Antidepressants don’t have to be forever

Many people have difficulties when they try to go off antidepressants, largely due to tapers that are too fast and lead to withdrawal symptoms. Our team of clinicians, trained in evidence-based tapering, will work with you to develop a tailored program that's informed by the latest scientific evidence and designed to minimize withdrawal effects - even for people who have tried to stop before.

Abruptly stopping antidepressants (or going "cold turkey") is not recommended due to the risk of significant withdrawal symptoms. These can include dizziness, nausea, irritability, and electric shock-like sensations. To minimize these effects, it's recommended to work with a healthcare provider trained in the latest deprescribing methods - particularly personalized hyperbolic tapering.

Hyperbolic tapering is based on the fact that, as antidepressant dose goes up, the a drugs affect on the brain decreases. In research, this forms the graph of a hyperbolic curve. This means that, as you go down closer to zero milligrams of a drug, each dose change has a bigger affect on the brain and increases the risk of withdrawal symptoms. At Outro, we personalize this method to your medication, duration of use, and more, to help you taper at a rate you can tolerate.

In the medical community, antidepressant withdrawal symptoms are often officially referred to as Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome. This occurs when individuals abruptly stop or rapidly decrease their antidepressant medication, particularly after extended use. Due to the wide-ranging effects that antidepressants have on the body, these withdrawal symptoms can vary significantly from person to person and can last weeks or months if not tapered appropriately.

A personalized, hyperbolic tapering plan for a drug like antidepressants would take into account the half-life of the medication, how long you've used it, any previous experience of withdrawal symptoms, your current life situation, and other factors that one of our clinicians will take into account to ensure it fits your needs. With ongoing support and symptom monitoring, your taper plan can be paused or adjusted as needed.

antidepressants is an antidepressant that, if discontinued abruptly, can lead to withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms are caused because, after taking antidepressants for months or years, the body adapts to the presence of the drug. Common withdrawal symptoms include dizziness, headaches, nausea, fatigue, irritability, vivid dreams, and sensory disturbances known as "brain zaps." Some individuals may also experience mood swings, anxiety, or flu-like symptoms.

To minimize antidepressants withdrawal symptoms, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider trained in evidence-based deprescribing. This is where Outro can help. Outro clinicians can design a personalized tapering schedule to gradually reduce the dosage, allowing your body to adjust safely. Several lifestyle medicine techniques, such as exercise, good nutrition, and adequate sleep, can help support the body during this period of tapering.