Dangers of stopping antidepressants

Susan Wilson

May 2, 2025

9 min read

You may have nightmares, unusual dreams, excessive/vivid dreams, or insomnia.

Trouble sleeping, including nightmares. To me, it's the same as allowing cars to be sold without brakes, he said. Knowledge about serotonin withdrawal can also improve people’s motivation to avoid skipping their antidepressant unnecessarily and throwing .Balises :Symptoms of Antidepressant WithdrawalStop Taking Antidepressants+3Addiction WithdrawalAntidepressant Withdrawal HelpAntidepressants with Worst WithdrawalFrom past experience, when stopping and starting antidepressants, I almost always feel sick, but it doesn’t last longer than three days.

Coming off anti-depressants may not cause relapse

Depression Guide.Teri Biebel, 48, decided to stop venlafaxine (Effexor) with the help of her doctor when she felt like she didn’t need it anymore.Stopping an antidepressant can trigger debilitating physical and psychological ailments as the brain goes through withdrawal. Coping strategies.

Withdrawal symptoms (antidepressant discontinuation syndrome) When you stop taking antidepressants, you may experience a number of unpleasant—even . These are symptoms that can happen when you reduce your dose or .Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed medications.Balises :Reasons To Take AntidepressantsStopping Antidepressants+3Getting Off Antidepressants SafelyHardest Antidepressant To StopSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsBalises :Reasons To Take AntidepressantsSide Effects of Antidepressants+3Benefits of Stopping AntidepressantsComing Off Sertraline Weight LossGetting Off AntidepressantsLoss of coordination.If antidepressants are ineffective for some individuals, there is no need for them to remain on their antidepressant simply due to the fear of side effects from tapering and stopping the medication. Changing or stopping antidepressants, especially if done abruptly, can be associated with ADS. Side effects included weight gain, . Sertraline has a relatively short half-life compared to other SSRIs—about one day.Dr Adrian James, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “For people with depression, antidepressants can be a lifeline. medicines typically do not have many short-term side effects, and if they do, they are often mild.Stopping antidepressants, however, is frequently associated with withdrawal symptoms, which can be problematic, and mistaken for relapse/recurrence. It is becoming clear that far from normalising brain function, antidepressants disrupt normal biological processes with potentially devastating consequences for some people who take them. I get to sleep fine, but then I was up around 2 am, and I’m awake for at least an hour, usually two.Stopping antidepressants can cause withdrawal (discontinuation) symptoms, the return of the original illness, and rebound. 2019 Jan; 17(1): 52-60. “I had severe anxiety, trouble catching my breath, and felt . Symptoms can present within hours and last for . Certain, older types of antidepressants .

Antidepressants: Understanding Depression Medication

Antidepressant withdrawal: Is there such a thing?

The Psychiatry Working Group of the D . 17 January 2023. Antidepressants may take days or weeks to leave a person’s system. Besides “brain zaps,” antidepressant discontinuation syndrome can cause: Flu-type symptoms, such as feeling overheated and exhausted, and having headaches and muscle aches.

Benefits of stopping antidepressants: Everything to know

Antidepressants: Two million taking them for five years or more

Yet, antidepressants are chemicals which alter the normal functioning of the brain and other parts of the body in ways we do not fully understand. Sleep problems. Don't stop taking your medication without contacting your doctor first, as stopping might pose risks for you.In 1988, Rosenbaum and colleagues studied the effects of abruptly stopping the antidepressants of patients who were on Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and . Withdrawal symptoms happen as your mind and body adapt to this change. Many people who have taken anti-depressants for at least two years may be able to stop them . You may have flu-like symptoms including headache, muscle pain, .We looked at benefits (e. Experts recommend taking the lowest effective dose of antidepressant medication while pregnant, but that the dangers of depression ultimately outweigh the risks to your unborn child. Stopping Antidepressants: Is it Withdrawal? Medically Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on September 29, 2022.About 20% of patients develop antidepressant discontinuation syndrome following an abrupt stoppage of or marked reduction in the dose of an antidepressant .

In rare cases, antidepressant withdrawal may cause mania.You may experience nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, or appetite loss. tremor (uncontrollable shaking in a part of your body) nervousness.2% of adults used antidepressants in the previous month and antidepressant use was higher among women (17.

Why some people struggle to come off . People may experience flu-like or other symptoms if they suddenly stop taking antidepressants.Stopping safely. People can have flu-like symptoms, trouble sleeping, nausea, imbalance, electric shock sensations, and restlessness, says Rehan Aziz, MD , a psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health and associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Hackensack Meridian School of . Support, care and treatment.Balises :Stopping Antidepressants SymptomsAntidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome+2Discontinuing AntidepressantsUpping Antidepressants

Discontinuing Antidepressants: Pearls and Pitfalls

Here's what to consider. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2015 and 2018, 13.

Balises :Antidepressant Discontinuation SyndromeDiscontinuation Symptoms+2Matthew Gabriel, Verinder SharmaPublish Year:2017

Stopping Antidepressants: Is it Withdrawal?

In a randomized trial nearly 20 years ago, he and .Balises :Symptoms of Antidepressant WithdrawalAddiction Withdrawal+3Antidepressant Withdrawal HelpAntidepressant Withdrawal TimelineAntidepressant Withdrawal Treatment

Stopping or coming off antidepressants

The Dangers of Abruptly Stopping Antidepressants

Antidepressants can be effective for treating a number of conditions, but the choice to start and stop one is very . Eating little and often helps too.

Sertraline Withdrawal: How Long Does It Last?

Balises :Stopping AntidepressantsStopping Prozac Abruptly+3Stopping FluoxetineAntidepressants Increase SerotoninSerotonin and Depression

Benefits of Getting Off Antidepressants: What to Know

When you decide to stop taking antidepressants, it’s essential to consult your doctor or therapist and taper off slowly to avoid withdrawal or a relapse of depression. If used for longer than six weeks, all antidepressants have the potential to cause withdrawal syndromes if they are stopped or rapidly reduced (with the possible exception of agomelatine). * To learn more about .These symptoms are known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome and, while not life-threatening, they can be quite uncomfortable. For one, stopping . Talk to your doctor . “The idea that these side . successful discontinuation rate) and harms, such as return of the depressive or anxiety episode (relapse), side effects, and withdrawal symptoms (i. It may also cause side effects, but these are typically mild and go away on their own.Balises :Antidepressant Discontinuation SyndromeDiscontinuation Symptoms+3Symptoms of Antidepressant WithdrawalAddiction WithdrawalAntidepressant Withdrawal Help

Stopping long-term antidepressants in people with depression

All antidepressants can cause withdrawal effects.

Stopping or coming off antidepressants. Some people experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to come off them, and reducing the dose slowly before stopping, can help.Balises :Antidepressant Discontinuation SyndromeDiscontinuation Symptoms+3Stop Taking AntidepressantsReasons To Take AntidepressantsPeople Suddenly Stop Antidepressants Trouble sleeping.Up to a third of patients stop antidepressants soon after starting and many more only partially adhere to treatment. weakness or fatigue (low energy) mild anxiety *.Balises :Stopping Antidepressants SymptomsPublish Year:2019+3Emma Maund, Beth Stuart, Michael Moore, Christopher Dowrick, Adam W. My sleeping is still being disrupted.These side effects can be particularly pronounced when people don’t slowly taper their medication and, instead, stop taking it suddenly.2336Ann Fam Med.Yet patients frequently stay on antidepressants far longer, in many cases for decades.

Stopping Antidepressants: Is it Withdrawal?

12 To minimize these .Now, new research backs up the idea that for many people, antidepressant withdrawal might be a bigger problem than most have realized. Your provider can help you stop antidepressants in a way that reduces withdrawal.Balises :Stopping Antidepressants SymptomsStop Taking Antidepressants+3Antidepressants NhsSymptoms of Stopping AntidepressantStopping Fluoxetine Withdrawing antidepressants.7%) than men (8. The lack of awareness .Some antidepressants may harm your baby if you take them during pregnancy or while you're breast-feeding.Adults with depression who want to stop taking antidepressants should have the dose of their medication reduced in stages to reduce the likelihood and severity of withdrawal symptoms, NICE has said.Balises :Stopping Antidepressants SymptomsDiscontinuation Symptoms+3Coming Off AntidepressantsGoing Back On AntidepressantsSuddenly Stopping Antidepressants A dramatic shake up could be on the way for the deprescribing of antidepressants, thanks to the release of the new Maudsley .A recent study found that medium to high doses of antidepressant medication taken during pregnancy may pose a risk to the health of the fetus.But stopping some medicines abruptly or “cold turkey” can cause discontinuation or withdrawal symptoms. It describes: why . We also discuss antidepressant withdrawal relief options, such as taking an antihistamine like Benadryl for Effexor . By Philippa Roxby. The psychiatric association guidance does caution against abruptly stopping without any tapering to avoid . mild allergic reaction *.

Withdrawal effects of antidepressants

You may become dizzy or lightheaded, sometimes making it difficult to walk.Balises :Coming Off AntidepressantsStopping and Restarting Antidepressants+3Coming Off SertralineNo More Pills For Depression StudyPrevent Depression Relapse

Discontinuing antidepressants: Pearls and pitfalls

The latter means that the disease will return stronger, faster, or with greater likelihood than if it had not been treated with medication.Unlike older antidepressants, S.

The Dangers of Antidepressants

If you do get withdrawal symptoms, you can still stop your antidepressant – but may need to do so more slowly (see section on ‘When and how to stop antidepressants’) These are some of the ways you and your doctor can tell whether you are having withdrawal symptoms or whether it is the symptoms of a return of anxiety or depression: 1 .Stopping antidepressants may lead to improved mental clarity, weight loss, and restored sexual function.Other symptoms get worse.Temps de Lecture Estimé: 4 minBalises :Stopping Antidepressants SymptomsSymptoms of Stopping Antidepressant

Managing Antidepressant Discontinuation: A Systematic Review

Patients who stop antidepressants, regardless of the specific psychiatric indication or duration of taper, are at a greater risk of relapse of psychiatric illness than .Balises :Stopping Antidepressants SymptomsComing Off Antidepressants+3Antidepressants NhsGoing Back On AntidepressantsI Want To Stop Taking AntidepressantsAuteur : BBC NewsWhen you stop or reduce your dose of sertraline, these serotonin levels will drop, eventually reaching pretreatment levels.1017/S1463423623000038They can start when people abruptly stop taking antidepressants.Yet when people stop taking antidepressants, they can experience a constellation of withdrawal symptoms, says Maurizio Fava, MD, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and executive director of the MGH Psychiatry Clinical Trials Network and Institute.

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome

Stopping an antidepressant might worsen other symptoms associated with your depression such as headaches, pain, or insomnia. It's important that you do not stop taking antidepressants suddenly.Beyond these rare but potentially serious side effects, there are several other dangers that can occur from abruptly stopping your antidepressant. 1 Despite how commonly prescribed .

SSRI Withdrawal Symptoms and Prevention

Withdrawal symptoms are variable but can include .