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Antidepressant Withdrawal

If you abruptly stop using an antidepressant, withdrawal symptoms may occur. This is more likely if you have been taking the drug for at least six weeks or if you are taking an antidepressant with a short half-life. Potential antidepressant withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, loss of balance or difficulty walking, muscle pain, and vision changes.

 

Withdrawal From Antidepressants: An Overview

Antidepressants can cause withdrawal symptoms if they are stopped too quickly. Antidepressant withdrawal is more likely if you have been taking the medication for a while (six weeks or more) and if you are taking a medication that leaves your body very rapidly.
 

Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms

Certain antidepressant withdrawal symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Fatigue
  • Lethargy
  • A general ill feeling (malaise)
  • Muscle pain
  • Headaches
  • Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea
  • Loss of balance or difficulty walking
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or a spinning sensation (vertigo)
  • Unusual sensations, such as burning, pricking, or tingling
  • Vision changes
  • Hyperactivity
  • Anxiety or agitation.
     
In most people, these antidepressant withdrawal symptoms improve with time, without the need for any treatment.
 

Antidepressant Withdrawal: The Importance of Half-Life

The half-life of a medication is the time it takes for half of the drug to leave the body.
 Antidepressants with short half-lives are more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms, compared to antidepressants with long half-lives. This makes sense, since stopping a medication with a long half-life causes a gradual decrease in blood levels of the antidepressant, while stopping a medication with a short half-life causes a rapid drop in blood levels of the medication.
 
Most people can stop an antidepressant medication with a long half-life "cold turkey" without any problems. However, it is usually best to stop an antidepressant with a short-half life gradually by slowly decreasing the dose, "weaning off" the medication. Your healthcare provider will take into account the half-life of your particular antidepressant when helping you decide how exactly to stop your antidepressant.
 
(Antidepressant Withdrawal Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;