Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Dr Basanth
Kenchaiah

General Adult & Addiction Psychiatrist

FRANZCP  ·  MBBS  ·  DPM  ·  DNB (Psychiatry)  ·  Cert. Addiction Psychiatry

Specialising in complex deprescribing, polypharmacy, and prescription medication dependence — with over 20 years of experience and a patient-centred approach to recovery.

Referral Information About Deprescribing
A clock face used as a dinner plate with medication capsules piled at the centre and a fork replacing the clock hand — symbolising the burden of polypharmacy
When medications become your meal What is deprescribing? →

At a Glance

20+
Years psychiatric experience
2
Victorian hospital appointments

Consulting at Delmont Private Hospital, Glen Iris VIC. A GP or specialist referral is required.

About

A Specialist in
Complex Medication Management

Dr Basanth Kenchaiah is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP) with additional certification in Addiction Psychiatry. He brings more than two decades of experience to some of the most complex medication challenges patients face.

His interest in deprescribing and polypharmacy grew from working alongside pain specialists and — above all — from listening to patients who had accumulated medications over years without meaningful improvement, many experiencing dependence and serious side effects instead.

Dr Kenchaiah chairs the Subcommittee for Advanced Training in Addiction Psychiatry at RANZCP and is an executive committee member of the Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN).

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FRANZCPFellow, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
✦
Advanced Certificate in Addiction Psychiatry, RANZCPAdvanced qualification in addiction psychiatry
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MBBS · DPM · DNB (Psychiatry)Medical and psychiatric postgraduate qualifications

Institutional Affiliations

St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton Delmont Private Hospital RANZCP Australian Deprescribing Network
Clinical Expertise

What Dr Kenchaiah
Treats & Manages

A referral is required. Dr Kenchaiah's practice focuses on the intersection of addiction psychiatry, polypharmacy, and complex mental health — areas that are often intertwined and underserved.

01

Complex Deprescribing

Planned, supervised reduction or cessation of medications causing harm or no longer providing benefit — particularly where standard tapering algorithms don't apply.

02

Prescription Medication Dependence

Assessment and management of dependence on opioids (Oxycodone, Codeine), benzodiazepines (Diazepam), and other prescribed medications, including opioid substitution therapy.

03

Polypharmacy & Chronic Pain

Management of complex multi-medication regimens in chronic pain patients, where problematic polypharmacy may lead to side effects, falls, mental health deterioration, and overdose risk.

04

Co-occurring Addiction & Mental Health

Integrated treatment of substance use disorders alongside psychiatric conditions — recognising that addiction and mental health frequently co-occur and require simultaneous, specialised care.

05

Opioid Substitution Therapy

Initiation and management of Buprenorphine-based therapies (Suboxone™, Buvidal™, Sublocade™) and Methadone as part of a broader recovery and rehabilitation plan.

06

General Adult Psychiatry

Comprehensive assessment and management of mood disorders, anxiety, and psychosis, with particular attention to medication-related complexities.

Deprescribing

More Than a
Tapering Algorithm

Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of reducing or stopping a medication that may be causing harm or is no longer providing benefit. Initially associated with elderly care, its importance is now recognised across the lifespan and across medical specialties.

Algorithms exist for tapering benzodiazepines, opioids, and antidepressants — but they rarely account for the full complexity of polypharmacy, and they fail patients when applied rigidly without clinical judgement.

Dr Kenchaiah's experience has shown that success in deprescribing depends on far more than a dosing schedule. The most important factors are relational, not pharmacological.

Therapeutic AllianceA trusting, safe relationship between patient and clinician is the foundation of any successful deprescribing journey.
Continuity of CareConsistent, ongoing clinical relationships reduce dropout and improve outcomes over time.
Understanding Personal MeaningPatients often attach deep significance to their medications. Acknowledging this is essential to building readiness for change.
Recovery-Goal ExplorationDeprescribing is most effective when aligned with what the patient actually wants their life to look like.
Flexibility in ApproachIn complex polypharmacy, rigid protocols fail. Clinical judgement and adaptability are indispensable.
Overdose in Australia

A Public Health
Crisis Requiring Action

In 2024, 584 Victorians died from overdose — a 10-year high. The five top contributing drugs were heroin (248), diazepam (219), methamphetamine (215), alcohol (141), and pregabalin (92). Almost 75% of these deaths were accidental.

Prescription medications — particularly opioids and benzodiazepines — are implicated in a significant proportion of overdose deaths, many of which are preventable through appropriate deprescribing, addiction treatment, and harm reduction.

Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2025 — Penington Institute →

584
Victorians died from overdose in 2024
75%
Of Victorian overdose deaths were accidental
219
Deaths involving diazepam (Vic, 2024)
92
Deaths involving pregabalin (Vic, 2024)

Source: Coroners Court of Victoria & Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2025, Penington Institute.

Resources

Patient & Professional
Educational Resources

For Patients & the Public

Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN) Medication Support and Recovery Service (MSRS) SMART Recovery Australia Harm Reduction Victoria — PAMs Home Medication Review Addicted Australia — Documentary Common Questions About Psychiatrists

For Health Professionals

Opioid Deprescribing Guidelines Deprescribing — A Nuanced Discussion Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (RACGP) Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine Pharmacies Deprescribing — The Taper Trap (Video)

Links are provided as a convenience and do not constitute endorsement. Updated periodically.

FAQ

Frequently Asked
Questions

Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of reducing or stopping a medication that may be causing harm or is no longer providing benefit. It is not simply stopping a drug abruptly — it requires careful clinical assessment, a strong therapeutic alliance, and a flexible, patient-centred approach.

Polypharmacy generally refers to the use of five or more medications concurrently. Problematic polypharmacy — where accumulated drugs cause more harm than benefit — can lead to debilitating side effects, falls, worsening mental health, hospitalisation, overdose, and death.

Yes. A referral from your GP or treating specialist is required. Please ask your doctor to send a referral to Dr Kenchaiah's rooms at Delmont Private Hospital, Glen Iris VIC 3146, with a summary of your medical and medication history.

Dr Kenchaiah's private rooms are at Madeline Street Consulting Rooms, Delmont Private Hospital, Glen Iris VIC 3146. He also holds public appointments at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne and Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton.

Yes. Antidepressant and benzodiazepine deprescribing is a significant clinical focus, especially where patients have struggled with standard tapering approaches or where co-occurring medical complexity or polypharmacy is present.

Opioid substitution therapy (OST) involves transitioning from a problematic opioid to a regulated, prescribed alternative such as Buprenorphine (Suboxone™, Buvidal™, Sublocade™) or Methadone. For some individuals, OST can be transformative, significantly improving functioning and quality of life. Suitability is assessed individually.

Contact & Referrals

Book a
Consultation

Dr Kenchaiah is available for private consultations at Madeline Street Consulting Rooms, Delmont Private Hospital, Glen Iris. A referral from a GP or treating specialist is required.

📍
Consulting AddressMadeline Street Consulting Rooms
Delmont Private Hospital, Glen Iris VIC 3146
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Public AppointmentsSt Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton
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Professional LeadershipExecutive Member, Australian Deprescribing Network
Chair, RANZCP — Advanced Training in Addiction Psychiatry

How to Refer

1
Your GP or specialist prepares a referral letter including a current medication list and relevant medical and psychiatric history.
2
The referral is sent to Dr Kenchaiah's rooms at Delmont Private Hospital, Glen Iris VIC 3146.
3
The rooms will contact the patient to schedule an initial consultation.
4
A Medicare rebate may be available with a valid referral. Please confirm eligibility when booking.