Can I stop antidepressants if I feel better?
If you feel better, the antidepressants can’t be stopped immediately. This is because it has taken time for your body’s neurotransmitter to reach a stable level, and discontinuing the medication too soon may risk a relapse.
In most cases, treatment should continue for a minimum of six months after improvement (12 months for elderly individuals). Regular reviews, booked in by your GP or mental health nurse, will take place during this time, to ensure:
- there is no change in treatment,
- confirming whether you are genuinely better and not just responding to the medication.
Healthcare professionals would recommend avoiding the cycle of stopping medication too soon. As this can trigger a return of your symptoms and result in having to restart the stabilisation process again.
Can I stop antidepressants on my own?
It’s not advisable to discontinue antidepressants without consulting your prescriber. Stopping abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms and a potential relapse of depression.
They will instead come up with a tapering plan for you to stop the medication gradually after the initial discussion to stop, if suitable.
Are antidepressants addictive?
Antidepressants aren’t addictive. They don’t trigger a euphoric 'high' effect, which is characteristic of addictive substances.
Some individuals may confuse the need to restart antidepressants with medication cravings, as restarting can help alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
What withdrawal symptoms should I expect?
There’s no way to predict if you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms. Some people may have mild symptoms that improve on their own, while others may face more severe symptoms that can last for months.
Continuous communication with your GP or mental health nurse is crucial throughout this process.
When discontinuing antidepressants, a gradual reduction of the medication (referred to as tapering) can help minimise withdrawal symptoms. The tapering process may take several weeks or months, depending on how long you’ve been taking the medication.
Tapering methods can include:
- Reducing the dosage by a specific amount on a set schedule (e.g. 5 mg every week).
- Alternating days of medication, gradually increasing the number of days without it.
- Switching to a different medication or formulation (e.g. liquid formulations allow for smaller, more precise dose reductions, such as 1 mg increments).
These approaches aim to prevent withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping the medication.
Common withdrawal symptoms may include:
- anxiety or restlessness,
- derealisation (feeling that things are not real),
- irritability,
- generally unwell,
- feeling of electric shock in your head,
- stomach problems,
- sleep disturbances such as trouble sleeping or sleepiness,
- sweating.5
It’s important to note that tapering plans will not be the same for everyone.
If you find that your tapering plan isn’t effective or if you experience significant withdrawal symptoms, it’s essential to inform your prescriber. They can help reassess your situation and discuss the next steps to better manage the process.
Further resources
Explore more topics around mental health in our mental wellbeing hub.
References
- Side effects – Antidepressants – NHS
- Do SSRIs or antidepressants in general increase suicidality? – National Library of Medicine
- Taking antidepressants with alcohol, food or other medicines – NHS
- Beating the Heat on Antidepressants – Psychreg
- Stopping antidepressants – Royal College of Psychiatrists