5 Ways to Stop Antidepressants Safely
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How to Safely Stop Taking Antidepressants

How to Safely Stop Taking Antidepressants
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Published on July 7, 2025
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You can take antidepressants for several months or even years, but after a while, you may feel ready to try life without them. Some people stop taking antidepressants because they think they don’t need them anymore, and others may want to be done with antidepressant side effects like headaches, insomnia, and low libido.

If you want to stop your antidepressants, and your healthcare provider gives the go-ahead, it’s important to know how to do so safely. “Many patients stop antidepressants on their own without proper guidance or follow-up,” says Sharon Batista, MD, a psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai in New York City. But your body needs time to get used to living without the medicine.

Studies have shown that about a third of people have symptoms like insomnia, headache, and nausea after they stop taking an antidepressant.

 Other research suggests that up to 86 percent of people who stop taking antidepressants go through antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS), a set of side effects that can happen if you stop taking an antidepressant, especially if you stop suddenly. Although these symptoms are often uncomfortable, they’re not life-threatening.

Stopping depression medication too fast could also lead to a return of depressive symptoms for some people.

How to Safely Stop Antidepressants: 5 Tips

No one should stop taking a medication without a provider’s guidance, but you can stop antidepressants safely under their care.

 With the right plan, you can stop taking antidepressants with minimal symptoms.

“Everyone’s experience is unique. It’s essential to taper medications with personalized guidance from your healthcare provider, rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Ritu Goel, MD, an integrative psychiatrist in Long Beach, California. But in general, these expert-backed tips can make your transition away from antidepressants a smooth one.

1. Take It Slow

To stop antidepressants safely and avoid ADS symptoms, make a plan with your provider to taper them slowly. You’ll gradually take a smaller and smaller dose, following your provider’s instructions.

Exactly how long this takes will vary from person to person. “The longer someone has been on an antidepressant, the more gradual the taper should be,” says Dr. Batista, who typically recommends a slow taper over weeks to months.

 “The nervous system adjusts to the presence of medication over time, and a faster taper can provoke stronger withdrawal symptoms.”
Certain antidepressants, such as desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), typically require a slower taper than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (Zoloft) and fluoxetine (Prozac), according to Dr. Goel. That’s another reason it’s so important to develop a personalized taper plan with your provider.

2. Stay in Touch With Your Provider

Your provider won’t give you a taper schedule and leave you to it — they will want to check in with you regularly to help you manage any physical and emotional changes you’re experiencing.

 “There is an art more than a science to distinguishing between withdrawal and relapse, and that kind of judgment call is easier to make when a professional is tracking your progress closely,” says Batista.

3. Prioritize Self-Care

As you taper antidepressants, take extra care of yourself. “Good sleep hygiene and self-care practices such as mindfulness, regular physical activity, and balanced nutrition can significantly ease the process of reducing antidepressant use,” says Goel.

Research shows that following a Mediterranean diet can offer many more mental health benefits than a high-fat Western diet.

 Stress-reduction techniques like mindfulness, regular sleep, and regular exercise have strong antidepressant effects and can help boost emotional stability.

4. Line Up Plenty of Support

Lean on your friends and family as you wean yourself off antidepressants. The people closest to you may be able to pick up on any emotional or behavioral changes you're experiencing.

“Emotional support and accountability are essential during this transition,” says Goel.
You may also consider speaking with your therapist regularly during this time or finding a therapist if you don’t have one. These mental health professionals can help you identify new symptoms, manage them, and avoid depression relapse.

5. Finish the Taper Completely

By the end of your taper, doses get tiny. Some people even use a liquid formula at the end to allow for a miniscule dose. You may feel tempted to skip these doses, but it’s important to finish your taper plan as prescribed to avoid symptoms of ADS, which can worsen even after skipping a very small dose.

How Can I Expect to Feel When Stopping Antidepressants?

After all this talk about avoiding ADS symptoms, you may wonder what those symptoms feel like. The neurotransmitters affected by antidepressants also work throughout your body, so changing these levels can not only affect your emotions but your digestion, sleep, and other bodily functions.

Common symptoms while tapering antidepressants include the following:

  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • Sweating
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Shocklike “zaps” in your head
  • Vivid dreams
  • Mood changes
  • Panic attacks
  • Dizziness
  • Insomnia

While these symptoms are usually considered normal during this process, tapering antidepressants gradually under medical supervision can help minimize them, says Goel.

How to Avoid Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome

ADS can happen if you stop your medication abruptly. You may have an increased risk for ADS if you’ve been taking antidepressants for longer than six weeks.

ADS symptoms are often physically uncomfortable and may include psychological symptoms like symptoms of mania (elevated energy, irritability, and elevated mood) and thoughts of self-harm.

“Being aware of [antidepressant] discontinuation syndrome, aka withdrawal, ahead of time helps normalize the experience and reduces anxiety if symptoms occur,” says Batista. You can avoid antidepressant withdrawal by stopping your medication gradually and carefully following the schedule created by your provider.

“Pay close attention to both emotional and physical changes during the tapering process,” says Goel. “Keeping a daily log of your symptoms can help you and your provider in recognizing any early signs of discomfort or relapse. Trust your body, communicate openly with your healthcare provider, and give yourself grace throughout the process.”

When to See a Doctor

If you have symptoms after you stop taking antidepressants that last more than a month or get worse, it’s time to see your healthcare provider.

 Goel recommends seeking medical attention for these symptoms in particular:

Batista agrees: “If symptoms become severe or disruptive, or include suicidal thoughts, it’s important to pause the taper and seek medical guidance. Dizziness, nausea, and mood swings are signs that your nervous system may need a slower pace.”

The Takeaway

  • To stop antidepressants safely, it’s important to taper your dose over several weeks or months, depending on your healthcare provider’s recommendations.
  • Stopping antidepressants can cause symptoms like fatigue, headache, and nausea, and stopping them too fast can lead to antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.
  • While you taper antidepressants, check in frequently with your doctor, lean on family and friends, and take care of yourself with good nutrition, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise.

Find Help Now

If you or a loved one is experiencing significant distress or having thoughts about suicide and needs support, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

For more help and information, see these Mental Health Resources and Helplines.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Going off Antidepressants. Harvard Health Publishing . May 15, 2022.
  2. Antidepressants. MedlinePlus. March 17, 2025.
  3. Henssler J et al. Incidence of Antidepressant Discontinuation Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. July 2024.
  4. Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. August 30, 2023.
  5. Lewis G et al. Maintenance or Discontinuation of Antidepressants in Primary Care. New England Journal of Medicine. September 29, 2021.
  6. Weir K. How Hard Is It to Stop Antidepressants? American Psychological Association. April 1, 2020.
  7. Geen C. Antidepressant Discontinuation and the Role of the Pharmacist. Canadian Pharmacists Journal. July 24, 2023.
  8. Firth J et al. Food and Mood: How Do Diet and Nutrition Affect Mental Wellbeing? BMJ. June 2020.
  9. Antidepressant Withdrawal: Is There Such a Thing? Mayo Clinic. January 29, 2019.
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Angela D. Harper, MD

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Angela D. Harper, MD, is in private practice at Columbia Psychiatric Associates in South Carolina, where she provides evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for adults.  

A distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Harper has worked as a psychiatrist throughout her career, serving a large number of patients in various settings, including a psychiatric hospital on the inpatient psychiatric and addiction units, a community mental health center, and a 350-bed nursing home and rehab facility. She has provided legal case consultation for a number of attorneys.

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