{"id":298070,"date":"2026-09-23T17:34:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T17:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/withdrawal-symptoms-are-common-after-stopping-antidepressants-studies-show\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T17:34:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T17:34:57","slug":"withdrawal-symptoms-are-common-after-stopping-antidepressants-studies-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/withdrawal-symptoms-are-common-after-stopping-antidepressants-studies-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Withdrawal Symptoms Are Common After Stopping Antidepressants, Studies Show"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"bcr_FormattedBody\">&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Antidepressants have a long, documented history of side effects while taking them. For example, they\u2019ve been associated with blurry vision, increased anxiety, constipation, sleep disturbances, and loss of libido. Research suggests roughly 1 in 3 antidepressant users in primary care may no longer benefit from the drugs and could be ready to stop \u2014 and among those who do stop, about 56% report withdrawal symptoms.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn1\" data-hash=\"#ednref1\">1<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>However, withdrawal symptoms are a real trade-off, and for some people they become severe enough that they resume the medication in an effort to feel functional again.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"op-interactive aspect-ratio\"> &#13;<br \/>\n<iframe title=\"How to Taper Antidepressants with Fewer Symptoms | Mercola Cellular Wisdom\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/emSmkz7kDBo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&#13;\n<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<h2>Long-Term Antidepressant Withdrawal Is Well-Documented<\/h2>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>A study published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences set out to learn what happens after people stop taking antidepressants. Specifically, the researchers investigated a condition known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), where symptoms continue long after someone stops their medication.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn2\" data-hash=\"#ednref2\">2<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>This paper was the first systematic review with a meta-narrative synthesis of its kind focusing solely on antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Of the 1,286 records screened, seven studies met the selection criteria: three analyses of online self-reports from peer-support groups, one randomized controlled trial, one case series, one case report, and one prospective cohort study \u2014 an evidence base that the authors themselves describe as limited.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>They also didn\u2019t focus on patients in the early stages of stopping antidepressants \u2014 they focused on those experiencing symptoms months, or even years, after stopping.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"indent\">\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>The effect of PAWS on your brain health \u2014<\/strong> The researchers noted that PAWS involves a multitude of symptoms, including \u201cdizziness, vertigo, tremor, nausea, insomnia, fatigue, mood dysregulation, anxiety, panic, irritability and agitation.\u201d In severe cases, those in withdrawal report suicidal thoughts and behavior.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn3\" data-hash=\"#ednref3\">3<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Symptoms can last for a long time \u2014<\/strong> According to the studies reviewed, lingering symptoms lasted anywhere from 1.5 to 166 months (around 13.8 years). That upper figure is an outlier at the far end of a wide range, and it comes largely from online self-reports rather than controlled follow-up. Doctors usually tell patients that stopping antidepressants will be uncomfortable for a week or two, but this data tells a very different story.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Paroxetine was linked to the most problems \u2014<\/strong> The most consistent risk factor identified across these studies was long-term use of paroxetine, though the authors caution that most of the included studies could not speak to this question. According to the researchers:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cTwo of the included studies indicate that in particular long-term paroxetine use may carry an increased risk of PAWS, but most studies were uninformative on this subject. One analysis of online self-reports further showed that the duration of tapering was positively correlated with the duration of withdrawal symptoms, suggesting that patients experiencing more persistent withdrawal symptoms try to taper more slowly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>PAWS is not a relapse \u2014<\/strong> It\u2019s not your original depression coming back. PAWS has its own distinct pattern, and the symptoms often feel different than the ones that led you to take antidepressants in the first place. That distinction is key because it helps explain why people may be misdiagnosed as having a \u201crelapse,\u201d when in fact they\u2019re going through withdrawal:<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn4\" data-hash=\"#ednref4\">4<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201c[I]t appears that in both clinical research and practice, protracted and persistent withdrawal symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed as a relapse of the primary mental health condition (typically depression) or new emergent mental disorders, the latter being specifically embedded in the concept of persistent post-withdrawal disorders,\u201d<\/em> the study authors said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Stopping medication versus continuing usage \u2014<\/strong> One noteworthy finding is that people who tapered off their antidepressant usage still had more recorded withdrawal symptoms than those who stayed on the medication.