Your doctor can create a schedule for you to gradually taper off of your medication in order to help minimize or avoid developing discontinuation syndrome. Some types of antidepressants seem to be more likely to cause discontinuation syndrome than others, but you can develop it from any type.

Although discontinuing an antidepressant does involve a type of withdrawal , this doesn't mean that you're addicted to the antidepressant. When you're addicted to a substance like drugs or alcohol, it causes changes in your brain that lead to cravings, the need for an increased amount of the substance, and a strong desire to use the substance even though it often causes negative outcomes.

Antidepressants don't cause these long-term brain changes nor do they lead to cravings or addiction. Symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome tend to be mild. They usually start within two to four days, and last just a week or two. Symptoms include:. For some people, discontinuation symptoms can make it feel as though their depression or anxiety is coming back, and indeed, stopping your antidepressant may increase your risk of relapse.

The biggest difference between the two is that discontinuation symptoms typically begin within a few days after stopping your antidepressant whereas a relapse normally takes longer to occur and the symptoms develop more gradually. Another difference is that discontinuation syndrome often involves physical symptoms that aren't associated with depression or anxiety, such as dizziness, nausea , or flu-like symptoms. With discontinuation syndrome, the symptoms eventually go away, usually within one to three weeks.

But if you're having a relapse of your depression or anxiety, the symptoms don't go away and may even get worse. Additionally, if you start an antidepressant again, discontinuation symptoms will resolve quickly, but depression or anxiety will take longer to respond. Here are some tips to help you avoid discontinuation syndrome and get relief if it does happen to you. Certain antidepressants, such as Effexor venlafaxine , leave your system quickly and therefore are more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms.

This can happen even when you're simply a little late taking your regular dose. If you happen to forget your antidepressant, it's OK to go ahead and take it as soon as you realize you missed it. The exception is if it's close to your next scheduled dose; in that case, wait until then and get back on track.

Let's say you're taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI but it isn't working very well for you, or it's causing side effects that you can't live with. Rather than stopping it cold turkey and potentially causing discontinuation syndrome, talk to your doctor about switching to another medication, especially if you haven't been on it for long.

Prozac fluoxetine , for example, has a very long half-life , meaning that after you stop taking it, it leaves your body more slowly than most other SSRIs. For this reason, you're unlikely to have extreme withdrawal symptoms with Prozac.

In fact, you should be able to easily go straight from Prozac fluoxetine to any other antidepressant except for one in the class of monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs. These medications have more safety concerns and potentially have more side effects than the newer drugs, so it's unlikely your doctor would put you on one unless trials of other antidepressants have not been adequately effective. If you and your doctor have decided it's time for you to stop taking your antidepressant, it's possible to avoid discontinuation syndrome altogether.

Even if you're tempted to, the key is to not quit all of a sudden, but instead to taper off your medication. Tapering means gradually decreasing your dose over an extended period of time. How you'll do this will depend on how long you've been taking the drug, how high your dose is if you're on a low dose you'll be able to taper off more quickly , and any other factors your doctor may consider.

Sometimes, even if you are slow and deliberate when weaning yourself off an antidepressant, you still may experience symptoms of discontinuation syndrome. One possible way to get relief is to take a dose of Prozac fluoxetine along with medications like Zoloft sertraline and Lexapro escitalopram that you are trying to taper.

Your symptoms will likely go away within a few hours. And because of Prozac's long half-life, it will help smooth out the taper. Antidepressants with a longer half-life, such as Prozac, are less likely to cause problems on discontinuation. The term half-life refers to how quickly the amount of a drug in the body reduces by half. Prozac has an approximate half-life of 5 days , which is much longer than that of many other antidepressants.

A study notes that severe withdrawal symptoms are less common with fluoxetine than with other antidepressants. However, withdrawal from Prozac typically lasts longer than it does for drugs with a shorter half-life.

Withdrawal symptoms typically occur a few days after a person tapers their dosage. Common symptoms associated with reducing the dosage of Prozac include :.

Typically, antidepressant discontinuation symptoms persist for up to 3 weeks. However, in some cases, symptoms may last for up to 6 weeks , and they can occasionally continue for up to 1 year. As fluoxetine has a longer half-life than other antidepressants, it may take longer for a person to develop withdrawal symptoms.

The symptoms may also last longer, although they do not tend to be severe. When a person decides that they are ready to discontinue Prozac, a doctor will likely recommend gradually reducing, or tapering, their dosage. Tapering usually lasts 4 weeks , but a doctor may suggest tapering the medication over 6—8 weeks to reduce the risk or severity of symptoms. Due to the long half-life of Prozac, some people may not need to taper off and can simply stop taking it. However, a person should only do this under the guidance of a doctor.

According to Mind , the following self-care tips may also help a person coming off antidepressant medication:. A doctor may suggest therapy or counseling if the underlying condition remains after stopping the medication. This treatment approach may help a person understand, manage, and overcome the underlying cause of their mental health condition.

Learn more about how to stop antidepressants safely. Antidepressants, such as Prozac, typically carry a black box warning , as they may worsen symptoms of depression or suicidal ideation and cause unusual changes in behavior in adults less than 24 years of age.

People taking Prozac and their loved ones or caregivers should watch for certain signs and symptoms. These may include :. Prozac may also interact with other medications or supplements and increase the risk of side effects. It is advisable to talk with a doctor before taking Prozac if currently taking :. Discontinuing an antidepressant can increase the risk of relapse, or the return of symptoms, for anxiety and depression.

The long duration of Prozac withdrawal symptoms may also increase the likelihood of the person mistaking them for returning symptoms. Some research indicates that all antidepressants can cause withdrawal symptoms if a person takes them for longer than 6 weeks — particularly if they stop or rapidly reduce their dosage. Those who have been taking fluoxetine long term should work with a doctor to find treatments and strategies to minimize potential withdrawal effects.

It is also important to monitor for a return of depressive symptoms. Stopping fluoxetine can cause several withdrawal symptoms, including flu-like symptoms, digestive issues, sleep problems, and mood changes. Serotonin is a chemical that transmits messages between nerve cells. Known as the happy chemical, it may help prevent depression.

Read on to find out…. Find out about the different types of antidepressants, how they work, any adverse effects, when you can take them, and the alternatives available. What are the potential symptoms of Zoloft withdrawal? Read on to learn more about the symptoms, their duration, and when to see a doctor. Serotonin syndrome occurs when a person takes one or more drugs that cause a buildup of serotonin in the body. Find out the causes, symptoms, and…. Learn more about 6 natural antidepressants and how effective they are.

We also discuss other treatments, how to prevent depression, and when to see a…. Fluoxetine Fluoxetine withdrawal Symptoms Duration Treatments Pregnancy When to seek help Long-term treatment Summary Stopping antidepressants, including fluoxetine, can give rise to withdrawal symptoms.

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