Depression: Should I Stop Taking My Antidepressant
What is a Decision Point?
Depression: Should I Stop Taking My Antidepressant?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? Get the facts Your options
Key points to remember
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:
What other things can you do to treat depression?You may want to try other ways to help treat or prevent depression. General health Taking care of your overall health can help you treat depression. You can:
Complementary medicine The herb St. John's wort may help treat mild depression. But it may cause problems with other medicines that you're taking, so you need to talk to your doctor before you take it. Why might your doctor recommend stopping your antidepressant?Your doctor might recommend stopping your antidepressant if:
Compare your options Compare
Stop taking your
antidepressant Stop taking your
antidepressant
Keep taking it
Keep taking it
Personal stories Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide. Personal stories about stopping depression medicineThese 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. Azim, age 40 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. Walker, age 23 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. Inez, age 35 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. Rachel, age 29 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 over-the-counter medicine like St. John's wort. 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? Check the facts 1.
What is the best reason to stop taking depression medicine?
2.
How long do you need to take a depression medicine to lower the chance that your depression could come back?
3.
What is the best way to stop your depression medicine?
Decide what's next 1.
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? Certainty 1.
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. 3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Your Summary Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Your decisionNext steps Which way you're leaning How sure you are Your comments Your knowledge of the factsKey concepts that you understood Key concepts that may need review Getting ready to actPatient choices CreditsCredits
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.
1. Get the factsYour options
Key points to remember
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:
What other things can you do to treat depression?You may want to try other ways to help treat or prevent depression. General health Taking care of your overall health can help you treat depression. You can:
Complementary medicine The herb St. John's wort may help treat mild depression. But it may cause problems with other medicines that you're taking, so you need to talk to your doctor before you take it. Why might your doctor recommend stopping your antidepressant?Your doctor might recommend stopping your antidepressant if:
2. Compare your options
Personal storiesAre you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide. Personal stories about stopping depression medicineThese 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." — Azim, age 40 "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." — Walker, age 23 "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." — Inez, age 35 "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." — Rachel, age 29 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 over-the-counter medicine like St. John's wort. 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 facts1. 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.
3. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Credits
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. Last Revised: January 12, 2011 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise 
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions. To learn more visit Healthwise.org © 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. |
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