Few Discontinuation Symptoms Reported After Stopping Antidepressants

THURSDAY, July 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Most individuals do not go through severe withdrawal after discontinuing antidepressants, according to a study published online July 9 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Michail Kalfas, from King”s College London, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the presence of discontinuation symptoms using standardized scales (e.g., Discontinuation-Emergent Signs and Symptoms [DESS]) and the incidence of individual discontinuation symptoms in a review of randomized clinical trials involving individuals who stop taking antidepressants. Fifty studies with 17,828 individuals were reviewed, and 49 studies were included in meta-analyses.

The researchers found that the DESS meta-analysis indicated increased discontinuation symptoms at one week in participants stopping antidepressants versus those taking placebo or continuing antidepressants (standardized mean difference, 0.31), with an effect size equivalent to one more symptom on the DESS. Increased odds of dizziness, nausea, vertigo, and nervousness were seen with discontinuation of antidepressants compared with placebo discontinuation. The most prevalent symptom of discontinuation was dizziness (risk difference, 6.24 percent). Despite being measured in people with major depressive disorder, discontinuation was not associated with depression symptoms.

“Despite previous concern about stopping antidepressants, our work finds that most people do not experience severe withdrawal, in terms of additional symptoms. Importantly, depression relapse was not linked to antidepressant withdrawal in these studies,” senior author Sameer Jauhar, Ph.D., also from King’s College London, said in a statement.

Several authors disclosed ties to relevant organizations.

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