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers cited a 2021 randomized controlled trial (RCT) published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Here, 478 patients were split into two groups \u2014 maintenance and discontinuation. By the end of 52 weeks, 135 people in the discontinuation group experienced withdrawal symptoms, and 92 in the maintenance group.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn5\" data-hash=\"#ednref5\">5<\/span><\/sup> Going deeper into the findings, the researchers noted:<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn6\" data-hash=\"#ednref6\">6<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cIn this study, 39 weeks after patients had started tapering citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline or mirtazapine, the number of recorded withdrawal symptoms was still significantly increased compared to patients maintained on their antidepressant medication.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>Of note, in the design of this RCT, the popular antidepressant drugs paroxetine and venlafaxine were deliberately excluded, because, as written by the authors, both are known to cause marked withdrawal symptoms when treatment is discontinued.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Effective treatment of PAWS is needed \u2014<\/strong> After analysis, the researchers suggest that more RCTs are needed regarding PAWS. However, they recommend that the focus need to be on effective treatments, since there is little information regarding this topic:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201c[R]igorous long-term RCTs are required to test the efficacy of treatment and management strategies. These studies would inform clinicians about effective interventions to mitigate the severity and duration of this impairing syndrome, as to date not a single clinical intervention has been formally evaluated.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<h2>PAWS Is More Common Than You Think<\/h2>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry investigated 79 studies \u2014 44 RCTs and 35 observational studies \u2014 with a total of 21,002 participants. The review encompasses different treatment settings, and types of antidepressants, offering a bird\u2019s eye view of PAWS.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn7\" data-hash=\"#ednref7\">7<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"indent\">\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Many are affected once medication is stopped \u2014<\/strong> The team found that 31% of people who stop antidepressants experience some kind of withdrawal symptom. Severe ones were less common \u2014 2.8% of everyone who discontinued an antidepressant, compared with 0.6% of those who discontinued placebo.<\/p>\n<p>According to the analysis, symptoms typically began within a few days of stopping the drug, but in many cases, they didn\u2019t fully resolve for weeks. In addition, the presence of symptoms wasn\u2019t necessarily linked to how long someone had taken the medication \u2014 a meta-regression found no significant association between withdrawal incidence and duration of antidepressant treatment, which ranged across the included studies from one to 156 weeks.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>What the 31% means once placebo is accounted for \u2014<\/strong> The authors\u2019 bottom-line estimate is lower than the raw figure. Subtracting the symptoms reported after placebo discontinuation, they put the incidence of genuine antidepressant withdrawal at \u201capproximately 15%, affecting 1 in 6 to 7 patients who discontinue their medication\u201d \u2014 a figure they say should inform patients \u201cwithout causing undue alarm.\u201d<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn8\" data-hash=\"#ednref8\">8<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Expectation alone can produce symptoms \u2014<\/strong> People who stopped a placebo still reported symptoms at a rate of 17%, or roughly 1 in 6. The authors describe these as non-specific or \u201cdiscontinuation-like\u201d symptoms, consistent with a nocebo effect in which the expectation of discomfort produces real symptoms.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Severity and type of symptoms weren\u2019t uniform \u2014<\/strong> Specifically, desvenlafaxine, venlafaxine, imipramine, and escitalopram were associated with the highest frequency of symptoms, while imipramine, paroxetine, and desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine were associated with greater symptom severity.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac), which linger longer in the bloodstream, showed a much lower rate of withdrawal complaints. The researchers also suggested that the half-life of these drugs (how long they remain in the body) plausibly affects not just the severity of the symptoms, but their time of appearance as well.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>What the evidence says about tapering \u2014<\/strong> Notably, this featured meta-analysis itself found no difference between studies that tapered the drug and studies that stopped it abruptly (31% versus 29%). The authors nonetheless point to separate research on how tapering is done:<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn9\" data-hash=\"#ednref9\">9<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cTapering of antidepressants is recommended in most guidelines, and there is research suggesting that prolonged and hyperbolic tapering of antidepressants will substantially reduce (although not completely exclude) withdrawal effects and increase the likelihood of successful discontinuation of antidepressants.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The same authors add that hyperbolic tapering has also been criticized and, because its pragmatic feasibility is limited, may not be indicated for every patient.