"Antidepressant (AD) withdrawal symptoms are also common, can be severe and prolonged, and may last months or years. For example, with antidepressant discontinuation, feelings resembling electric shocks, often called "brain zaps," may occur in the head or body, along with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and other symptoms."
"They found 79% experienced withdrawal symptoms upon ending antidepressants, with 45% reporting moderate-to-severe symptoms and about 20% experiencing symptoms lasting three months or longer. Longer duration of use was associated with greater likelihood of severe protracted symptoms and being less likely to be able to stop their ADs."
A substantial proportion of people stopping antidepressants experience physiological withdrawal symptoms that can be severe and prolonged. Symptoms include electric-shock sensations often called "brain zaps," nausea, vomiting, dizziness and other multisystem effects, sometimes lasting months or years. A clinical survey of 310 antidepressant users reported 79% experienced withdrawal, 45% had moderate-to-severe symptoms, and about 20% had symptoms lasting three months or longer. Longer duration of use raised the risk of severe, protracted symptoms and reduced ability to discontinue. Antidepressant withdrawal reflects bodily adaptation and is distinct from addictive drug use. Historical conflation of withdrawal with addiction has obscured this distinction.
#antidepressant-withdrawal #physiological-dependence #withdrawal-symptoms #treatment-discontinuation
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