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Feb 9

Benefits of Getting Off Antidepressants: What to Know – Healthline

Long Term Weight Loss Comments Off on Benefits of Getting Off Antidepressants: What to Know – Healthline

Antidepressants can be effective for treating a number of conditions, but the choice to start and stop one is very individual. And while antidepressants can help you feel better, they can also have mental and physical side effects.

If youre thinking of getting off your antidepressant, there could be benefits to you. To ensure these benefits outweigh the drawbacks, its important to talk with a healthcare provider before stopping your antidepressant use.

Most medications have some side effects. Antidepressants are no different, particularly when taken in the long term.

According to a 2020 review article, those who take a common type of antidepressant, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can experience physical side effects, such as:

These side effects were reported with long-term use of antidepressants and could worsen with age.

Some other antidepressant types include:

Antidepressants can cause sexual side effects that range from lessened sexual desire to difficulty achieving orgasm.

An estimated 25 to 80 percent of people who take antidepressants will experience some change in their sexual function within the first 2 to 6 weeks after starting an antidepressant. Its also important to note that up to 70 percent of people with depression are at risk for developing sexual dysfunction as well. So youll want to take that into consideration when weighing whether to stop taking your medication.

Symptoms will usually go away by week 12 of antidepressant use for about 30 percent of those who experience sexual side effects. However, they dont go away for everyone.

In most instances, stopping antidepressants will return a persons sexual function back to pre-antidepressant levels.

Many people who take antidepressants report gaining weight.

However, those who take the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) may also experience weight loss.

Theres less information on what happens regarding your weight and stopping antidepressants.

Because some medical professionals theorize that antidepressants increase hunger and food cravings by adjusting neurotransmitters, its possible that stopping antidepressants could make you feel less hungry.

If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants.

On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping antidepressants, you may also lose weight.

Other potential side effects that may lessen if you stop taking antidepressants include:

Again, this will depend on what medicines youre currently taking.

Long-term antidepressant use can also have drawbacks on a persons mental health.

Some medications can affect your ability to feel emotions (for example, make you feel numb). It may also affect a persons autonomy by making them feel dependent on medical help.

Someone may also be at greater risk for experiencing withdrawal or discontinuation symptoms the longer they take the medication. This can vary based on the medication(s) being taken.

If you suddenly stop taking antidepressants, you may experience discontinuation symptoms, which is similar to withdrawal symptoms, but refers to stopping the use of medication rather than addictive agents.

You may notice a rapid onset with some medications, such as paroxetine (Paxil), while other medications may take a few days for symptoms to arise. This can be true too if you skip doses, or refrain from taking full doses.

Many doctors use the mnemonic aid FINISH to describe common antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. These include:

Most healthcare providers will recommend gradually tapering antidepressant doses over the course of several weeks. However, some medications may require longer periods of tapering, such as paroxetine and venlafaxine.

Medications with a longer half-life such as fluoxetine may not require an extended tapering schedule.

The symptoms from weaning off antidepressants are, for the most part, mild and will go away over time.

In a sample of more than 250 people who stopped taking antidepressants, 20 percent reported stopping to be very easy, while a little more than 50 percent said it was fairly easy.

You shouldnt stop taking antidepressants without first talking with your doctor. Your doctor knows important factors like:

Thats why its important to consult with your doctor, so you can work on a tapering plan together or determine if going off antidepressants is the right move at this time.

Because there are risks for rebound effects where your depression symptoms worsen when you stop taking the medicine its also important for your doctor to discuss these with you. You can create a plan of action for what to do if this happens.

If you and your doctor determine that now isnt the best time to go off antidepressants, there are some steps you can take to minimize your medications side effects.

This includes seeking wellness whenever possible, like:

You may wish to consult your doctor or a dietitian for individual tips on maintaining your health while taking antidepressants.

If you need a first or second opinion on whether staying on antidepressants is right for you, consider the following resources:

When you first start discussing reducing your antidepressant dose with your doctor, youll also want to ask them what you can expect. Knowing possible side effects of getting off your antidepressant can help you be prepared.

Ask them about the types of symptoms that may occur that would require calling a doctor or seeking medical help.

For some symptoms, such as thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you should seek crisis interventions or emergency help right away.

Theres some evidence that suggests that suddenly stopping antidepressants can result in depression symptoms sometimes ones that are even worse than before.

If at any time youre not sure if a symptom is normal or safe, you should contact a healthcare provider. They can advise you if you should start taking your medicine again and in what dosage, or discuss an alternative plan.

Taking antidepressants can cause side effects that may affect the way a person feels mentally and physically.

If you use antidepressants in combination with other treatments such as talk therapy and wellness tools you may want to talk about if or when you can stop taking the antidepressants.

Because theres a risk for symptoms when stopping an antidepressant, a doctor can recommend how to taper safely. Ideally, this can help you enjoy the benefits of quitting antidepressants without the drawbacks.

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Benefits of Getting Off Antidepressants: What to Know - Healthline

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