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<h2>Critics Say the Effects of Antidepressants Are Being Downplayed<\/h2>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Antidepressants are one of Big Pharma\u2019s moneymakers. According to a market analysis report from Precedence Research, the global antidepressant market was valued at $19.53 billion in 2025, with North America contributing 47% of market revenue in 2024.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn10\" data-hash=\"#ednref10\">10<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>That said, the labeling that acknowledges these side effects was imposed by regulators rather than volunteered by industry. Since mid-October 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required manufacturers to place a black box warning on all antidepressants distributed in the United States, stating that the medications \u201cincrease the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) or other psychiatric disorders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>The expanded warnings section adds that anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, akathisia, hypomania and mania \u201chave been reported in adult and pediatric patients\u201d treated with these drugs.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn11\" data-hash=\"#ednref11\">11<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Despite these warnings, industry-aligned research continues to characterize these effects as minor \u2014 a framing that critics say understates the harm patients report.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"indent\">\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Using science to give an air of legitimacy \u2014<\/strong> In a report by investigative journalist Maryanne Demasi, Ph.D., she criticizes a 2025 JAMA Psychiatry meta-analysis of 50 studies and 17,828 participants<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn12\" data-hash=\"#ednref12\">12<\/span><\/sup> which concluded that the mean number of discontinuation symptoms one week after stopping was \u201cbelow the threshold for clinically significant discontinuation syndrome\u201d \u2014 a finding widely reported as showing that withdrawal is only \u201cmild.\u201d<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn13\" data-hash=\"#ednref13\">13<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>One of the reasons Demasi did her analysis is because of the prestige behind the journal. When it releases an influential study, consumers and medical practitioners tend to accept that the findings are true and accurate.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Media is brought in to help \u2014<\/strong> Demasi argues that industry-aligned researchers mobilized mainstream media to push a narrative that antidepressants can be slowly stopped and, as mentioned above, only produce mild side effects in doing so:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cThe authors mobilised a rapid media campaign to shape the public narrative, with the Science Media Centre issuing expert commentary to \u2018reassure both patients and prescribers\u2019 that most withdrawal symptoms were \u2018not clinically significant.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>The methodology is flawed \u2014<\/strong> Digging deeper into the issue, Demasi broke down the logic of the JAMA Psychiatry meta-analysis. According to her findings, the studies used in the review are either biased or poorly designed. For example, she pointed out that the study followed patients for just two weeks \u2014 this isn\u2019t applicable to antidepressant users in America, as half of them have already been taking these medications for more than five years. Demasi continues:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cWorse, many trials enrolled patients already taking antidepressants \u2014 then abruptly withdrew them before randomisation. As a result, those assigned to placebo experienced withdrawal symptoms that blurred the difference between treatment and control groups, artificially minimising the harms.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Industry funded most of the included studies \u2014<\/strong> Demasi noted that most of the studies included in the meta-analysis were funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, the researchers excluded medications such as paroxetine and escitalopram, which are already strongly linked to severe PAWS.<\/p>\n<p>For context, the Lancet Psychiatry meta-analysis cited earlier ran its own funding subgroup analysis and found little difference between industry-funded and independently funded studies (31% versus 28%), so funding alone does not account for the range of estimates in this literature.<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn14\" data-hash=\"#ednref14\">14<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>A firsthand account of PAWS \u2014<\/strong> In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR),<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn15\" data-hash=\"#ednref15\">15<\/span><\/sup> a Canadian patient named Phillipa Munari described taking Effexor (venlafaxine) for 10 years. When she decided to stop taking it, problems started to appear even with the help of a doctor to taper it off.<\/p>\n<p>According to Munari, she developed nerve pain, as well as chronic pain in her neck and shoulders. To make matters worse, she also had severe anxiety \u2014 all of which she didn\u2019t have before. In an effort to manage her health issues, she went back to taking Effexor and then weaned off it again, much more slowly the second time.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>The effects of PAWS can be lasting \u2014<\/strong> Munari shared that after her second round of Effexor (with a better tapering plan), her nerve pain and fatigue improved. However, the anxiety worsened. She describes about two years of severe symptoms and roughly four more years beyond that before she felt fully recovered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<h2>Exercise Is a Powerful Support for Your Mental Health<\/h2>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve been feeling the blues lately, it\u2019s worth knowing that a pill isn\u2019t the only avenue \u2014 supporting the very systems that have been thrown off balance matters, too. And one of the most accessible ways to do that is getting regular exercise. In addition, decisions about starting or stopping a medication will need to be made with a qualified health care provider.