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QUOTE(Tanha @ May 23 2007, 10:02 PM) **hugs* I know how you feel...I often feel like an outsider here so it's hard for me to post at times, but I know I have a few friends here who care. I love the forum and that's why I stay. There's such a wide variety of people with all kinds of experiences to learn from...plus I need all the help I can get.
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Depression & Mental Health FAQs
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated 40 million Americans living today will suffer from major depressive illness during their lives. Seasonal affective disorder is major depression that appears in the fall or winter and goes away in spring, thought to be caused by lack of sunlight.
Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of a women giving childbirth. Most new mothers suffer from some form of the �baby blues.� Postpartum depression, by contrast, is major depression, thought to be triggered by changes in hormonal flows associated with childbirth. Catatonic depression is a rare form of major depression characterized by (at least two): Stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism, peculiarities in voluntary movement, and repetition of other people's words or actions. - mcmanweb.com
Psychotic depression is a rare form of depression characterized by delusions or hallucinations, such as believing you are someone you are not and hearing voices.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder. Depression is a chronic illness that exacts a significant toll on
America's health and productivity. It affects more than 21 million
American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of
disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44.
Lost productive time among U.S. workers due to depression is estimated
to be in excess of $31 billion per year. Depression frequently
co-occurs with a variety of medical illnesses such as heart disease,
cancer, and chronic pain and is associated with poorer health status
and prognosis. It is also the principal cause of the 30,000 suicides
in the U.S. each year. In 2004, suicide was the 11 th leading cause of death in the United States, third among individuals 15-24.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is presently on track to becoming the world's second-most disabling disease (after heart disease) by the year 2020. Depression is responsible for some $87 billion a year in lost productivity in the US (a conservative estimate), and according to Bank One, is responsible for most lost work days in its employees after pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, one million people worldwide die by their own hand, most as a result of a mood disorder. Finally, the linkage between depression and a host of physical illnesses makes it arguably the world's greatest killer.
Research presented at the 56th Annual Conference of the Canadian
Psychiatric Association shows a marked link between bipolar disorder
and migraines. The odds of migraine in persons with bipolar disorder were 40% higher than the general population. Data
obtained from 36,984 people aged 15 and over, who screened positive for
manic or depressive episodes with migraine, were compared against those
who screened positive for mania but who didn�t suffer from migraines. Amongst
males, 14.9% of those with manic episodes were also diagnosed with
migraines compared with 5.8% of the general population. Amongst
females, 34.7% had both migraines and bipolar disorder compared with
14.7% who only had migraines.unquote.gif While the research was
skewed towards persons who were already diagnosed with bipolar
disorders, what does it mean for people who suffer from migraines but
who may have an undiagnosed bipolar disorder?
Migraines and headaches aren�t fully understood but the manifestations are very real and debilitating for their sufferers: Throbbing pain Nausea Heightened sensitivity to light or sound Seeing dots, wavy lines, flashing lights, or blind spots Difficulty with speech, sensation, or movement
An estimated 2.1 million
American adolescents have experienced major depression within the last
year, according to a new comprehensive government study. Researchers
surveyed more than 67,000 young people ages 12 to 17 and found that one
in 12 had suffered from serious depression in the previous year.Nearly
13 percent of girls had struggled with depression, compared to less
than 5 percent of boys. Odds of depression increased with age -- just 4
percent of 12-year-olds experienced depression but that climbed to 11
percent for older teens.
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Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndromes:
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Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndromes: Common, Under-Recognised and Not Always Benign
Introduction
Antidepressants have varying potentials to cause discontinuation syndromes. Symptoms begin within a few days of stopping or reducing the dosage of the drug and are usually mild and short-lived. However, in some patients, antidepressant discontinuation symptoms can produce significant morbidity, be incorrectly attributed to other causes, and lead to subsequent lack of compliance with antidepressant therapy. The best approach to the problem is prevention, which involves educating patients and healthcare professionals about discontinuation symptoms and ensuring that antidepressants are tapered before they are stopped. When symptoms do occur, reassurance is usually sufficient; in some patients, however, there may be a need for symptomatic treatment, temporary reinstatement of the antidepressant (followed by careful tapering), or a switch to fluoxetine (which has a low potential for discontinuation symptoms). More research into this common and clinically relevant syndrome is required so that evidence-based recommendations can be developed.
