Side effects of quitting antidepressants

What are the long-term effects of taking antidepressants? Why you should stop taking your antidepressants? Side effects of quitting medication.

Quitting “cold turkey” may cause withdrawal symptoms. Suddenly stopping your medicine may also worsen your depression.

Certain antidepressants have a side effect profile that causes cognitive impairment. They are usually mild and go away within about two weeks. Depression and mood swings. Symptoms can include: Anxiety.

Dizziness and balance problems, possibly vertigo. Electric shock sensations. It’s called “over-stimulation ,” which is a much lesser-known long-term side effect of coming off antidepressants.

Harvard Health calls this discontinuing side effect “hypersensitivity to soun” and I’ve also heard it described as “hyper-arousal. Insomnia or vivid dreams. Flu-like symptoms, including achy muscles and chills. Return of depression symptoms.

Researchers found that withdrawal from Prozac caused no negative events. They think this is due to the fact that Prozac stays in the body for a long time in comparison to the other SSRIs. Rarely, antidepressants can cause serious side effects that need to be treated right away.

If side effects seem intolerable, you may be tempted to stop taking an antidepressant or to reduce your dose on your own. Your symptoms may return, and stopping your antidepressant suddenly may cause withdrawal -like symptoms. Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms.

Neurotransmitters act throughout the body, and you may experience physical as well as mental effects when you stop taking antidepressants or lower the dose too fast. Common complaints include the following: Digestive. Lofexidine in a dose of 0. QDS is used for opiate withdrawal. We are trying a lower dose, 0.

B in SSRI withdrawal. Clonidine in a dose of 0. The side effects of both are a drop in blood pressure with dizziness , a slow heart rate and a dry mouth. Free E-newsletter Introduction.

Nausea typically begins early after starting an antidepressant. Increased appetite, weight gain. You may gain weight because of fluid retention or lack. Fatigue and drowsiness are. Possible reasons include: side effects that are difficult to manage.

It’s a whole new world: I wake up feeling bright and rested and take pleasure in everyday tasks — I’m functioning again. The reasons for wanting to quit an antidepressant are varied. In Clarke’s case, it was simply confronting the fact that he didn’t want to rely on a pill for the rest of his life. Others move on because of common side effects , including feeling “like a zombie,” their libido disappearing or mood swings.

In addition to discontinuation syndrome, antidepressants are responsible for a variety of other side effects , including: Sleep changes such as nightmares or trouble sleeping. Restless legs or problems with tremors. Mood swings, including irritability and anxiety. Suicidal thoughts and feelings. Signs of an antidepressant addiction include continuing to use despite negative consequences, using in dangerous situations, taking larger amounts than intended and cravings.

However, all psychiatric drugs change your brain and body chemistry, and if you have been taking them for a while, your body will have adjusted to them. For some people, discontinuation symptoms can feel as if their depression or anxiety is coming back, and indee stopping your antidepressant may increase your risk of relapse.