Depression: Should I Stop Taking My Antidepressant?
Depression: Should I Stop Taking My Antidepressant?Skip to the navigationYou may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Depression: Should I Stop Taking My Antidepressant?Get the factsYour options- Stop taking your depression medicine.
- Keep taking it.
Key points to remember- The best reason to stop taking your antidepressant is because
you feel better and you and your doctor believe that you
will stay well after you stop taking it.
- An antidepressant needs time to work. You may need to take it
for 1 to 3 weeks before you start to feel better and for 6 to 8 weeks before
you feel much better.
- Most side effects of antidepressants are more bothersome than
serious. They can often be managed. Or your doctor may be able to prescribe a
different medicine.
- If you feel you can't afford the medicine, your doctor may be
able to prescribe one that costs less.
- At least half of people who have depression will get it again.
This is called a
relapse. But if you keep taking your medicine for at
least 6 months after you feel better, you may lower the chance that you will
have a relapse.
- If you plan to stop taking your medicine, talk with your doctor
first about how to do it safely. You may need to stop slowly over time.
Suddenly stopping some medicines may cause side effects, such as flu-like
symptoms and dizziness.
- Seeing a counselor works well to help people with depression
feel better.
- Depression is nothing to be embarrassed about. It's a health
problem, not a character flaw.
FAQs Antidepressants help
restore the normal balance of brain chemicals. When these brain chemicals are
in proper balance, your depression gets better. You may start to
feel better within 1 to 3 weeks after you start taking the medicine. But you
may need to take it for 6 to 8 weeks to get the full benefit and feel much
better. If you have questions or concerns about your medicines, or if you don't
feel any better in 3 weeks, talk to your doctor. There are many
medicines for depression. If the first one you try doesn't work, a different
one usually will. You may need to try several medicines before you find the one
that works best for you. If the side effects bother you, talk to
your doctor. There are many things you can do to reduce side effects. Your
doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Taking your medicine for at least 6 months after you feel better can help
keep you from getting depressed again. If this is not the first time you have
been depressed, your doctor may want you to take your medicine for an even
longer time. But don't worry-no matter how long you take an antidepressant, you
can't become addicted to it. The best reason to stop taking your
antidepressant is because you feel better and you and
your doctor believe that you will stay well after you stop taking it. If you plan to stop your medicine, talk with your doctor first about how
to do it safely. You may need to stop slowly over time. Suddenly stopping some
medicines may cause problems, such as flu-like symptoms and dizziness. Seeing a
counselor works well to help people with depression feel better. Counseling may
also help prevent your depression from coming back after you have stopped
taking your medicine. The types of
counseling most often used to treat depression include: - Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a
type of counseling that teaches you how to become healthier by changing some of
your thought and behavior patterns. You can get this therapy one-on-one with a
counselor or in a group.
- Interpersonal therapy, which
focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems.
- Problem-solving therapy, which
focuses on the problems you are facing now and on helping you find
solutions.
- Family therapy, a type of
counseling that involves the entire family.
You may want to try other ways to help treat or prevent
depression. General healthTaking care of your overall health can help you treat depression. You
can: - Eat healthy foods.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Get exercise.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Seek support from friends and family.
Complementary medicineComplementary therapies are sometimes used for depression. Talk to your doctor before taking any of them, because they can interfere with other medicines. Your doctor might recommend stopping your
antidepressant if: - You're feeling better, and you and the doctor agree that it's
time to stop.
- You have been taking the medicine for at least 6 months.
Compare your options | |
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What is usually involved? |
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What are the benefits? |
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What are the risks and side effects? |
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Stop taking your
antidepressant Stop taking your
antidepressant - You and your
doctor agree that you're feeling good and will stay well if you stop taking the
medicine.
- Under your doctor's care, you slowly reduce your dosage of
medicine until you stop.
- You may have counseling to help you cope with problems and help
change how you think and feel.
- You won't have
to take a pill every day.
- You won't have side effects from
medicine.
- You won't have the cost of medicine.
- You won't have
to worry about avoiding certain other medicines because of possible drug
interactions.
- Your depression could come back.
- If
you suddenly stop taking the medicine, you could have problems such as flu-like
symptoms or dizziness. You need to reduce your dosage slowly over time, under
your doctor's care.
Keep taking it
Keep taking it
- You keep taking your medicine as
your doctor recommends.
- You may have counseling to help you cope with problems and help
you change how you think and feel.
- You can make a plan to stop taking the medicine when you and your
doctor think you're ready.
