“I Stopped My Antidepressants Suddenly”

Описание: Stopping antidepressants suddenly can lead to withdrawal symptoms, known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, which can be severe and, in some cases, persist for months or even years. Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), alter brain chemistry by regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin. When these medications are abruptly discontinued, the brain struggles to adapt, leading to a range of physical and psychological withdrawal effects.

Common withdrawal symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headaches, brain zaps (electric shock-like sensations in the brain), mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, and flu-like symptoms. In some individuals, more severe effects such as panic attacks, cognitive impairment, emotional numbness, and even suicidal thoughts can occur. For those who experience protracted withdrawal or post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), symptoms can persist for months or even years, sometimes resembling a return of depression or anxiety but actually stemming from lingering neurochemical imbalances caused by withdrawal.

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