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Have you ever tried to stop an antidepressant abruptly? We have heard from many people who have found that this can trigger an extremely unpleasant experience. They report a discontinuation syndrome that may include brain zaps, vertigo, nausea, headaches, tremor, hostility and even suicidal thoughts, among many other problems. So what is the best way to stop an antidepressant?
A Doctor Tells How to Stop an Antidepressant:
Q. You have written about people having a hard time stopping their antidepressants. More than a decade ago, I was having trouble getting one of my patients off of Effexor. I wrote to the drug company for help and the solution was ingenious. I have used it many times with patients trying to get off of an SNRI-type antidepressant.
Prozac Smoothes the Way:
Fluoxetine (Prozac) has an extraordinarily long half-life. Prozac “covers” the receptors that are unsettled in the discontinuation syndrome. I put the patient on the lowest dose of the problem antidepressant that is comfortable: no discontinuation symptoms.
I start 20 mg of Prozac. In two weeks I lower the dose of the problematic antidepressant, keeping the patient on Prozac. I continue to taper the problematic antidepressant down to zero, taking as long as is needed.
When my patient is completely off the problem drug, I keep the Prozac 20 mg going for two more weeks, taper it to 10 mg for two weeks and then stop it. The long half-life of the Prozac gives me an automatic long taper, and the patient has no withdrawal symptoms.
Stopping Without Withdrawal Symptoms:
A. Thank you for providing this detailed account on how to avoid symptoms like “head in a blender” that many people experience when they stop an antidepressant. We hope that other physicians will follow your lead on this.
There is more information about antidepressant pros and cons in our Guide to Dealing with Depression. It also provides suggestions for nondrug approaches that can be used with or without medication.
Natalie
I was taking Escitalopram 10mg for about two years. But decided to stop since I no longer felt the need to depend on it. I started experiencing dizziness. Just figured out withdrawal could be the reason. Would a dizziness bracelet help?
Katie C
Kansas
I recently quit my job in October 2017 and stopped all my meds cold turkey. It was a horrendous experience but I did it. After being on EFFEXOR for 18 years as well as trazadone and clonazepam and other ones. I feel better today but still have a some minor withdrawal symptoms
Damita
Colorado
Horrible drugs. I would never take them. They are known to cause breast cancer, thyroid problems, etc. Just read the horrible side effects. That should make you think before taking that poison.
Lois
Dallas
I took one Effexor 75 a day for many years as recommended for hot flashes and stopping Premarin. Tried to stop, but brain zaps were bad. Peoples Pharmacy recommended a 3-4 month weaning off process. Finally down to 37.5 mg for a few weeks and I decided to stop taking Effexor. First 2 weeks with brain zaps. Now on 3rd week and brain zaps are lighter and infrequent. I can tolerate this and off Effexor forever. Wish I knew was told getting off Effexor would be so tough; maybe would not started.
Greg
Newport News, VA
Cymbalta withdrawal will is extremely difficult, even with tapering. Because it doesn’t come in small enough dosage capsules, many people resort to breaking open the capsules and counting down the “beads” to avoid the horrible withdrawal symptoms. I used SAM-e to fend off some of the worst symptoms, but I still had terrible vertigo, crying spells, and sudden disorientation episodes.
George
So, that advice may be helpful for those attempting to wean off if SNRI’s. But what about someone who has been on Prozac for many years? How does one successfully wean oneself off of that – obviously not by adding additional Prozac.
Patricia
Canada
The explanation of this method is not at all clear – does he mean that he substitutes a low dose of Prozac while the patient is trying to get off another, different antidepressant ??
Terry Graedon
Yes, exactly. A low dose of Prozac stops symptoms while the dose of the other antidepressant such as Effexor is being reduced.
Suzy H
California
I know more friends & relatives, who have had their lives destroyed &/or put on hold due to being prescribed “antidepressants”. As we ALL CONSUMINGLY concentrate on the opiate crisis, someone should be paying attention to this load of antidepressant B.S!
Tony
I would like to get my wife of Zoloft and whilst doing it by using Prozac seems possible. My wife can not take prozac because it makes her insanely hot! I beleive that this is common with Prozac.