- Your depression is less likely to
come back.
- Depression medicine
can have side effects, which may include headaches, dry mouth, nausea, or
problems with sex drive or ability.
- The medicine can cost a lot.
I stopped
taking my depression medicine a year ago. I had been on the medicine for a
year, and my symptoms were under control. I felt really good. I wanted to see
if I could stay healthy without the medicine. I am still going to counseling,
though, and I hope that will be enough to keep my depression from coming
back. My symptoms were really bad. I even tried
to kill myself once. Thank goodness my doctor finally found a medicine that
makes me feel just about normal. I've been on the medicine for a while, but
there's no way I'm going to stop taking it until my doctor thinks I'm ready. I
definitely do not want to go back to feeling the way I did before
treatment. I've been on antidepressants for 9 months,
and my depression symptoms are gone. But each of the three different drugs I've
tried has side effects that I don't like, especially not having a sex drive and
not being able to sleep well. My depression symptoms weren't all that bad in
the first place. For me, the treatment is worse than the disease
was. My medicine is working really well now, and
the side effects don't really bother me. Taking the pills is just not that big
a deal for me, so why stop a good thing? Especially if it means I'm less likely
to get depressed again in the future. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to stop taking your antidepressant Reasons to keep taking it I'm feeling much better. I don't feel as good as I would like. More important Equally important More important I feel confident that I can keep feeling good with counseling and self-care. To stay well, I need more help than counseling and self-care can give me. More important Equally important More important I can't stand the side effects of my medicine anymore. I can manage the side effects. More important Equally important More important I just don't want to take medicine. I don't mind taking medicine. More important Equally important More important I want to try complementary medicine. I want to keep taking a prescription medicine. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Stopping the medicine Staying on the medicine Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward What else do you need to make your decision?1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure Your SummaryHere's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Next stepsWhich way you're leaningHow sure you areYour commentsKey concepts that you understoodKey concepts that may need reviewCredits | Author | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
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You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Depression: Should I Stop Taking My Antidepressant?Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. - Get the facts
- Compare your options
- What matters most to you?
- Where are you leaning now?
- What else do you need to make your decision?
1. Get the FactsYour options- Stop taking your depression medicine.
- Keep taking it.
Key points to remember- The best reason to stop taking your antidepressant is because
you feel better and you and your doctor believe that you
will stay well after you stop taking it.
- An antidepressant needs time to work. You may need to take it
for 1 to 3 weeks before you start to feel better and for 6 to 8 weeks before
you feel much better.
- Most side effects of antidepressants are more bothersome than
serious. They can often be managed. Or your doctor may be able to prescribe a
different medicine.
- If you feel you can't afford the medicine, your doctor may be
able to prescribe one that costs less.
- At least half of people who have depression will get it again.
This is called a
relapse. But if you keep taking your medicine for at
least 6 months after you feel better, you may lower the chance that you will
have a relapse.
- If you plan to stop taking your medicine, talk with your doctor
first about how to do it safely. You may need to stop slowly over time.
Suddenly stopping some medicines may cause side effects, such as flu-like
symptoms and dizziness.
- Seeing a counselor works well to help people with depression
feel better.
- Depression is nothing to be embarrassed about. It's a health
problem, not a character flaw.
FAQs How do antidepressants work?Antidepressants help
restore the normal balance of brain chemicals. When these brain chemicals are
in proper balance, your depression gets better. You may start to
feel better within 1 to 3 weeks after you start taking the medicine. But you
may need to take it for 6 to 8 weeks to get the full benefit and feel much
better. If you have questions or concerns about your medicines, or if you don't
feel any better in 3 weeks, talk to your doctor. There are many
medicines for depression. If the first one you try doesn't work, a different
one usually will. You may need to try several medicines before you find the one
that works best for you. If the side effects bother you, talk to
your doctor. There are many things you can do to reduce side effects. Your
doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. How long will you need to take medicine for depression?Taking your medicine for at least 6 months after you feel better can help
keep you from getting depressed again. If this is not the first time you have
been depressed, your doctor may want you to take your medicine for an even
longer time. But don't worry-no matter how long you take an antidepressant, you
can't become addicted to it. The best reason to stop taking your
antidepressant is because you feel better and you and
your doctor believe that you will stay well after you stop taking it. If you plan to stop your medicine, talk with your doctor first about how
to do it safely. You may need to stop slowly over time. Suddenly stopping some
medicines may cause problems, such as flu-like symptoms and dizziness. Does counseling work for depression?Seeing a
counselor works well to help people with depression feel better. Counseling may
also help prevent your depression from coming back after you have stopped
taking your medicine. The types of
counseling most often used to treat depression include: - Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a
type of counseling that teaches you how to become healthier by changing some of
your thought and behavior patterns. You can get this therapy one-on-one with a
counselor or in a group.
