What are the withdrawal symptoms of SSRIs?

Up to a third of people who stop SSRIs and SNRIs have withdrawal symptoms.These include: * Stomach upsets * Flu like symptoms * Anxiety * Dizziness * Vivid dreams at night * Sensations in the body that feel like electric shocks (see references) In most people these withdrawal effects are mild, but for a small number of people they can be quite severe. They seem to be most likely to happen with Paroxetine (Seroxat) and Venlafaxine (Efexor). It is generally best to taper off the dose of an antidepressant rather than stop it suddenly.Some people have reported that, after taking an SSRI for several months, they have had difficulty managing once the drug has been stopped and so feel they are addicted to it. Most doctors would say that it is more likely that the original condition has returned.

Extracted from Royal College of Psychiatrists' leaflet: "Antidepressants" (Available at http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation/mentalhealthproblems/depression/antidepressants.aspx. Accessed 3rd November 2007)

Dr. Reehan Sabri MBBS (London) MSc (Distinction) MRCPsych (UK)

Consultant Psychiatrist