SSRI Withdrawal

Is It Dangerous? Know These Danger Signs...

Different than SSRI side effects, SSRI withdrawal (sometimes called discontinuation syndrome) can occur in folks who abruptly stop taking their medication.

It can include any of the following symptoms: nausea or upset stomach, headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness.

It can also result in fatigue or feeling lethargic, flu-like symptoms, aggression, irritability, anxiety, confusion, and psychosis.

What Are SSRI's?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are prescription medications used to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks, post traumatic stress, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Popular Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors include Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft.

How To Avoid Withdrawal

Since withdrawal typically occurs in those who quit cold turkey or miss a few doses, maintain your dosage schedule as exactly prescribed by your doctor. Follow the prescription closely in order to avoid problems.

If you wish to discontinue your medication, work with your prescribing doctor to gradually reduce the dose in order to avoid withdrawal. Remember to In most folks the withdrawal symptoms improve with time, but if severe enough may require you to seek emergency medical treatment.

If you experience the above symptoms, notify your doctor immediately. In addition, compared to other SSRI's, studies show that the SSRI Prozac is generally the least likely to cause withdrawal because it stays in the system for a long time.

SSRI Warnings

Some studies indicate that SSRI's may be linked to birth defects and an increased risk of suicide in children and young adults.

For more information about this topic, see these articles:

Paxil Warning About Suicide
Paxil Birth Defects
SSRI's And Pregnancy

Safety Tips

Be an informed consumer by discussing these issues with your doctor prior to taking any SSRI medication.

If you experience any debilitating effects while taking an SSRI, seek emergency medical attention.

After you are released from the hospital, inform your prescribing doctor of the situation. They will likely want to schedule a follow-up appointment.

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