Stopping antidepressant treatment

Antidepressants are not addictive but stopping taking them, especially if you stop suddenly, can lead to unpleasant discontinuation effects.

Therefore, you should talk to your doctor before stopping your medication and you should not come off the medication suddenly. When you stop taking any medication it may cause new unpleasant symptoms or it may lead to increased symptoms of depression. Each person's experience is unique and some people will have no discontinuation effects at all.

Stopping a TCA suddenly can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as:
lethargy
nausea
headaches
insomnia
excessive dreaming
movement disorders
feeling and acting high
abnormal heart rhythm.

Stopping SSRIs can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as:
dizziness
nausea
lethargy
headaches
anxiety
confusion
tremors
pins and needles
abnormal sensory sensations
sweating
irritability
insomnia
memory problems
anorexia.

In general, evidence suggests that the most symptoms at discontinuation occur with paroxetine (Seroxat) and the fewest occur with fluoxetine (Prozac). But each person's experience is unique.

Symptoms that may occur following stopping taking SSRI’s that have not been found in withdrawal from TCAs include:

  • problems with balance including feeling dizzy
  • abnormal sensory sensations
  • aggressive and impulsive behaviour.