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Exercise is not just a mood booster. Research suggests it may help support brain plasticity, nervous system regulation, and energy production at the cellular level. Barring any serious injury or physical ailment, I believe that it\u2019s one of the best ways to support your mental health because it\u2019s free and something that you can do right away.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"indent\">\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>\u2022\tExercise compares favorably with standard care \u2014<\/strong> In an umbrella review of 97 reviews covering 1,039 trials and 128,119 participants, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers reported that physical activity was extremely beneficial for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress \u2014 about 1.5 times more effective than counseling or the leading medications. As noted by the lead author Ben Singh, Ph.D.:<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn16\" data-hash=\"#ednref16\">16<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>&#8220;Physical activity is known to help improve mental health. Yet despite the evidence, it has not been widely adopted as a first-choice treatment \u2026 Higher-intensity exercise had greater improvements for depression and anxiety, while longer durations had smaller effects when compared to short and mid-duration bursts.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Any exercise is better than nothing \u2014<\/strong> Singh noted that moving your body, no matter how you do it, is beneficial. He explains:<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn17\" data-hash=\"#ednref17\">17<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cWe also found that all types of physical activity and exercise were beneficial, including aerobic exercise such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga. Importantly, the research shows that it doesn\u2019t take much for exercise to make a positive change to your mental health.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Start with a walk \u2014<\/strong> While it\u2019s tempting to start off with an intense session at the gym, you can already gain plenty of benefits by going for a walk. <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2024\/05\/12\/nailing-the-sweet-spots-for-exercise-volume.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">In my interview with Dr. James O\u2019Keefe<\/a>, he noted that it\u2019s a great way to boost your fitness \u2014 an average of 10,000 steps a day is associated with meaningful benefits. It\u2019s also a moderate-intensity activity that is difficult to overdo for most people, which makes it sustainable as a daily habit. Aim for about an hour of walking a day.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>Strength training complements walking \u2014<\/strong> Lifting weights is another beneficial strategy that goes hand in hand with your daily walks, however, it\u2019s important that you don\u2019t overdo it. According to O\u2019Keefe, observational data suggest the additional mortality benefit appears to flatten,<sup style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><span id=\"edn18\" data-hash=\"#ednref18\">18<\/span><\/sup> and may reverse, beyond roughly 130 to 140 minutes of total strength training per week:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always been a fan of strength training &#8230; But again, the devil is in the details about the dosing. When you look at people who do strength training, it adds another 19% reduction in all-cause mortality on top of the 45% reduction that you get from one hour of moderate exercise per day.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>When I strength train, I go to the gym and spend anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, and &#8230; I try to use weights that I can do 10 reps with &#8230; After that, you&#8217;re feeling sort of like spent and &#8230; it takes a couple of days to recover. If you do that two, at the most three, times a week, that looks like the sweet spot for conferring longevity.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022 <\/span>There are other useful strategies to support your mood \u2014<\/strong> While exercise is effective, it\u2019s not the only option available. I recommend supporting your gut with fermented foods (preferably homemade), given how closely gut health is intertwined with your brain function.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, getting deep, restorative sleep is important for your mental health. Managing stress, as well as resetting your body\u2019s internal clock by getting sun exposure within about 20 minutes of waking up, will also help support your mental and physical well-being. For an in-depth explanation of these tips, read \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2025\/04\/01\/depression-and-chronic-diseases.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Depression Accelerates Physical Illness and Increases Disease Risk<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome<\/h2>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"faq\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"faq-responsive\"><strong>Q: <span class=\"questions\">What is Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) and how common is it after stopping antidepressants?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A: <\/strong>PAWS refers to long-lasting withdrawal symptoms that occur after discontinuing antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These symptoms include dizziness, anxiety, tremors, insomnia, fatigue, and even suicidal thoughts.