Your Simple Health

05/28/2026

More and more people are asking important questions about antidepressants, including their potential benefits, side effects, long-term use, withdrawal experiences, and what information is discussed before starting treatment.

This survey is looking to better understand people’s experiences with informed consent when being prescribed antidepressants. If you live in Canada and have ever been prescribed an antidepressant, your perspective could help inform future conversations, care, and research.

One of the most important parts of healthcare is being able to make informed decisions with clear, balanced information and open discussion about both benefits and risks.

If you’d like to participate or learn more:
https://madincanada.org/2026/05/calling-all-people-living-in-canada-who-have-been-prescribed-an-antidepressant/

05/01/2026

A timely article from The New York Times today on deprescribing psychiatric medications.

It reflects a conversation that many patients have been having for years, and that clinicians are only starting to more openly engage with. While some psychiatrists mentioned in the article are bringing attention to this, in practice, many patients are still not well supported when it comes to reducing or stopping these medications.

Reading this also made me reflect on my recent experience at the International Conference on Deprescribing.

There were a few sessions and exhibitors discussing this issue, but overall, the focus was much more on polypharmacy in older adults and those with multiple chronic conditions.

And yet, from both patient experiences and established resources like the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines and the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, we know that withdrawal symptoms from psychotropic medications (like antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills) can be real and, at times, quite significant.

Tapering often needs to be slow, thoughtful, and highly individualized. And when patients are supported through this process, outcomes can be very different.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize that for some individuals, these medications can be helpful and remain an important part of care.

What this highlights for me is the need for more awareness, better education, and stronger support for both patients and clinicians navigating this process.

This is not a fringe issue. It is part of everyday care, and it deserves the same attention as any other area of deprescribing.

With Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aiming to rein in the use of psychiatric drugs, psychiatrists are preemptively addressing how and when patients should quit taking them.

05/01/2026

“Less is more. Fewer drugs = better health, individually and collectively.”

That line stayed with me after attending the International Conference on Deprescribing.

But what impacted me most wasn’t the data. It was the stories.

One that I keep coming back to is a man living with chronic pain after a severe injury. At one point, he was taking 16 medications a day. Not just to manage his condition, but to manage the side effects from the medications themselves.

After reflection, and with support from his healthcare team, he reduced this down to 2 medications.

He didn’t just feel better.
He functioned better.

There were so many shared experiences like this. People feeling overwhelmed by medications. Not feeling heard. Wanting to understand their options. Wanting to be part of decisions about their care.

We talk a lot about medications helping people. And they absolutely can.

But sometimes, helping also means knowing when to step back.

Deprescribing is not about taking something away.
It’s about reducing harm, restoring function, and helping people feel like themselves again.

03/11/2026

Over the past year, I’ve been quietly studying something I deeply believe in.

I’m excited to share that I am now a Certified Health & Well-being Coach. 🙌

This training focused on the pillars of lifestyle medicine and the science of health behaviour change. These are the everyday habits that have the greatest impact on how long we live and how we feel day to day.

Because the truth is simple:
🙅‍♀️ The foundation of long-term health isn’t found in a pill or a quick fix.
🌱 It’s found in the habits that support us every day.

I’ve already been integrating many of these tools into my work with patients receiving medication optimization and deprescribing support, and I’ve seen how powerful it can be when people are supported not only in reducing medications safely, but also in building habits that help them feel better and stay well.

This certification feels like a natural extension of the work I’ve been doing for years through Your Simple Health.

I’m excited to continue integrating these principles into my work and to share more about this approach in the months ahead.

11/12/2025

Deprescribing is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. 💊✨

There’s something powerful about helping someone simplify their medications — to feel more like themselves again, with fewer side effects and better quality of life.

I created a new course with the Ontario Pharmacists Association to help other pharmacists do just that.

It’s called Beyond the Prescription: Deprescribing Strategies for Patient-Centered Care.

🕐 About 1 hour
💡 Packed with practical tips
💰 Affordable CE that makes an impact

If you’re a pharmacist who wants to feel more confident supporting patients through deprescribing, this is for you.

