After eight years at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, mastering the art of safely putting people to sleep in the operating room, Casey Brachvogel, CRNA, felt called to do the opposite: help patients wake up. He does that safely, too. He left the hospital setting in 2019 and founded New England Ketamine, a medical clinic devoted to individuals battling treatment-resistant chronic pain and complex mental health conditions.

Working closely with the medication-resistant mental health population for years revealed how long-term medications were often worsening, not relieving, their symptoms.

Determined to close that care gap, Casey earned a post-master’s degree and became a board-certified Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).

He unites anesthesia-level pharmacology expertise with evidence-based psychiatric care to create safer, more holistic solutions for his patients.

Mia Wallace wears many Sombreros. When she is not fulfilling her duties as Chief Anti-Anxiety Officer at Off Benzos, she dutifully performs her role as Chief Barking Officer at New England Ketamine.

• Clinical Reality: Up to 30 % of Casey’s patients seeking ketamine therapy for mental health issues were unknowingly experiencing psychotropic drug withdrawal. The most severe cases were long-term benzodiazepine users, who were often too mentally unwell to receive ketamine. As ketamine is the end of the line for most mental health patients, Casey struggled turning patients away, instead of being able to help.

• Gap in Care: Prescribers frequently missed withdrawal signs and misinterpreted signs of medication withdrawal as signs of a worsening mental health condition. Seeing patients’ withdrawal symptoms and adverse effects of their medications escape detection for decades in some patients, he felt compelled to act.

• Solution: Combine anesthesia-level pharmacology expertise with psychiatric prescribing to design personalized, slow-taper protocols that prioritize neurochemical healing and quality of life.

OffBenzos.com was founded to bring hope and de-prescription expertise to anyone tapering off benzodiazepines.

Our mission is to empower individuals with safe, science-based tapering strategies and compassionate support. We believe every person deserves a supportive, personalized approach when reducing medications. Clinical guidelines stress that tapering should be individualized and collaborative, and that’s exactly what we deliver. We combine medical expertise with empathy, because we know the journey off benzodiazepines is unique for everyone.

Our Values

• Compassion & Empathy: We truly listen to your story and understand your challenges

• Patient-Centered Care: Tapering is your decision, and we support you at your pace

• Evidence-Based Practices: Our taper plans follow the latest clinical guidelines to minimize risk

• Empowerment through Education: We provide clear information so you feel prepared and confident

• Community & Support: We foster a caring network