Withdrawal symptoms, also known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, occur in approximately 20 percent of patients who stop taking their medication abruptly according to a study published in the “American Academy of Family Physicians." All types of antidepressant medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic and atypical, have had patients report withdrawal symptoms. Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms usually occur within hours to days after the last dose of medication and resolve within a week or two. Patients can avoid these symptoms if doctors provide education on them.
Depression
The most prominent symptoms of withdrawal are the same as the symptoms of depression, including feelings of discontent, appetite changes, sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating and fatigue. This makes it difficult to determine if the patient is experiencing symptoms of withdrawal or a relapse of his depression. As a result, patients are often quick to begin the medication again, fearing a relapse. Without proper education on antidepressant withdrawal and its symptoms, it is likely to turn into a never-ending cycle because the depression is likely to occur each time the patient stops taking the medication.
Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal is a condition that occurs when the nervous system becomes over-stimulated by sensory demands, social interactions or internal processing of thinking, language and functioning. When the nervous system is overwhelmed, the body stops being able to respond and react appropriately and instead turns to the automatic fight-or-flight responses. This leads to anxiety, aggression, agitation and irritability.
Flu-Like Symptoms
Withdrawal from antidepressants can cause flu-like symptoms. These symptoms include headache, fatigue, general ill feeling, lethargy and muscle aches. These flu-like symptoms may also include gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Sensory Disturbances
Because antidepressants work by affecting a variety of chemicals in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, stopping them abruptly can cause a variety of sensory disturbances. These disturbances may include blurred vision and numbness. Paresthesia, the sensation of tingling, burning or itchy skin, is also a common symptom.
In addition, some [patients experience electric shock sensations, which are similar to what is felt during an epileptic seizure except there is no loss of consciousness. During these episodes, the sensation, like electrical zaps, starts behind the eyes and spreads through the head, down the spine and out the limbs.
Imbalance
Antidepressant withdrawal may also cause problems with balance, including dizziness, light-headedness and an unsteady gait. Vertigo, or a feeling of movement or spinning, is also a common symptom.
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