Common "Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome occurs after the sharp discontinuation of antidepressant medicine that continued for at least six weeks. Specific symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome are flu-like signs, insomnia, sickness, imbalance, sensory disruptions, and hyperarousal. Such symptoms generally are gentle, and last not more than two weeks.

Recently Answered Questions Recently Answered Questions

All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.

I want to quit certain psychiatric medicines. Kindly help.

Query: Hello doctor. I have been using certain medicines for the past 20 years. However, I want to quit some of them to heal my body from chemical abuse. I use tablet Valproate EG 500, tablet Wellbutrin XR 150 mg, tablet Escitalopram 15 mg, tablet Emconcor 2.5 mg, tablet Xanax Retard 0.5 mg, tablet Pantopr...  Read Full »


Dr. Parth Nagda

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. It is advised to taper the dosage only when you feel completely fine. Also, the medicines that were started last should be tapered off first and over four to six weeks for each reduced dosage. Initially, I suggest you continue with the tabl...  Read Full »

I stopped my antidepressants suddenly. Can I start retaking them?

Query: Hi doctor, I have been taking Trintellix, Lithium, and Trazodone for about a year for major depression, but have abruptly stopped taking them almost a month ago because I keep forgetting to get the new prescription filled and have been very busy. For the last six months or so that I was taking the ...  Read Full »


Dr. Vandana Patidar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Psychiatric medicines need monitoring by a specialist. They are adjusted as per the patient's condition and guidelines. I would recommend you not to stop them suddenly. You may end up having a relapse. Drugs are always tapered and stopped, not suddenly. My advice wou...  Read Full »

How can I overcome the withdrawal symptoms of the tablet Alprazolam and reduce its dose to 0.25 mg?

Query: Hello doctor, I was prescribed the tablet Alprazolam 0.5. I took it for three months. I had difficulty quitting the medicine as I had worse withdrawal symptoms. Nevertheless, I have managed to reduce the dose to 0.25 mg, and I am fine with it. I am trying to reduce the dose again to 0.125 mg, but wi...  Read Full »


Dr. Vandana Patidar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Alprazolam is a short-acting Benzodiazepine that produces many withdrawal symptoms. Weaning off from it may be difficult for you. So I suggest you request your doctor to replace it with a long-acting Benzodiazepine, like Clonazepam or Chlordiazepoxide.  Read Full »

Do antidepressants affect personal well being? Please help.

Query: Hi doctor, I am 30 years old and I have never fallen in love, even though I have been with girls I liked very much. I think it is because I took Venlafaxine (Effexor) a few years ago. I stopped using it eight years ago. However, I feel like my emotions are very much like when I was taking them. I fe...  Read Full »


Dr. Siva Anoop Yella

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I went through your query and understood your concern. May I know if you are still using Venlafaxine (antidepressant) or not? If you stopped eight years ago, it is unlikely that the emotional blunting is due to it. It might be due to anxiety and depression. So kindly t...  Read Full »

I missed taking Panex CR and Felicita yesterday. Please help.

Query: Hello doctor, I have been taking two medicines namely Panex CR 25 and Felicita OD since five years. From September 1st I started taking Panex CR 25 . I missed my dose of medicine for three days that is on 10th,11th and 12th. Again on 21st,22nd and 23rd, I could not take medicines. On the 26th I have...  Read Full »


Dr. Vandana Patidar

Answer: Hello Welcome to icliniq.com. Panex CR (Paroxetine) is a type of short acting SSRI (selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors). If you skip two to three doses it would cause SSRI discontinuation syndrome. You would feel the discomfort you are feeling right now. So my advise would be do not skip medi...  Read Full »

I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms after I stopped taking antidepressants. Please help me.

Query: Hello doctor, I think I am going through withdrawal symptoms because of antidepressants. My doctor says I should not undergo these symptoms but I really think I am going through them. I was taking Effexor but then I stopped taking it and I feel awful. I was trying to switch from Effexor to Wellbutri...  Read Full »


Dr. Parth Nagda

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Venlafaxine is known to cause withdrawal symptoms and it cannot be just stopped like that in the first place. There are different ways to try to stop it. I would suggest: Switch from Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (Venlafaxine) to a TCA (tricyclic a...  Read Full »

How to taper drug doses to reduce withdrawal symptoms and control anxiety and depression?

Query: Hello doctor, My 28 year old son is being treated for bipolar disorder and depression. He has been on and off antidepressants since he was 16 years old due to high anxiety issues. He just started with 50 mg Serquiler one to two tablets at night, 600 mg Gabapentin thrice a day, 20 mg Paxil once a day...  Read Full »


Dr. Ramchandra Lamba

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Seroquel (Quetiapine) and Oxcarbazine (Oxcarbazepine) are indicated in bipolar disorder as both have mood stabilizing properties. Paxil (Paroxetine) and Gabapentine (Gabapentin) are used in anxiety or depression. As you mentioned that Paxil was used in the highest dose...  Read Full »

Can skipping Lexapro tablets cause suicidal thoughts?

Query: Hello doctor, I have taken antidepressants, in particular, Lexapro 20/10 mg for about five years for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Unfortunately, I had stopped taking the anti-depressants cold turkey for about a month and a half due to negligence on my part. During the month and a half, I only exper...  Read Full »


Dr. Aditya Gupta

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is unlikely for Lexapro (Escitalopram) to cause this symptom, especially when you have been taking it for the last five years. Though there are a few reports of emergent suicidal thoughts as a part of SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) discontinuation sy...  Read Full »

How to manage antidepressant discontinuation syndrome?

Query: Hi doctor, I am a 21 year old female with a history of the major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, including an extensive family history of both as well. Currently, on 300 mg of Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and 150 mg of Venlafaxine (Effexor), each once daily, taken in the mornings. I ...  Read Full »


Dr. Aditya Gupta

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Antidepressant discontinuation is unlikely here as there had been no change in drug dosage recently unless you had missed a dose. These brain zaps could be due to stress or the medication itself and usually stops on their own after some time. In my opinion practizing ...  Read Full »

Does tablet Effexor cause a delay in orgasm?

Query: Hi doctor, I am currently taking Allegron TCA 75 mg. Previously I was on Effexor, which was good except for delayed orgasm. So my doctor decided to taper and switched me to Allegron. I am currently experiencing anger and overwhelming or sad crying at times. I am not sure if this is from tapering Eff...  Read Full »


Dr. Vishal Anilkumar Gandhi

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for taking help from a psychiatrist. I can understand your situation. You need to gradually taper your tablet Allegron 75 mg (Nortriptyline), and you can take a tablet Wellbutrin (Bupropion hydrochloride) 75 mg. It is one of the best medications that have min...  Read Full »

ask-doctor-img Ask a Doctor Online

* Your first query consult is free!

Search for a Health Issue



Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.