ANTIDEPRESSANT WITHDRAWAL: THE FACTS

Vanessa Gilmartin Garrity is a mental health nurse consultant and clinical advisor to Rethink Mental Illness, a charity provider of over 200 mental health services in England

What might someone experience when withdrawing from antidepressants?

The decision to stop using antidepressants should always be made under the guidance of your doctor, who can help lower the dose at a rate that feels comfortable and reduces the likelihood and severity of side effects. Everyone experiences these differently and medications vary, but common withdrawal symptoms include sweating, diarrhoea, dizziness, sleep issues, tiredness, poor concentration and irritability.

What causes these side effects?

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, antidepressants increase levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline between nerve cells in the brain. It’s thought that the reason you experience side effects is because your body has adjusted to this and needs time to recalibrate once you stop taking the medication. Some people experience only mild side effects, which disappear very quickly. But for others, withdrawal symptoms can be more severe, more distressing and last for much longer.

What can you do to feel as well as possible throughout the process?

It’s a good idea to maintain regular contact with your doctor during this time, as they will be able to guide you through the withdrawal and check on how you’re doing. Talking therapy can also be effective, as it was in Ida’s case. You can ask your GP about this, or find your local NHS service by searching for ‘NHS talk’. Keeping a diary during this time can be useful, to reflect on how you’re feeling and track your progress or any side effects you experience. Don’t forget to take some time each day to do something you find relaxing or supportive to your wellbeing. Even after you come off antidepressants, you may decide you need to take them again if your mental health deteriorates. Whatever happens, taking antidepressants should never be viewed as a failure, as they can be a really effective medicine for treating symptoms of depression, especially when part of a wider support package.

For more information on antidepressants or managing your medication, visit rethink.org