<\/p>\n<p>According to a 2024 meta-analysis from The Lancet Psychiatry, 31% of people who stop taking antidepressants report some form of withdrawal symptom \u2014 falling to approximately 15%, or about 1 in 6 to 7, once the symptoms reported after placebo discontinuation are subtracted. A separate 2025 systematic review of seven studies, drawn largely from online self-reports and case reports, found persistent symptoms lasting anywhere from one and a half months to about 13.8 years at the extreme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"faq-responsive\"><strong>Q: <span class=\"questions\">Are PAWS symptoms just a relapse of depression or something different?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A: <\/strong>No. PAWS symptoms are distinct from a relapse of depression. While often misdiagnosed as a return of the original mental health condition, PAWS has its own symptom profile and course. This misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary reinstatement of medications and further confusion for patients.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"faq-responsive\"><strong>Q: <span class=\"questions\">Which antidepressants are most associated with severe withdrawal symptoms?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A: <\/strong>In The Lancet Psychiatry meta-analysis, desvenlafaxine, venlafaxine, imipramine and escitalopram were associated with the highest incidence of withdrawal symptoms, and imipramine, paroxetine, and desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine with the greatest severity.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, longer-acting drugs like fluoxetine are associated with fewer issues. Tapering rather than stopping abruptly is recommended in most clinical guidelines, though that same meta-analysis found no difference in withdrawal incidence between studies that tapered and studies that stopped abruptly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"faq-responsive\"><strong>Q: <span class=\"questions\">Is the pharmaceutical industry downplaying the risks of antidepressant withdrawal?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A: <\/strong>Critics say yes. Investigative reporting by Maryanne Demasi, Ph.D., argues that pharmaceutical companies minimize the severity of withdrawal symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>A 2025 meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry found discontinuation symptoms fell below the threshold for clinical significance \u2014 widely reported as &#8220;mild&#8221; \u2014 but critics argue this rested on short follow-up, industry-funded research that excluded high-risk drugs, and poorly designed trials. Media campaigns, they say, further reinforced this framing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"faq-responsive\"><strong>Q: <span class=\"questions\">What supportive strategies are being discussed for antidepressant withdrawal?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A: <\/strong>No intervention has yet been formally tested for antidepressant withdrawal itself \u2014 the 2025 systematic review notes that \u201cto date not a single clinical intervention has been formally evaluated\u201d for PAWS, and calls for long-term trials. Separately, and for symptoms of depression and anxiety rather than withdrawal specifically, an umbrella review reported that physical activity was about 1.5 times more effective than counseling or the leading medications.<\/p>\n<p>Activities like walking, strength training, yoga, and Pilates were all beneficial \u2014 even light exercise can make a meaningful difference. Any plan for tapering or stopping an antidepressant need to be made with a qualified health care provider.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p><em>This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified health care provider before making changes to your health regimen.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<!--\n\n\n<h2>Test Your Knowledge with Today's Quiz!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Take today&rsquo;s quiz to see how much you&rsquo;ve learned from <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2025\/09\/03\/eating-more-pulses-vegetables-lowers-stress.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">yesterday&rsquo;s Mercola.com article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"quiz-panel\">\n\n\n<div class=\"quiz-item\">\n\n\n<p class=\"title\"><span>Which simple food choices can help you lower stress by boosting beneficial gut bacteria?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"options\">\n\n\n<li class=\"option-item\"><span>Candy, fried snacks, and vegetable oils<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"option-item\"><span>Apples and oranges<\/span><\/li>\n\n \n\n\n<li class=\"option-item\"><span>White bread, soda, and processed meats<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"option-item correct\"><span>Natto, tomatoes, and green peppers <\/span>\n<span class=\"explanation\">\n\n<p>Foods like natto, tomatoes, and green peppers support gut bacteria that produce calming, anti-inflammatory compounds, helping your body handle stress more resiliently. <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2025\/09\/03\/eating-more-pulses-vegetables-lowers-stress.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/span><\/li>\n\n \n<\/ul>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n--><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2026\/09\/23\/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome.aspx\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; Antidepressants have a long, documented history of side effects while taking them. For example, they\u2019ve been associated with blurry vision, increased anxiety, constipation, sleep<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":298071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-298070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=298070"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298070\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/298071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=298070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=298070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=298070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}