Frequently Asked Questions
About Medication Tapering
What is medication tapering?
Medication tapering is the process of gradually reducing the dose of a medication over time, rather than stopping it abruptly. This approach helps minimize withdrawal symptoms and allows your body to adjust more safely to lower medication levels.
Why is tapering important?
For many medications—especially those affecting the central nervous system—abrupt discontinuation can lead to uncomfortable or even dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Tapering helps reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms, allows your body to adjust gradually, provides a safer approach to discontinuation, and increases the likelihood of long-term success.
Which medications require tapering?
Many medications may cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. Common examples include antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs), benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Klonopin), opioid pain medications, antiepileptic drugs (Neurontin, Lyrica), corticosteroids, and beta-blockers. Your doctor can help determine whether a tapering plan is right for you.
About Taper™
How does the Taper™ app work?
Taper™ is a mobile application that supports your medication tapering process by offering daily check-ins to track mood and symptoms, dose tracking with context, follow-ups to reflect on how doses made you feel, visual charts showing your progress, and secure local data storage with encrypted backup options. Taper is designed to assist alongside professional medical care, not to replace it.
Is Taper a substitute for medical advice?
No. Taper is a digital wellness tool that helps you organize and track your tapering experience. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any medication regimen.
How can I get the Taper app?
Taper is currently available as a downloadable iOS app on the Apple App Store, with an Android version coming soon.
Privacy & Security
Is my data private and secure?
Yes. Taper is built with privacy in mind. Your health data is stored locally on your device, never uploaded to external servers, encrypted during export and backup, and never shared with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Will Taper ever support cloud sync or sharing with doctors?
We are exploring optional features that may allow users to securely sync their data or share progress with healthcare providers. These features will always be opt-in, and you will remain in full control of your information.
Ready to start your tapering journey?
Download Taper today and take control of your medication tapering process with confidence.