Common withdrawal effects
- Dizziness and 'brain zaps'
- Anxiety, agitation or low mood
- Insomnia and vivid dreams
- Flu-like symptoms, nausea
- Irritability and tearfulness
- Sensory disturbances
Tapering principles
Reduce in proportion, not fixed amounts
Because of how antidepressants occupy serotonin transporters, the effect of each milligram grows as the dose gets smaller. Research suggests reducing by a percentage of the current dose (hyperbolic tapering), so steps get smaller near the end.
Go at the pace of your symptoms
Many guides suggest holding each step for 2–4 weeks and pausing — or going back up slightly — if withdrawal symptoms become hard to manage.
Use forms that allow small doses
Liquid formulations or tapering strips can make the small final doses possible, which tablets alone often cannot.
Short half-life drugs need extra care
Paroxetine and venlafaxine are most associated with withdrawal effects and often need slower reductions.
Before you begin
- Never stop abruptly without medical advice.
- Withdrawal can be mistaken for relapse — the timing and type of symptoms help tell them apart.
- Seek urgent help if you experience thoughts of suicide.
Research & sources
- 01Incidence of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Henssler et al., The Lancet Psychiatry, 2024
- 02Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms
Horowitz & Taylor, The Lancet Psychiatry, 2019
- 03A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects
Davies & Read, Addictive Behaviors, 2019
- 04
- 05Stopping antidepressants
Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2020
- 06Newer-generation antidepressants and withdrawal effects: reconsidering the role of antidepressants and helping patients to stop
Hengartner, Davies & Read, Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, 2020
- 07Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long-term antidepressant use
Van Leeuwen et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021
- 08The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines
Horowitz & Taylor, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024