"Been On Antidepressants For Years and Considering a Drug Holiday?"
Millions rely on antidepressants long-term, but without proper follow-up or guidance, stopping or adjusting the medication can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms, side effects, and potential risks.
If you’ve been on an antidepressant for a long time—months, years, or even decades—you’re not alone. Millions of people rely on these medications for relief from depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders.
However, many are given a prescription and then sent on their way with little to no professional follow-up. It’s like suddenly being thrust into a long-term relationship with a powerful medication, and no one is checking to see if you two are still compatible.
This is suboptimal at best, and dangerous at worst. If you’re eyeing the exit door or thinking of adjusting your dose, let’s walk through what that process actually looks like—safely and with the right medical guidance.
How Not To Stop Antidepressants
First, never stop an antidepressant cold turkey. Doing so can lead to antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS), which triggers withdrawal-like symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, achiness, insomnia, or the dreaded return of depressive symptoms.
This isn’t a rare occurrence. According to several studies, severe and persistent withdrawal symptoms affect up to 50% of those of antidepressants, especially with SSRIs such as paroxetine or SNRIs like venlafaxine.
If you’re considering tapering off antidepressants, do so gradually—typically over weeks or even months, customized to your specific medication, dosage, and personal response.
This process should be supervised by your prescribing physician, ideally a psychiatrist. And don’t underestimate the value of good psychological support during this transition, especially if your antidepressants were prescribed during a tumultuous life chapter.
What About Long-Term Use?
If you’ve been on antidepressants for years, yes, there are potential side effects. A study examined 180 people who’d been on antidepressants for 3-15 years and found that it may be associated with withdrawal symptoms, weight gain, and sexual problems (Cartwright et al., 2016).
There’s also emerging data suggesting prolonged use might affect neurotransmitter sensitivity over time.
That said, if you want to stay on your medication, that’s a perfectly valid decision. Alternatively, if you’re doing well and wondering if you still need your antidepressant, that’s a conversation worth having, too (with your doctor, not alone!).
Whether you’re on medication or not, what truly matters is having the right combination of support, treatment, and care so you stay safe in your own mind, for now and years to come.
