title: [Withdrawal symptoms of antidepressants].
abstract: Withdrawal symptoms are encountered with both the classical anti-depressants, i.e. the tricyclic antidepressants and monoamineoxidase inhibitors, the modern antidepressants, i.e. the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, and the new antidepressants such as venlafaxine and mirtazapine. The symptoms that are reported following the withdrawal of these drugs can be classified into 8 groups: influenza-like symptoms, psychic symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep disorders, equilibrium disorders, sensory disturbances, extrapyramidal symptoms and other symptoms. It is characteristic of these symptoms that they appear 1-4 days after reduction of the dose or the last administration of the drug. They may also appear in the infants of mothers who used an antidepressant during the last phase of the pregnancy. It is important that the patient be informed accurately and carefully at the start and termination of any treatment with an antidepressant. In order to prevent withdrawal symptoms, it is advisable to reduce the dosage slowly if possible when the treatment is to be terminated.
authors.affiliation: Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Psychiatrie B1-P, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden.
authors.forename: J J D
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vlaminck
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: van Vliet
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Zitman
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors