How do you taper off an antidepressant safely?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
With a plan: the NHS says your doctor gradually reduces the dose over several weeks or months - their schedule, not improvisation. The reason: your brain adapted over months and needs weeks to re-adapt; cutting too fast triggers discontinuation symptoms - dizziness, nausea, insomnia, vivid dreams, irritability, brain zaps. Uncomfortable, not dangerous, and the signal to slow down, not panic: a small step back up, then smaller steps. Venlafaxine and paroxetine need the most patience; fluoxetine is the most forgiving. Learn the separation: discontinuation (days after a cut, fades in a couple of weeks) versus relapse (the original illness returning, weeks later, building) - opposite meanings, and your prescriber helps you tell them apart. Pick a stable life stretch for the taper. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you prepare.
What to do
- Follow the schedule, not your mood: weeks to months is normal.
- Brain zaps mean slow down: not danger - pace.
- Track symptoms weekly: discontinuation fades; relapse builds.
- Pick a calm season: stability makes tapers smoother.
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