Catch the link in my stories or feel free to DM me and I will send it to you.

Together, we can make “less is more” part of everyday pharmacy practice. 💚

11/06/2025

🎙️ It was such a pleasure to sit down with Robbie Spier Miller on The Habit of Possibility podcast. 

The focus was on chronic pain, a topic that’s deeply personal for me. Not just because I see it regularly in my clinical practice, but because I’ve lived it. After more than 15 years of navigating my own back pain, I’ve learned how important it is to look at the whole person, not just the symptoms.

That experience has shaped how I practice today through Your Simple Health: combining deprescribing and pharmacogenomics to help people move beyond “try this and see,” and toward a truly personalized approach to care.

If you have a chance to listen, I’d love to hear what you think! 💓

Find it by searching “The Habit of Possibility” on YouTube or your favourite podcast streaming platform.
Or DM me for the link!

11/06/2025

It was a pleasure to join Robbie Spier Miller on this podcast to talk about chronic pain. We also discuss and (of course!), and my work here at Your Simple Health.
If you listen, I would love to hear what you think!

Are your medications still helping or just familiar?

So many people are living with pain, side effects, or fog… not realizing there may be a better way.

🎙️ On this week’s episode of The Habit of Possibility, pharmacist and deprescribing expert D'Angelo joins Robbie Spier Miller to share what most people don’t know about long-term medication use and how combining science with mindset and hypnosis is helping people reclaim clarity, energy, and confidence in their health journey.

Whether you’re managing chronic pain, supporting aging parents, or wondering if you still need that prescription… this episode will open your eyes.

The ideas shared in this podcast are not medical advice. Please be sure to check with your doctor about any medical decisions.

- Watch now: https://youtu.be/98q-pWBUjXE
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3lsVlXF0efTfxbzg3b5yMi?si=c06e5f3682e9422f
- Listen on Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/new-options-for-chronic-pain-a-whole-person/id1797219183?i=1000735284967

🌐 Learn more: https://www.hypnosistrainingcanada.com/hypnosis-for-pain

09/04/2025

Did you know that side effects from medication don't always show up right away? Some side effects can take weeks or even months to appear, making it difficult to connect the symptoms back to the medication.

Muscle pain is a common side effect when taking statins, but it can take 6-12 months to start feeling this symptom. Pharmacogenetic testing can identify a genetic predisposition to side effects from statins, so your healthcare provider can help you find a better medication that works with your unique DNA.

Personalized healthcare is at your fingertips. Order your Inagene Cardiovascular Health testing kit today: https://inagene.com/products/cardiovascular-health-b

08/18/2025

What do a mud race and deprescribing have in common? 🧐
More than you might think.

A few months ago, I completed the Spartan Sprint with 12 incredible women. We trained for 8 months, cheering each other on every step of the way. (Let me tell you, the group chat was on 🔥!)
5km. 20 obstacles. Way more mud than expected.

After reflecting on the experience, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the race and the process of deprescribing.

For those unfamiliar, deprescribing is the planned, supervised process of reducing or stopping medications when the risks outweigh the benefits.

Sounds simple… just stop the med, right?
If only.

For medications like anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, or antidepressants, even small reductions can trigger withdrawal or rebound symptoms. That doesn’t mean deprescribing isn’t the right choice — just that it requires strategy, care, and support.

Here are 3 lessons that connect mud + medicine:
1️⃣ Slow and steady wins the race
2️⃣ You can do hard things
3️⃣ We all need a helping hand sometimes

Deprescribing isn’t just about taking away medications. It’s about building health, confidence, and quality of life.

Like the race, it’s not easy — but the finish line is worth it. 🌱

08/12/2025

Self-love is about the everyday choices that protect your well-being:

✨ Nourishing your body with good food.
✨ Moving in ways that make you feel strong.
✨ Understanding your medications and advocating for your care.

When you put your health first, you’re building the foundation for the life you want to live—one step, one decision at a time.

💬 What’s one way you’ve invested in your health lately? Share below ⬇️