Post-acute withdrawal syndrome from antidepressants

At a glance

Project leader : Dr. Michael Pascal Hengartner
Project team : Adele Framer
Project budget : USD 12'100
Project status : completed
Funding partner : Third party (Stefan Hearst)
Contact person : Michael Pascal Hengartner

Description

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that antidepressants can cause severe and protracted withdrawal reactions after discontinuation of long-term use. Symptoms can be both mental (e.g. panic, depression, emotional lability) and physical (e.g. dizziness, convulsions, vertigo) and have been defined as post-acute withdrawal syndrome. These reactions are attributable to a neurochemical re-adaptation of the brain. The aim of this project is to provide an accurate description of the syndrome and to explore potential factors associated with the course and symptomatology of the syndrome.

Further information

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/

Publications

Hengartner, Michael Pascal; Schulthess, Lukas; Sorensen, Anders; Framer, Adele,

2020.

Protracted withdrawal syndrome after stopping antidepressants : a descriptive quantitative analysis of consumer narratives from a large internet forum.

Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology.

10, pp. 1-13.

Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125320980573

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