- Interpersonal therapy, which
focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems.
- Problem-solving therapy, which
focuses on the problems you are facing now and on helping you find
solutions.
- Family therapy, a type of
counseling that involves the entire family.
What other things can you do to treat depression?You may want to try other ways to help treat or prevent
depression. General healthTaking care of your overall health can help you treat depression. You
can: - Eat healthy foods.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Get exercise.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Seek support from friends and family.
Complementary medicineComplementary therapies are sometimes used for depression. Talk to your doctor before taking any of them, because they can interfere with other medicines. Why might your doctor recommend stopping your antidepressant?Your doctor might recommend stopping your
antidepressant if: - You're feeling better, and you and the doctor agree that it's
time to stop.
- You have been taking the medicine for at least 6 months.
2. Compare your options| | Stop taking your
antidepressant | Keep taking it
|
|---|
| What is usually involved? | - You and your
doctor agree that you're feeling good and will stay well if you stop taking the
medicine.
- Under your doctor's care, you slowly reduce your dosage of
medicine until you stop.
- You may have counseling to help you cope with problems and help
change how you think and feel.
| - You keep taking your medicine as
your doctor recommends.
- You may have counseling to help you cope with problems and help
you change how you think and feel.
- You can make a plan to stop taking the medicine when you and your
doctor think you're ready.
|
|---|
| What are the benefits? | - You won't have
to take a pill every day.
- You won't have side effects from
medicine.
- You won't have the cost of medicine.
- You won't have
to worry about avoiding certain other medicines because of possible drug
interactions.
| - Your depression is less likely to
come back.
|
|---|
| What are the risks and side effects? | - Your depression could come back.
- If
you suddenly stop taking the medicine, you could have problems such as flu-like
symptoms or dizziness. You need to reduce your dosage slowly over time, under
your doctor's care.
| - Depression medicine
can have side effects, which may include headaches, dry mouth, nausea, or
problems with sex drive or ability.
- The medicine can cost a lot.
|
|---|
Personal storiesPersonal stories about stopping depression medicine
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
"I stopped taking my depression medicine a year ago. I had been on the medicine for a year, and my symptoms were under control. I felt really good. I wanted to see if I could stay healthy without the medicine. I am still going to counseling, though, and I hope that will be enough to keep my depression from coming back." "My symptoms were really bad. I even tried to kill myself once. Thank goodness my doctor finally found a medicine that makes me feel just about normal. I've been on the medicine for a while, but there's no way I'm going to stop taking it until my doctor thinks I'm ready. I definitely do not want to go back to feeling the way I did before treatment." "I've been on antidepressants for 9 months, and my depression symptoms are gone. But each of the three different drugs I've tried has side effects that I don't like, especially not having a sex drive and not being able to sleep well. My depression symptoms weren't all that bad in the first place. For me, the treatment is worse than the disease was." "My medicine is working really well now, and the side effects don't really bother me. Taking the pills is just not that big a deal for me, so why stop a good thing? Especially if it means I'm less likely to get depressed again in the future." 3. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to stop taking your antidepressant Reasons to keep taking it I'm feeling much better. I don't feel as good as I would like. More important Equally important More important I feel confident that I can keep feeling good with counseling and self-care. To stay well, I need more help than counseling and self-care can give me. More important Equally important More important I can't stand the side effects of my medicine anymore. I can manage the side effects. More important Equally important More important I just don't want to take medicine. I don't mind taking medicine. More important Equally important More important I want to try complementary medicine. I want to keep taking a prescription medicine. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important 4. Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Stopping the medicine Staying on the medicine Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward 5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
1.
What is the best reason to stop taking depression medicine? That's right. You want to feel better AND feel confident that you will stay well after you stop taking it. 2.
How long do you need to take a depression medicine to lower the chance that your depression could come back? That's right. If you take your medicine for at least 6 months after you feel better, you may lower the chance that depression will come back. 3.
What is the best way to stop your depression medicine? That's right. You need to ask your doctor how to stop your medicine safely. Suddenly stopping some medicines may cause side effects. Decide what's next1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Credits | By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
|---|
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.Current as of:
May 3, 2017 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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