Health
How to Safely Stop Antidepressants After 40
Health Points
- Gradually reducing antidepressant doses with therapy lowers relapse risk.
- Slow tapering is as effective as staying on medication for some adults.
- Therapy alongside tapering supports mental well-being during the process.
If you’re considering stopping antidepressants, new research highlights that easing off slowly while maintaining psychological support is the most effective method.
Data from over 17,000 adults shows that a careful, slow taper combined with therapy helps prevent new episodes of depression or anxiety at rates similar to continued medication.
“The key message of our study is that the way people stop antidepressants makes a substantial difference in their risk of relapse,” says Giovanni Ostuzzi, MD, PhD, psychiatry professor at the University of Verona.
Researchers found that a gradual reduction in antidepressant dosage over at least four weeks, paired with therapy, can significantly lower the chance of relapse.
The most protective approach was staying on a regular dose with ongoing therapy, while abrupt stopping or fast tapering carried higher relapse risks.
Psychological support often included short-term cognitive behavioral therapy, helping individuals spot triggers, recognize early relapse signs, and build coping strategies.
According to Bryan Shapiro, MD, MPH, tapering strategies often mean reducing the dose by 10 to 25 percent every month, allowing the brain and body to adjust.
“You need to go extremely slow in order to meaningfully reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms and relapse,” advises Dr. Shapiro.
Dr. Ken Duckworth likens the process to “landing an airplane.”
“You descend slowly; nothing is done abruptly,” Dr. Duckworth explains. “You taper off and you spend time with the patient, talking through potential implications and discussing early warning signs of relapse.”
If you’re thinking about discontinuing antidepressants, speak to your doctor about your readiness, improvements in life circumstances, therapy progress, and any side effects you may be experiencing.
Keep an eye out for withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, irritability, mood changes, brain fog, sleep disturbances, or electric shock-like sensations in the head known as “brain zaps.”
Withdrawal signs don’t always mean relapse but should be taken seriously and discussed with a healthcare professional. Take charge of your mental health journey with the support and guidance of your healthcare team.
