SSRI Discontinuation or Withdrawal Syndrome

[steve2470]

http://psychcentral.com/lib/ssri-discontinuation-or-withdrawal-syndrome/0005734

After some people stop taking a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), they experience a variety of symptoms. According to Dr. Ross J. Baldessarini, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and director of the psychopharmacology program at McLean Hospital, these symptoms may include “a flu-like reaction, as well as a variety of physical symptoms, that may include headache, gastrointestinal distress, faintness and strange sensations of vision or touch.”

This common phenomenon is known as SSRI discontinuation syndrome. (It may also be known as SSRI withdrawal syndrome.)

Discontinuation symptoms typically arise within days after stopping the medication, particularly if it was stopped abruptly. Stopping a high dose of a relatively short-acting drug also can bring on symptoms. In addition to the previously-mentioned symptoms, “anxiety and depressed or irritable mood are common features that may make it hard to differentiate SSRI discontinuation syndrome from early return of symptoms of depression,” Baldessarini said.

About 20 percent of people experience discontinuation symptoms, according to Dr. Michael D. Banov, medical director of Northwest Behavioral Medicine and Research Center in Atlanta, and author of Taking Antidepressants: Your Comprehensive Guide To Starting, Staying On and Safely Quitting. About 15 percent experience mild to moderately bothersome symptoms while fewer than five percent experience more severe symptoms, he said.

more at link


more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressant_discontinuation_syndrome

[Stargazer09]

1. Been there, done that

I tapered my dose as low as possible, went from daily to every other day, did all I could to go off it slowly.

Still had symptoms. Headaches, weird tingling sensations, vertigo, etc.

I hope I never need that kind of medication ever again.

[NickB79]

2. It put me in the ER in college

Ran out of my meds before Christmas break, and the campus pharmacy was closed. I thought I could tough it out, but fuck that noise. It was really that bad.

[LiberalEsto]

3. When I was switching from one med to another

the psychiatrist suggested I take N-acetyl cysteine and alpha lipoic acid to help ease the transition. It helped a lot; I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms. Wish I could remember the amounts I was taking.

This is a very informative web site on stopping SSRI medication.

http://www.theroadback.org/aaataper.aspx

[steve2470]

4. great info thanks! nt