AFTER years in development and testing, patient medication tool TaperMate is now available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Created by ACT pharmacist Alicia Martin (pictured) and software engineer Christian Townsend, the app is designed to help people to safely taper off medication, particularly drugs where slower tapers are needed.
"The aim was to create a tool that patients can use to create a safe tapering plan following slower taper guidelines, providing a resource with an evidence-based medical background but still giving them that opportunity to consider their own taper and what it could look like," Martin said.
"TaperMate helps people input a tapering plan and monitor and track their symptoms, allowing them to identify if the tapering plan may be going too quickly, and providing the basis for a discussion with their pharmacist or doctor about adjusting the tapering plan," she told Pharmacy Daily.
Martin said she was inspired to create the app after spending time on online peer support forums for people taking antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
"What really made me decide to follow through with the idea for the app was seeing how many people were struggling, and seeing the same questions keep coming up in those groups.
"I thought I could do something to help these people.
"Even though there are tapering guidelines available, it's still very much suggested that you listen to your own body and adjust the taper rate as needed."
Martin feels there is potential for even more functionality, although that will entail regulatory hurdles.
"Initially we're looking at it being a patient support tool for self-management, but further down the track we're looking at adding in current guidelines and recommendations - in which case it becomes a medical device and will need to go through an approval process," she explained.
While focused on antidepressants and benzodiazepines, which are Martin's area of expertise, she said TaperMate could also be used for opioids or gabapentinoids - or indeed any drug that may cause withdrawal symptoms.
In addition to the app, Martin has also started a telehealth clinic to help people who need additional advice and support to create a safe tapering plan.
"I've only just started this year, but being able to actually sit down and have a proper discussion about their medication history, what's happened in the past when they've tapered and what they're worried about, has been very rewarding.
"It keeps me very busy but it's been really nice working with people and I'm hoping that down the track we can get more pharmacists involved so that we can have a bit more flexibility than just the one day a week that I'm available," Martin said.
Now that the app is publicly available, the team is keen to get feedback on how to make it even more user-friendly and make sure that people are benefitting from it.
"It's an incredible feeling after all that work to actually have something to now show for it, and it's been really positive seeing the responses so far.
"We've had a lot of people message or email to say that they're really excited to test it out, and I'm really excited about the feedback we can get so we can keep making it better." KB
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