The RELEASE toolkit website contains information and resources to support people to stop antidepressants by minimising withdrawal symptoms via slow hyperbolic tapering of antidepressant dose (usually months). The RELEASE toolkit includes resources that have been co-designed with both doctors (GPs) and people with lived experience of long-term antidepressant use. Resources include tapering plans for 15 of the most common antidepressants, including ‘faster’, ‘slower’, and ‘even slower’ versions, and using custom prescription capsules or self-made liquid suspension.

Other resources include, for GPs to use in clinical practice, the RELEASE 3As brief intervention: Ask, Advise, Assist; How to create a custom prescription in Best Practice for antidepressant mini doses; Selecting speed to taper; brief instructional videos; CPD approved education, training and clinical audit modules; and clinical guidelines and supporting evidence. For consumers there are information brochures and brief videos including on antidepressant withdrawal symptoms and how to distinguish withdrawal from relapse, and a Decision aid. The RELEASE resources have been officially recognised by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners as an Accepted Clinical Resource.

© Copyright 2025 The University of Queensland. These materials are subject to copyright and may only be reproduced with permission of the University of Queensland. CRICOS Provider 00025B | TEQSA PRV12080. Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Read here for the Terms and Conditions.