How to Wean Off Antidepressants

You and your healthcare provider have decided it’s time to wean off your antidepressant, and now you’re wondering: What is the best way to stop? Does taking it slow make more sense than going cold turkey? What symptoms might you feel?

We’ll go over what you can expect when stopping your antidepressant medication. We’ll also give you some tips on how to work together with your healthcare provider to taper off your medication in a safe and comfortable way.

Should you stop taking your antidepressant?

If you’ve been taking an antidepressant for a while, you may be considering if it’s time to stop. Though the decision to stop taking antidepressants is a personal one, there are some situations where your healthcare provider might recommend that you stop your medication. 

Common reasons why people choose or need to stop antidepressants include:

• The medication isn’t working well for them.

• They’re having a lot of side effects.

• They are pregnant.

• They have a medical emergency or suddenly need surgery.

• They are switching to another antidepressant.

• Their symptoms have gone away, and are not likely to come back.

• They’ve already taken the medication for the recommended length of time.

But the truth is that stopping an antidepressant can be difficult. You can’t just stop it from one day to the next. That’s why it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before making any changes. Your provider can help you decide whether it’s the right time to stop your medication — and how to do it safely. 

Can you stop an antidepressant suddenly?

It’s not a great idea. Most experts recommend tapering off your antidepressant slowly, rather than stopping all at once. 

Here’s why you should not stop an antidepressant suddenly:

• Stopping your antidepressant abruptly can make it more likely that you’ll have withdrawal symptoms, like dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. 

• Stopping suddenly may also make it more likely that your original symptoms will come back. 

What is antidepressant tapering?

Antidepressant “tapering” means slowly decreasing your medication over time — rather than stopping all at once. For example, you might take a half dose for several days or weeks, then cut your dose in half again. The idea is to keep slowly cutting down on your dose until you can stop the medication completely. This gives your body time to adjust and makes it less likely that you’ll experience withdrawal or rebound symptoms. 

How long does it take to taper off antidepressants?

It depends. Some antidepressants take longer to taper off than others. It also matters how long you’ve been taking it. 

In some cases, you may be able to taper off over 1 to 2 weeks. In other cases, your healthcare provider might suggest taking a month or longer to taper off the medication. It all depends on your personal medical history, whether you have any withdrawal effects, and which antidepressant you’re taking. 

How to taper off antidepressants

First, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you figure out the best tapering schedule for you. 

Experts have different opinions on the ideal tapering schedule, but the basic approach is to taper down slowly over at least 4 weeks. Many guidelines suggest cutting your dose down by 25% to 50% — then giving yourself several weeks to see how you feel. 

If you’re doing OK on the new dose, you can repeat this process again. Continue this cycle of cutting down, then giving yourself a couple weeks to adjust. When you’re down to the minimum dose of the medication or lower, your provider may recommend you stop it completely. 

If going down by 25% to 50% on your dose is uncomfortable for you, your healthcare provider might recommend an even slower taper. This may mean going down on your dose by a very small amount, like 5% to 10%. Your provider might also suggest other strategies to help you taper off, like adding another medication or switching to a different antidepressant.  

What is antidepressant discontinuation syndrome?

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome is another name for antidepressant withdrawal. Discontinuation syndrome can appear when you cut down on your antidepressant dose or stop taking it completely. It affects about half of all people who reduce or stop their antidepressant medication. 

You may be more likely to have discontinuation syndrome if you:

• Take a high dose of antidepressant medication

• Have taken an antidepressant for a long time (months or years)

• Have had withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants in the past

Though discontinuation syndrome is not usually dangerous, it can have a major effect on your life. Common symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, and nausea (more on these below).
Fortunately, for most people, symptoms are mild and go away in 1 to 2 weeks. But in some cases, the symptoms can be severe and last for months or even years.

What are the common symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal?

Reducing or stopping your antidepressant medication can cause many different symptoms. 

The most common symptoms are:

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Nausea

Symptoms can also include:

• Flu-like symptoms

• Stomach pain

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Sleep problems

• Blurred vision

• Sensations like an electric shock

• Movement changes

• Anxiety

• Irritability

• Mood swings

• Low mood

• Delusions and hallucinations

What causes discontinuation syndrome? 

Experts don’t know for sure what causes discontinuation syndrome. It’s possible that when you stop taking an antidepressant, your body has to readjust its levels of certain neurotransmitters (messenger chemicals) like serotonin and acetylcholine. 

Are some antidepressants more likely to cause withdrawal when you stop them?

It’s possible. Some antidepressants seem more likely than others to cause withdrawal symptoms. But more research is needed before we can say for sure. According to a 2022 literature review, here’s how common antidepressants might compare. 

Highest risk for withdrawal symptoms

These antidepressants may have the highest risk for withdrawal symptoms: 

• Phenelzine (Nardil)

• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Higher risk 

These antidepressants may have a higher risk for withdrawal symptoms: 

• Paroxetine (Paxil) 

• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

• Amitriptyline

• Imipramine

Moderate risk

These antidepressants may have a moderate risk for withdrawal symptoms: 

• Citalopram (Celexa)

• Escitalopram (Lexapro)

• Sertraline (Zoloft)

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

• Vortioxetine (Trintellex)

• Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

Lower risk 

These antidepressants may have a lower risk for withdrawal symptoms: 

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)

• Doxepin

• Trimipramine

There’s not enough evidence to say yet whether mirtazapine (Remeron) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) are likely to cause discontinuation syndrome. 

What can you do if you’re having antidepressant withdrawal symptoms?

Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms — especially if your symptoms are severe or interfering with your daily life. They may have some suggestions that can help you feel better, including:

• Temporarily restarting your antidepressant: This is the quickest way to get relief from withdrawal symptoms. Once your withdrawal symptoms get better, your provider may recommend you restart your taper — only much more slowly. 

• Adding another medication for withdrawal symptoms: Your provider may also suggest adding a temporary medication to help with specific symptoms, like movement problems or sleep disturbances. 

• Switching to another antidepressant: In some cases, it can be helpful to temporarily switch to another antidepressant that’s easier to discontinue (like Prozac). Your provider may suggest first switching to the new medication, then beginning a taper again. 

And remember: For most people, symptoms are usually worse in the first couple days, and then they go away completely within a couple of weeks. 

Will you have withdrawals if you don’t take antidepressants for 1 day?

Probably not. For most people, withdrawal symptoms usually take a couple of days to appear. If you do miss a dose, try to take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s already close to your next scheduled dose, don’t double up. Just skip the missed dose, then return to your usual schedule. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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