Discontinuing Antidepressant Medications (Original PDF from Publisher)

One in six people in the US is currently taking psychotropic drugs. In 80% of cases, the medication is taken for long-term use and predominantly involves new-generation antidepressants, such as SSRIs (e.g. paroxetine) and SNRIs (e.g. venlafaxine). When patients want to stop taking these drugsand/or their physicians decide it is time for them to stop, substantial problems often can ensue. About 50% of patients experience withdrawal symptoms that do not necessarily subside after a few days or weeks and may be severe and threatening. Physicians often do not know what to do in thesesituations. As a result, patients experiencing the anguish and mental pain of withdrawal syndromes are unlikely to receive appropriate medical attention. Discontinuing antidepressants is a highly technical challenge that requires specific strategies. This handbook guides clinicians through each clinical step (assessment; what the counter-indications would be for stopping or continuing; and how discontinuation can best be achieved). It provides adetailed account of the assessment and management strategies, with many case illustrations and clinical examples, drawing from the literature that is available and the extensive personal experience of the author.