There are many reasons for wanting to stop antidepressants, including:
- your symptoms of depression are improving
- you have medication side effects
- the medication is not effective
Whatever your reason for getting off antidepressants, following expert advice can protect your mental health and make the transition easier.
Read on to learn more about how to stop antidepressants safely and effectively.
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Stopping a medication suddenly can worsen withdrawal symptoms and make you ill.
Instead, you can taper off your medication, whereby you gradually reduce your dose over time. This may help reduce withdrawal symptoms and the likelihood of your depression worsening or coming back.
For example, if your full dose was 40 milligrams (mg) per day, you might start tapering your dose by taking 30 mg per day for several weeks. You would then keep lowering your dose every few weeks or months until you no longer need to take any medication.
To cut down your dose, you may need to:
- take fewer pills or tablets each time
- cut tablets in half with a pill cutter
- take new formulations, such as a liquid form of your medication
How to decrease your medication and how long to take each dose varies per person. Your medical team will help create a tapering plan for you.
Talk with a doctor if you’re unsure how to taper off a medication or have any other questions.
Learn more about antidepressant treatment length and what happens when you stop.
If you’re considering stopping antidepressants, talk with your medical team first.
Getting tailored medical advice is important, as the best approach can depend on your:
- condition, needs, and underlying health
- medication type
- medication dosage
Read more about the types and side effects of antidepressants.
Doctors can help you get off antidepressants by:
- providing new formulations to help with tapering, such as liquid antidepressants
- giving advice on how to manage withdrawal symptoms and adjust to changes
- recommending alternative treatments
- letting you know when to seek medical help
- scheduling checkup appointments
- recommending other support resources, such as local support groups or counseling
Learn more about your medication
Learning more about your medication lets you know about possible withdrawal symptoms and key safety advice.
Make sure to read the patient information leaflet that comes in your medication package.
If you have lost the leaflet, you can find the information for your specific medication brand and formulation in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of approved drugs.
Other ways to stay informed about your medication include talking with a pharmacist, doctor, or people in a support group.
Coming off of a medication can be challenging at any time, and you may not be able to find a perfect moment.
However, planning a time to start the process may make it easier to manage withdrawal. Considering timing can also allow you to plan and put support in place.
For example, you may want to consider starting to taper your medication when you:
- have support in place, such as trusted friends or a course of psychotherapy sessions
- don’t have any big life changes or events coming up
- can rearrange commitments or stressful activities for another time
Prepare for difficult times
It can be hard to care for yourself when you’re dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Planning ahead can make it easier to manage and respond to difficult moments.
Preparation steps to consider include:
- preparing self-care, such as:
- making and freezing meals in advance
- keeping a regular routine
- planning enjoyable or soothing activities
- telling your support system that you are coming off your medication
- talking with your doctor about what to do if you need urgent support
- learning where to find further help, such as:
- counseling or psychotherapy
- local social support groups
- charities and organizations
- trusted friends or family
You may be more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms if you:
- have experienced withdrawal symptoms before
- take a high dose of antidepressants
- have used antidepressants for a long time
If someone you know is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others or is at risk of suicide:
- Even if it’s tough, ask, “Are you considering suicide?”
- Listen without judgment.
- Call 911 or your local emergency number.
- Stay with them until emergency services arrive.
- Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful items if it is safe to do so.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
This free, confidential service is available 24/7.
Understand withdrawal symptoms vs. depression relapse
Sometimes, withdrawal symptoms resemble depression symptoms, so it may feel like your depression is returning.
You may still be able to taper off your medication even if you experience withdrawal symptoms. Being able to identify withdrawal can help you manage the symptoms and stick with your plan.
Certain withdrawal symptoms don’t usually occur with depression, such as:
- brain zaps, which are feelings of electric shocks in your head
- flu-like symptoms
- movement problems, such as difficulty balancing or walking, or making involuntary movements
- sensory changes, such as smelling an odor that’s not really there
- unusual dreams
- ringing in your ears
Also, withdrawal symptoms often start soon after changing your medication, such as 1 to 2 days after. By contrast, depression may return over weeks or months.
Similarly, withdrawal symptoms may improve more quickly after restarting antidepressants than depression symptoms.
However, some medications still take a while to cause withdrawal symptoms, as they take longer to leave the body.
Talk with a doctor if you have any new or concerning symptoms, whether they could be due to withdrawal or not.
Keeping a focus on self-care can help you support your mental health and manage withdrawal. For example, it may help to:
- get regular physical activity
- be involved in enjoyable activities
- use a mood or symptom diary
- stay in contact with your medical team
- consider counseling or psychotherapy
Other advice to help you safely get off antidepressants includes:
- writing down your tapering plan and asking a doctor if you have any questions about tapering
- not coming off more than one medication at a time, unless your doctor recommends it
- completing your taper plan, even if you don’t notice any withdrawal symptoms or the dose is very small
- checking in with your medical team regularly, even after finishing your taper plan
- remembering that getting off antidepressants and recovering from withdrawal can take time
Stopping an antidepressant medication suddenly or without care can lead to withdrawal symptoms and affect your physical and mental health.
Ways to get off antidepressants more safely and effectively include:
- working with a doctor to create a tapering plan
- reducing your dose very gradually
- finding out where to find support and putting resources in place before tapering
- maintaining self-care and other treatment approaches, such as counseling
Talk with a doctor if you have any questions about stopping antidepressants or experience any new, concerning, or persistent symptoms.