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SSRI Withdrawal

When people abruptly stop taking an SSRI, withdrawal symptoms can occur. Symptoms of an SSRI withdrawal may include things such as agitation, anxiety, and headaches. In most people, these symptoms improve with time and do not require treatment. To help you avoid or minimize these SSRI withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may wean you off of the medication slowly.

 

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."
 

SSRI Withdrawal Symptoms

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.
 

Limiting SSRI Withdrawal

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.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;