Let’s say you’ve decided to skip a couple of days of taking your antidepressants, or maybe you have decided to completely stop taking antidepressants altogether. So, what, what’s the big deal? Actually, it is serious. It may seem like you no longer need the medication, but abruptly stopping antidepressant treatments can produce antidepressant withdrawal, side effects, and even relapse.
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The Importance of Antidepressants
Depression can at times feel unbearable, that’s why patients are given antidepressant medication. It can be an important part of depression therapy and can be a life-changing treatment. Antidepressants can help relieve the symptoms of depression by correcting the imbalance of the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that affect your mood and emotions. They are also used to help treat anxiety disorders.
If your medicine comes with bothersome side effects, that doesn’t mean you should abruptly stop because it can cause antidepressant withdrawal, also known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, which could set you up for a relapse of depression. Reach out to your medical provider to discuss any side effects to see if medication changes can be made to make your treatment more effective and tolerable to help you get the best outcomes.
What Happens if You Stop Taking Antidepressants?
If you suddenly stop taking antidepressants, it may cause withdrawal symptoms that include:
Getting Sick: Many people who have experienced antidepressant withdrawal feel like they have the flu or a stomach bug. People have also reported experiencing disturbing thoughts or images after abruptly stopping their medication.
Increased Risk of Suicidal Thoughts: If you are not properly treated, your depression may relapse and cause an increased risk of suicidal thoughts.
Set Back Your Treatment: Stopping antidepressants will set back your treatment plan and increase the time it takes to feel better. It can also cause your symptoms to worsen.
Other Symptoms Get Worse: Abruptly stopping antidepressants might worsen other symptoms that are associated with depression such as headaches, pain, and insomnia. Untreated depression can make it harder for you to manage other health conditions such as: anxiety, fatigue, nightmares, nausea, and mood swings.
Talk to Your Doctor
If you are considering stopping your antidepressants, then talk to your doctor. Always talk to your doctor about whether it is a good idea to end your medication. Under the doctor’s supervision and with their approval, patients can develop a plan for tapering the medication into smaller doses.
Modern Psych Medication-Assisted Treatment
You should never abruptly stop taking your antidepressants no matter what the reason is. Talk to your healthcare provider, so that they can take the best course of action. At Modern Psych, we provide medication-assisted treatment programs that are combined with counseling and therapy. Medication-assisted treatment aims to focus on normalizing brain chemistry and normalizing body functions. If you want to learn more, contact us today!
