SSRI Withdrawal: An Overview
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are known to cause withdrawal symptoms in those who quickly stop their medicine. Sometimes this is called "SSRI discontinuation syndrome."
Certain SSRI withdrawal symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
In most people, these SSRI withdrawal symptoms improve with time, without the need for any treatment. Of all the SSRIs,
fluoxetine (
Prozac®,
Sarafem®) is probably the least likely to cause withdrawal because it stays in the body for such a long period of time.
If you are going to be taken off of an SSRI, your healthcare provider may wean you off the medication slowly to minimize the chances of developing SSRI withdrawal symptoms, although this is not always necessary.
Sometimes, withdrawal symptoms are actually
symptoms of depression returning. In this case, your healthcare provider may decide to put you back on an
antidepressant medication.