QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
What are the symptoms of SSRI withdrawal?
ANSWER:
1) dizziness,
2) light-headedness
3) vertigo or feeling faint
4) shock-like sensations
5) paresthesia
6) anxiety
7) diarrhea
8) fatigue
9) gait instability
10) headache
11) insomnia
12) irritability
13) nausea or vomiting
14) tremor
15) visual disturbances.
Symptoms begin within 1-7 days after stopping an SSRI (sometimes with a reduction in
dose), if SSRI is used for a month. Approximately 50% are better in a week, for others the
symptoms last much longer.
Prozac leaves the body slowly and is not associated with SSRI withdrawal.
Slowly tapering the SSRI is one way to avoid this phenomenon, as is a temporary switch to
Prozac.
