharmacology
PMHNP Mentor
Psych NP Fellowship
Psych NP Bootcamp
Clinical Practice
Controlled Substances
benzodiazepines
benzodiazepine taper
CBT-I
Deprescribing
