Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight
What is the most important information I should know about antidepressant withdrawal?
Quickly quitting other types of antidepressants may lead to symptoms too.
Some antidepressants may have a greater potential for withdrawal effects.
Signs of Antidepressant Withdrawal
How do you know if you might be experiencing antidepressant withdrawal?
Antidepressant Withdrawal Timeline
The experience of antidepressant withdrawal can vary greatly from one person to the next.
It can take several weeks for all symptoms to resolve completely, with some people experiencing effects for months.
Phases of SSRI Withdrawal
If you are withdrawing from an SSRI, symptoms often occur in stages.
Thetwo phases of SSRI withdrawalare acute and protracted withdrawal.
Some experts contend that there is a third phase of antidepressant withdrawal: rebound.
Here are a few more ways to prevent or cope with antidepressant withdrawal.
Ask Yourself: Why Am I Quitting?
This question could be important if you need further treatment during withdrawal, or afterward.
Why is it that you are discontinuing your antidepressant?
Are you quitting it because you feel that you are over your depression?
Do you dislike the side effects of the medication or are you unable to maintain the cost?
Depressionis a serious and potentially life-threatening illness if it is not properly treated.
Taper Off Slowly
Tapering off your antidepressant can help minimize some of the side effects of withdrawal.
There are several ways to do this.
No single tapering schedule works for everyoneand this schedule may change depending on how you respond.
But it can be beneficial to give it a try.
Exercise can help keep depression at bay by increasing the release of feel-goodendorphinsand providing a positive outlet for stress.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Relapse is another danger to consider.
Relapse
Antidepressants sometimes help reduceanxietyand pain.
Research shows that if these symptoms re-emerge when discontinuing an antidepressant, it can increase your risk of relapse.
Untreated depression is a majorrisk factor for suicide.
Not to mention, you don’t feel your best mentally or physically when living with depression.
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