How do you know when it's time to get off antidepressants?

Take your time.
Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants. If you've had three or more recurrences of depression, make that at least two years.

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How do you know when you're ready to come off antidepressants?

You are feeling better, and you and the doctor agree that it is time to stop. You have been taking the medicine for at least 6 months after you feel better. You are having counselling to help you cope with problems and help change how you think and feel. You are not worried about the depression coming back.

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How slowly should you come off antidepressants?

Discontinuing an antidepressant medication usually involves reducing your dose in increments, allowing two to six weeks or longer between dose reductions. Your clinician can instruct you in tapering your dose and prescribe the appropriate dosage pills.

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How long should you stay on antidepressants?

It's usually recommended that a course of antidepressants continues for at least 6 months after you feel better, to prevent your condition recurring when you stop.

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Do you go back to normal after stopping antidepressants?

Can antidepressants cause permanent changes to the brain? Antidepressants can cause changes in neurotransmitter levels and brain function; however, these changes are typically reversible once the medication is stopped.

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How Long Should You Use Antidepressants?

16 related questions found

What is the hardest antidepressant to come off of?

People taking Paxil and Effexor often have more intense withdrawal symptoms. These drugs have short half-lives and leave the body faster than drugs with long half-lives. The faster an antidepressant leaves the body, the worse the withdrawal symptoms. This is because of the sudden imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

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How long does it take for your brain to return to normal after antidepressants?

In studies on adults with moderate or severe depression, 40–60% report improvements within 6–8 weeks. Those who wish to come off antidepressants because they feel better should ideally wait for at least 6–9 months after complete symptom remission before stopping their medication.

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Do most people stay on antidepressants for life?

Many people with depression continue taking antidepressant drugs for months or even years after their symptoms have resolved. This so-called maintenance therapy aims to reduce the risk of relapse. The numbers of people taking maintenance therapy for depression is increasing.

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What happens if you take antidepressants for a long time?

Specifically, weight gain seems to be a common long-term risk, especially the medications that affect serotonin levels. This could be because serotonin is associated with an increase in appetite. There is also a risk of higher blood sugar levels and diabetes with taking antidepressants long-term.

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What is the number 1 prescribed antidepressant?

What are the most common antidepressant medications? Sertraline, also known by the brand name Zoloft, used for multiple mental health and mood disorders, is the most prescribed antidepressant dispensed to U.S.

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When does antidepressant withdrawal peak?

Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome (ADS) Timeline

The symptoms typically last 1-3 weeks and will typically peak within the first week.

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Why do people stop taking antidepressants?

Meanwhile, patients who benefit from antidepressants may not need to stay on them long term. Some may want to quit because of side effects such as loss of sexual desire or decreased arousal. In other cases, their prescribers may recommend they stop taking the medications.

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What feels like antidepressant withdrawal?

Antidepressant Withdrawal Timeline

Acute withdrawal: The acute withdrawal phase can last six to eight weeks. 8 During this phase, you may begin to experience flu-like symptoms, have greater fatigue, and notice increased feelings of anxiety and depression.

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How do you know if your antidepressant is too strong?

The most common signs your antidepressant dose is too strong are symptoms of serotonin syndrome. If you become overly elated, tense with your loved ones, or irritated and have mood swings, this indicates that you are taking high antidepressant doses.

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What can replace antidepressants?

What are the alternatives to antidepressants?
  • Talking therapies.
  • Mindfulness.
  • Arts and creative therapies.
  • Ecotherapy.
  • Complementary and alternative therapies.
  • Peer support.
  • Look after your physical health.

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What is the safest antidepressant?

Which SSRI antidepressants have the least side effects?
  1. Celexa. Overall, Celexa seems to be one of the best-tolerated SSRIs for many people. ...
  2. Lexapro. Lexapro is closely related to Celexa. ...
  3. Prozac. Prozac causes less weight gain than other SSRIs. ...
  4. Zoloft.

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Why are so many people on antidepressants?

Perhaps the fundamental reason why antidepressants are so widely prescribed and used is that they fit with the 'medical model' of mental illness, which has become the standard view in western culture. This model sees depression as a medical condition which can be “fixed” in the same way as a physical injury or illness.

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What the doctors don t tell you about antidepressants?

“Even though they say your meds are 'non-habit forming,' you can still have serious, debilitating withdrawals when you try to get off of them, and there's no telling how long they will last.” — Matthew A. 3. “I didn't know antidepressants could affect your libido.

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Are antidepressants a permanent thing?

So do antidepressants work as a permanent cure for depression? No, they do not, and the reason for this lies in how they work. While they cause changes in brain chemistry, this effect is only temporary. When you stop taking the antidepressant, your brain chemistry will return to its previous state.

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What happens when you take antidepressants and don t need them?

In the case of SSRIs, SNRIs, and related medications, the effects of taking antidepressants when not depressed can include developing a condition known as serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of this condition include the following: Confusion. Agitation.

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How can I increase serotonin naturally?

Ways to increase serotonin levels include:
  1. Eating more tryptophan-containing foods.
  2. Getting more sunlight.
  3. Taking certain supplements.
  4. Getting more exercise and lowering your stress level.

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Do antidepressants stop racing thoughts?

Medication treatment options for racing thoughts may include: Antidepressants: Many people who take medication for depression report experiencing an increase in motivation, excitement, confidence, and ability to concentrate.

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What is the most serious antidepressant?

— Bupropion and venlafaxine were ranked #1 and #2 respectively in highest mortality rates among the second-generation ADs; bupropion had the highest morbidity rate. — Among the SSRIs, citalopram was the most dangerous, and in one comparison, it was four times more likely to be fatal than sertraline and escitalopram.

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What are the most aggressive antidepressants?

Prozac (fluoxetine) was most commonly linked to aggression, increasing violent behavior 10.9 times. Paxil (paroxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Effexor (venlafaxine) and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) were 10.3, 8.4, 8.3 and 7.9 times, respectively, more likely to be linked with violence.

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What is the strongest antidepressant in the world?

The most effective antidepressant compared to placebo was the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline, which increased the chances of treatment response more than two-fold (odds ratio [OR] 2.13, 95% credible interval [CrI] 1.89 to 2.41).

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