Antidepressant Tapering Is Not Routine But Could Be

Discussion:
While reports of severe withdrawal are increasingly recognized and must be addressed, our data suggest that many patients can discontinue their antidepressants without a taper through the lowest dose. However, it is difficult to identify which patients will struggle without a careful taper. A "one-size-fits-all" taper approach is recommended, balancing the need for withdrawal prevention with the need to avoid unnecessary complexity for the majority of patients. The first decrement is key for all patients: it must go well. Thereafter many patients may accelerate but all should receive a prescription for the lowest available dose of their antidepressant.

Source: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine - February 9, 2023 Category: Primary Care Authors: Phelps, J., Nguyen, J., Coskey, O. P. Tags: Brief Report Source Type: research