Antidepressant withdrawal

Antidepressant withdrawal is a problem that can happen if you stop taking your antidepressant too quickly. It can make you feel sick.

This problem is sometimes called "antidepressant discontinuation syndrome" or "SSRI discontinuation syndrome."

The symptoms may not be pleasant, but they don't usually last long.

Most antidepressants should be stopped gradually. Doctors call it "tapering off." People who take antidepressants should never stop or taper off without a doctor's help.

Symptoms usually start within 3 days after you stop taking the medicine. The symptoms may worry you, but they're not dangerous. They usually only last a week or two.

Symptoms may include feeling like you have the flu. You may:

• Feel very tired.
• Have muscle aches.
• Have a headache.
• Have diarrhea.

You may also:

• Have trouble sleeping.
• Feel sick to your stomach.
• Feel dizzy or lightheaded.
• Have a tingling, burning, or pricking sensation on your skin.
• Feel anxious.

First, it's important to tell your doctor about your symptoms. The doctor may want to make sure there isn't something else wrong.

If you stopped taking your antidepressant suddenly, your doctor may have you start taking it again. But this time your doctor will give you a tapering plan. With this plan, you take smaller and smaller doses of your medicine until you're not taking it at all.

If you are already on a tapering plan and you have symptoms, your doctor may redo your plan to make it slower.