Warner, 2006 Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome

[Altostrata]

This paper notes, correctly "failure to recognize antidepressant discontinuation syndrome may result in medical and psychiatric misdiagnosis, potentially exposing patients to unnecessary diagnostic investigations or potentially risky medical interventions...."

 

Am Fam Physician. 2006 Aug 1;74(3):449-56.

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

Warner CH, Bobo W, Warner C, Reid S, Rachal J.

 

Source

 

Winn Army Community Hospital, Fort Stewart, Georgia, USA. Christopher.h.warner@us.army.mil

 

Abstract and full text at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16913164

 

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome occurs in approximately 20 percent of patients after abrupt discontinuation of an antidepressant medication that was taken for at least six weeks. Typical symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome include flu-like symptoms, insomnia, nausea, imbalance, sensory disturbances, and hyperarousal. These symptoms usually are mild, last one to two weeks, and are rapidly extinguished with reinstitution of antidepressant medication. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome is more likely with a longer duration of treatment and a shorter half-life of the treatment drug. A high index of suspicion should be maintained for the emergence of discontinuation symptoms, which should prompt close questioning regarding accidental or purposeful self-discontinuation of medication. Before antidepressants are prescribed, patient education should include warnings about the potential problems associated with abrupt discontinuation. Education about this common and likely underrecognized clinical phenomenon will help prevent future episodes and minimize the risk of misdiagnosis.

[Bruci]

There seems to be a lack of research on the neurophysiological mechanisms of antidepressant withdrawal. Are there any important recent (2020) papers that discuss this? Does anyone know researchers who are studying this? I would be interested in interviewing them for an article. Thanks.