Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors discontinuation syndrome

Rosenbaum, J.F., Fava, M., Hoog, S.L., Acroft, R.C., and Krebs, WB. (1998) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome a randomized clinical trial. Biol Psychiatry 44 77-87. 

In a similar study, however, reduced Glx levels were observed in the anterior cingulum of depressed patients. The level of Glx was found to increase upon effective ECT." The effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome have been investigated in patients with unipolar major depression who had been stabilised on paroxetine or fluoxetine. H NMR spectroscopic imaging of the rostral anterior cingulate was carried out 3 days after substitution of medication with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or a placebo. The ratio of Cho/tCr was deceased in patients who met the criteria of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome compared to asymptomatic subjects." ... 

Haddad P (1998) The SSRI discontinuation syndrome. J Psychopharmacol 12 305-313 Healy D (2003) Lines of evidence on the risks of suicide with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Psychother Psychosom 72 71-79... 

Discontinuing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may induce a syndrome wherein the main neuropsychiatric symptoms are dizziness, shock-like sensations, anxiety, irritability, agitation, and insomnia. These symptoms usually develop 1 to 7 days after abrupt or gradual discontinuation. Antidepressant discontinuation may also induce mania, mainly reported with tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors but also observed with SSRIs. 

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