Take pain relievers for muscle aches and headaches, but only with a doctor’s approval.Combat flu-like symptoms by staying hydrated and resting.Choose a suitable time to stop taking the medications - ideally, do not stop during a busy time or a period of high stress.Know what to expect by reading up on potential symptoms.The following tips may help people who are coming off antidepressants: As a result, some people may need to take medication indefinitely. Those who wish to come off antidepressants because they feel better should ideally wait for at least 6–9 months after complete symptom remission before stopping their medication.īut for people with chronic symptoms of depression or a history of multiple depressive episodes, doctors recommend that people continue to receive treatment. In studies on adults with moderate or severe depression, 40–60% report improvements within 6–8 weeks. It is also worth considering if the antidepressants need more time to work - it can take 4–12 weeks to see a response to the treatment. It may be that another antidepressant would be a better option or that other therapies could help manage some of the adverse effects of antidepressant use. People should not make medication changes without professional advice.Ĭarefully consider the benefits and disadvantages of stopping antidepressant treatment. Individuals should only stop taking antidepressants when they have discussed it with a doctor. Making healthy lifestyle choices: Exercise, a balanced diet, stress management, and adequate sleep can help manage the symptoms of depression and some of the effects of stopping antidepressants.Replacing antidepressants with psychotherapy: Research indicates that specific therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can help people discontinue antidepressants without increasing the risk of relapse or recurrence.Checking in regularly with health professionals: Regular checkups with the doctor will help people manage the withdrawal process and check for signs of recurring depression.Temporarily switching to another antidepressant: Sometimes, moving to a similar medication with a longer half-life can help ease symptoms.Taking medications to manage discontinuation symptoms: A doctor may prescribe medications to treat nausea, sleep problems, or other withdrawal-related issues.Tapering off slowly: Doctors typically recommend that people reduce their dose of antidepressants gradually, usually over 4 weeks, but sometimes longer.Strategies to minimize withdrawal symptoms include: People should not stop taking antidepressants abruptly, as it could cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Individuals who wish to come off antidepressants should discuss this with their doctor before making any medication changes. How to stop taking antidepressants safely Conversely, in a relapse, the depressive symptoms continue or get worse. Discontinuation symptoms reduce as the body adjusts to the removal of antidepressant medication. Discontinuation symptoms appear shortly after coming off antidepressants, whereas relapse symptoms develop gradually, sometimes several weeks later. To differentiate between withdrawal symptoms and relapse, a person should consider the following two things.įirst is the time of onset. If someone has mood-related symptoms following antidepressant withdrawal, it does not always mean a relapse. The longer a person has been taking the medication, the more likely they are to have withdrawal symptoms.Īll antidepressants can cause withdrawal issues if someone has taken them for longer than 6 weeks, particularly if they stop or rapidly reduce their dose. Some popular antidepressants, and their approximate half-lives, are:Īnother influencing factor is the length of time someone has been taking antidepressants. Drugs with a short half-life typically cause more withdrawal symptoms than those with a long half-life. This is a measurement of the time it takes for the drug’s active substance to reduce by half in the body. Several factors may influence the duration of symptoms, including the drug’s half-life. Some studies found that 40% of people had symptoms for 6 weeks, while 25% experienced symptoms for 12 weeks or more. In a 2019 review of existing research, the authors noted that it is not uncommon for people to have antidepressant withdrawal symptoms for many weeks or even months. Symptoms may appear within 2 days of stopping antidepressant use and persist for several weeks. People may also experience a return of depression and mood-related symptoms, including:
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