How to Wean Off Antidepressants

You and your primary care provider have decided it’s time to wean off your antidepressant. Now you’re wondering: What’s the best way to stop? Does taking it slow make more sense than going cold turkey? And what symptoms might you feel?

Here, 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 a healthcare professional 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. The decision to stop taking antidepressants is a personal one. But there are some situations where your prescriber might recommend that you stop your medication. 

Common reasons why you may choose or need to stop antidepressants include:

• The medication isn’t working well for you.

• You’re having a lot of side effects.

• You’re pregnant.

• You have a medical emergency or suddenly need surgery.

• You’re switching to another antidepressant.

• Your symptoms have gone away and aren’t likely to come back.

• You’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 1 day to the next. That’s why it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional before making any changes. Your prescriber 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 shouldn’t 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. 

How to wean off antidepressants

Experts have different opinions on the ideal tapering schedule, but the basic approach is to taper down slowly over at least 4 weeks. Here’s how to do it: 

1. First, talk to a healthcare professional, like your primary care provider or psychiatrist. They can help you figure out the best tapering schedule for you. Many guidelines suggest initially cutting your dose down by 25% to 50% — then giving yourself several weeks to see how you feel. 

2. After a few weeks, check in with your prescriber. If you’re doing OK on the new dose, they may suggest you repeat this process again. 

3. Continue this cycle of cutting down, checking in with your prescriber, and then giving yourself a couple weeks to adjust. 

4. When you’re down to the minimum dose of the medication or lower, your prescriber may recommend you stop it completely. 

What if I’m having a hard time tapering off my medication?

If you’re having a hard time tapering off of your medication, talk to your prescriber. They may have suggestions that can make the experience easier for you. 

For example, if going down by 25% to 50% on your dose is uncomfortable for you, your primary care provider or psychiatrist might recommend an even slower taper. This may mean going down on your dose by a very small amount, like 5% to 10%. 

Your prescriber 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 isn’t 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. 

In some cases, the symptoms can be severe and last for months or even years. But for people who have ongoing symptoms, it can be hard to know whether it’s discontinuation syndrome or if it could actually be a mood relapse. 

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. 

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

Talk to a healthcare professional 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 prescriber may recommend you restart your taper — only much more slowly. 

• Adding another medication for withdrawal symptoms: Your prescriber 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 prescriber 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. 

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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. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

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