|
Antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome:
The
problem
of
"antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome"
has
been
recognized
in
medicine
for
years.
The
American
Academy
of
Family
Practice
offers
the
following
perspective:
American
Academy
of
Family
Practice
position
on
antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome
The
problem
with
the
position
of
the
American
Academy
of
Family
Practice
and
for
that
matter
all
of
medicine
is
that
the
only
approach
of
antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome
recommended
is:
It
is
the
position
of
NeuroResearch
Clinics
that
antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome
is
caused
by
depletion
of
neurotransmitters
in
the
brain
by
the
drug
setting
up
conditions
where
when
the
patient
attempts
to
stop
the
drug
neurotransmitter
levels
in
the
synapse
drop
lower
than
at
the
start
of
treatment
causing
the
symptoms
known
as
"antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome"
to
display.
PROPER
MANAGEMENT
OF
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
DISCONTINUATION
SYNDROME
None
of
the
standard
approaches
recommended
by
the
American
Academy
of
Family
Practice
or
in
medicine
for
that
matter
address
the
cause
of
the
problem
that
has
lead
to
discontinuation
syndrome,
"neurotransmitter
depletion
by
drugs".
Discontinuation
syndrome
can
be
managed
easily
by
starting
properly
balanced
serotonin
and
dopamine
nutrients
with
neurotransmitter testing
as
indicted.
Once
that
patient's
disease
symptoms
are
fully
stabilized
the
drug
can
be
tapered
with
minimum
impact
of
antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome.
ANTIDEPRESSANT
DISCONTINUATION
SYNDROME
SYMPTOMS
It
has
been
asserted
by
20%
of
patients
taking
antidepressants
experience
antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome.
This
assertion
is
over
simplistic.
The
percentage
of
patients
experiencing
discontinuation
syndrome
is
dependent
upon:
-
The length of time the drug is taken
-
The drug being taken
-
The dose of the drug being taken
-
How abruptly the drug is stopped
For
example,
most
patients
taking
the
prescription
drug
Celexa
at
any
dosing
level
for
six
months
can
be
stopped
abruptly
in
almost
all
patients
whereas
over
70%
of
patients
taking
Paxil
for
six
month
experience
discontinuation
syndrome.
Symptoms
of
antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome
include:
-
flu-like symptoms
-
insomnia
-
nausea
-
imbalance
-
sensory disturbances
-
hyperarousal
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Antidepressant
discontinuation
syndrome |
