Antidepressant medications include a variety of medications that all work in different ways to fight depression (11 strategies to deal with depression). The global market for these antidepressant drugs will reach $15,983,000,000 (a number in the trillions) by the year 2023, estimates a report from Allied Market Research. This staggering number indicates that more and more people are taking antidepressants. And there are individuals who want to stop their medications or switch the type of medication they are taking. Before giving up the pills, these individuals first need to understand what happens when you suddenly stop taking antidepressants.
Side Effects of Abruptly Stopping Antidepressants
To control depression and its symptoms, antidepressant medications regulate the levels of certain hormones in your body and other physical factors that affect your mental health. Because regulation is key, taking antidepressant medications exactly as prescribed is essential to their effectiveness. Irregular adherence or discontinuation of these medications can lead to physical and emotional symptoms.
Regardless of the type of antidepressant you’re taking – MAOI, TCI, SSRI, SNRI or atypical – when you stop, you’re likely to experience some side effects, especially if you’ve been taking the drug for six weeks or longer yet. After suddenly stopping or changing medications, you may experience:
- anxiety
- dizziness
- sensations similar to electric shocks
- flu-like symptoms (shivers and muscle aches)
- headache
- insomnia
- irritability
- nausea
- fatigue
- vivid dreams
In addition to experiencing some of these symptoms, your depression and its symptoms may also return after you stop taking antidepressants. Some individuals who quit often have difficulty distinguishing whether the symptoms they are experiencing are due to withdrawal from the drug or returning depression.
Do Withdrawal Symptoms Indicate Addiction to Antidepressants?
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms does not indicate addiction to antidepressants. When addiction is present, the brain undergoes long-term chemical changes. This makes it difficult to permanently stop using a substance that results in negative consequences. Although antidepressant drugs can cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped suddenly, the use of these drugs does not usually lead to negative consequences and they are not difficult to stop.
Planning to Stop or Change Medications? What You Should Do First
You should always talk to your doctor before you stop taking antidepressants or make changes to your medications or dosage. Your doctor will likely recommend a dose reduction schedule to help you gradually, rather than suddenly, stop your antidepressant medication. A tapering schedule will allow your body to adjust to the lack of medication over several weeks. If you are changing the type of medication you are taking for depression, your doctor may recommend that you stay on your old medication for the first few weeks of taking your new antidepressant.
As you gradually reduce your antidepressant dose to zero, you should stay close to your doctor. Your health care team will work with you to monitor your physical and emotional response while stopping antidepressant medications. To ensure your health and safety, you should inform your doctor of worsening symptoms of depression or any withdrawal symptoms you experience.
