Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSwitching Antidepressants SafelyStrategiesWhat to ConsiderSide Effects

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Table of Contents

Switching Antidepressants Safely

Strategies

What to Consider

Side Effects

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There are several differenttypes of antidepressant medicationsand it’s important to find the one that works best for you. According to a 2016 study, up to two-thirds of people who have depression don’t respond to the first antidepressant drug they are prescribed and need to change their medication before they see results.

As the different types of antidepressants work in different ways, there are multiple techniques to switch antidepressants, depending on what you are taking, saysJeffrey Zabinski, MD, a psychiatrist at Columbia University Medical Center.

It’s important to switch antidepressant medications carefully and in coordination with yourpsychiatrist, to minimize the risk of uncomfortable side effects, medication interactions, or worsening symptoms, says Dr. Zabinski.

Switching antidepressants is a process that must be approached carefully and under close medical observation.

Dr. Zabinski shares some steps that can help you make the transition safely:

Strategies for Switching Antidepressants

These are some of the strategies that your healthcare provider might employ while changing your medication:

It is not usually safe to just stop taking your antidepressant on your own without first consulting your psychiatrist and exploring the range of options, explains Dr. Zabinski. “If you were to stop taking medication suddenly, your risk for having worse anxiety and depression symptoms increases significantly.”

Factors to Consider Before Switching Antidepressants

According to Dr. Zabinski, these are some of the factors your healthcare provider will take into consideration when switching your antidepressant medication:

How to Know Which Antidepressant Is Best for You

Side Effects of Switching Antidepressants

When you’re switching between antidepressant medications, you may face side effects because your body may have gotten used to the previous medication, especially if you’ve been taking it for over four to six weeks.Therefore, discontinuing it can lead to a type of withdrawal known asantidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

Most of the potential side effects are uncomfortable, but not dangerous or life-threatening, says Dr. Zabinski. They may start within two to four days of stopping or tapering off the medication and last for a week or two.

The symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome can include:

In addition, starting the new antidepressant can also cause side effects such asweight gain, fatigue, dry mouth, increased heart rate, andsexual dysfunction.

What This Means For YouYou may need to switch yourantidepressantif it’s not helping your symptoms or giving you severe side effects. However, it’s not advisable to simply stop taking your medication or switching to another one without consulting your healthcare provider. Inform your healthcare provider about the symptoms you’re experiencing and work with them to develop a strategy to help you switch your medication. It’s important to follow your psychiatrist’s instructions as you make the switch, otherwise, you may be more likely to experience side effects, worsening symptoms, or medication interactions.

What This Means For You

You may need to switch yourantidepressantif it’s not helping your symptoms or giving you severe side effects. However, it’s not advisable to simply stop taking your medication or switching to another one without consulting your healthcare provider. Inform your healthcare provider about the symptoms you’re experiencing and work with them to develop a strategy to help you switch your medication. It’s important to follow your psychiatrist’s instructions as you make the switch, otherwise, you may be more likely to experience side effects, worsening symptoms, or medication interactions.

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6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Michigan.Antidepressant withdrawal.Keks N, Hope J, Keogh S.Switching and stopping antidepressants.Aust Prescr.2016;39(3):76-83. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.039Henssler J, Heinz A, Brandt L, Bschor T.Antidepressant withdrawal and rebound phenomena.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(20):355-361. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0355Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Harvard Medical School.Going off antidepressants. Harvard Health Publishing.American Academy of Family Physicians.How to safely take antidepressants.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Michigan.Antidepressant withdrawal.Keks N, Hope J, Keogh S.Switching and stopping antidepressants.Aust Prescr.2016;39(3):76-83. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.039Henssler J, Heinz A, Brandt L, Bschor T.Antidepressant withdrawal and rebound phenomena.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(20):355-361. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0355Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Harvard Medical School.Going off antidepressants. Harvard Health Publishing.American Academy of Family Physicians.How to safely take antidepressants.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

University of Michigan.Antidepressant withdrawal.Keks N, Hope J, Keogh S.Switching and stopping antidepressants.Aust Prescr.2016;39(3):76-83. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.039Henssler J, Heinz A, Brandt L, Bschor T.Antidepressant withdrawal and rebound phenomena.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(20):355-361. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0355Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Harvard Medical School.Going off antidepressants. Harvard Health Publishing.American Academy of Family Physicians.How to safely take antidepressants.

University of Michigan.Antidepressant withdrawal.

Keks N, Hope J, Keogh S.Switching and stopping antidepressants.Aust Prescr.2016;39(3):76-83. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.039

Henssler J, Heinz A, Brandt L, Bschor T.Antidepressant withdrawal and rebound phenomena.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(20):355-361. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0355

Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991

Harvard Medical School.Going off antidepressants. Harvard Health Publishing.

American Academy of Family Physicians.How to safely take antidepressants.

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