Fwd: [SSRI-Research] SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome

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SSRI-Research ,

 

JustSayNo

Thu, 04 Dec 2003 08:29:43 -0500

[sSRI-Research] SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome

 

SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome

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http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.withdrawal.html

 

The following criteria define the SSRI (or venlafaxine) withdrawal syndrome:

 

Criterion A: A course of treatment in which an SSRI (or vanlafaxine) is

stopped or interrupted or the dose is reduced after a period of 4 weeks or

more.

 

Criterion B: Two or more of the following symptoms develop within 1 to 10

days of criterion A (except for fluoxetine in which case the symptoms must

develop within 28 days):

 

(a) dizziness or light headedness

(b) nausea and/or vomiting

© headaches

(d) lethargy

(e) anxiety and/or agitation

(f) tingling (parasthesias), numbness or " electric " shock-like sensations

(g) tremors

(h) sweating

(i)insomnia

(j) irritability

(k) vertigo (dizziness)

(l) diarrhea

 

Criterion C: The symptoms of criterion B cause clinically significant

distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of

functioning.

 

Criterion D: The symptoms are not due to a general medical condition or the

direct physiological effects of another substance (e.g., a medication or a

drug of misuse) that has been recently commenced, stopped, or altered in

dosage.

 

Criterion E: The disorder is not better accounted for by an exacerbation/

relapse/recurrence of the psychiatric disorder for which the SSRI was

prescribed.

 

Adapted from:

Haddad PM The SSRI discontinuation syndrome: literature review and

provisional diagnostic criteria. Presented at: XXIst Collegium

Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum Congress. July 12-16, 1998;

Glasgow, Scotland. Reprinted in International Drug Therapy Newsletter. 1998,

33, 46.