15% Experience Antidepressant Discontinuation Symptoms

About 15% of people diagnosed with depression who are taking an antidepressant experience symptoms of discontinuation syndrome, which most frequently include dizziness, headache, nausea, insomnia, and irritability. Discontinuation symptoms typically occur within a few days after ceasing the antidepressant; the symptoms can last for a few days or up to several weeks or months.

Sertraline and fluoxetine had relatively low incidences of discontinuation symptoms. Desvenlafaxine, venlafaxine, imipramine, and escitalopram were associated with higher frequencies of discontinuation symptoms. Greater symptom severity was associated with imipramine, paroxetine, and either desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine.

These findings were reported in “Incidence Of Antidepressant Discontinuation Symptoms . . .