All Types of Antidepressants Are Implicated
So far, at least 21 different antidepressants have been reported to cause discontinuation symptoms (table 1). All major classes of antidepressants have been implicated.
Many Different Syndromes Exist
Discontinuation syndromes vary considerably with respect to symptom type, grouping and severity. General features associated with discontinuation syndromes involving different classes of antidepressants are as follows:
* in patients stopping selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most common discontinuation syndrome involves 6 main symptom groups (table 2). Both physical and psychological symptoms may be experienced; the most commonly reported symptoms are dizziness, nausea, lethargy and headache
* as with SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)-associated discontinuation syndromes also include both physical and psychological symptoms but are much less likely to be associated with sensory abnormalities and problems with equilibrium (table 2). Hypomania, akathisia, parkinsonism, cardiac arrhythmias, panic attacks and delirium have been reported on rare occasions in patients discontinuing TCAs
* stoppage of venlafaxine can result in an SSRI-like discontinuation syndrome
* monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) discontinuation syndromes, particularly those involving tranylcypromine, can result in psychotic confusion, worsening of depressive symptoms, hypomania and generalised seizures.
Key Clinical Features Suggest the Diagnosis
Common clinical features of antidepressant discontinuation syndromes include the following:
* antecedent antidepressant discontinuation or (less commonly) dosage reduction
* appropriate onset, i.e. usually within a few days of discontinuing or reducing the dose of an antidepressant
* adequate duration of treatment. Antidepressant discontinuation symptoms are rare in patients who have been treated for less than 5 weeks
* short duration (between 1 day and 3 weeks) if left untreated
* rapid reversibility (within 24 hours) on recommencement of the withdrawn drug.
It is important to note, however, that while most antidepressant discontinuation reactions are mild and transient, others may persist for up to 3 months and/or be associated with substantial morbidity.
Discontinuation Symptoms Common...
Discontinuation symptom rates in patients taking older antidepressants can be high, as evidenced by reports of 100% with imipramine, 80% with amitriptyline, 33% with clomipramine and 32% with phenelzine. Abrupt discontinuation of treatment with newer agents such as sertraline, paroxetine, and venlafaxine also results in spontaneously reported discontinuation symptoms in at least 1 out of 3 patients. Even higher rates have been documented when patients are specifically asked about symptoms, with one study finding evidence of discontinuation syndromes in 2 out of 3 patients treated with paroxetine and sertraline.
...Except in Patients Taking Fluoxetine
Presumably because of the long half-lives of the parent drug (2 to 4 days) and its active metabolite norfluoxetine (7 to 15 days), fluoxetine appears to be much less likely to be associated with discontinuation symptoms than SSRIs such as paroxetine and sertraline. When spontaneous adverse drug reaction reports in the UK (up to March 1993) were analysed, the rate of discontinuation reactions per 1000 prescriptions was 100 times lower with fluoxetine than with paroxetine (0.002 vs 0.3 per 1000, respectively) . Furthermore, in a double-blind placebo-controlled 'treatment interruption' study, discontinuation of fluoxetine for 5 to 8 days was found to produce fewer adverse events than discontinuation of sertraline or paroxetine for a similar length of time (p
Good History Makes Diagnosis Easier...
Unexpected physical or psychological symptoms in a patient who has recently stopped taking an antidepressant point to an antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. The diagnosis also becomes clearer when direct questioning reveals noncompliance with therapy in patients currently on an antidepressant prescription.
...And Prevents the Pitfalls of Misdiagnosis
Antidepressant discontinuation symptoms can be misinterpreted as:
* recurrence of depression in a patient who stops his/her antidepressant therapy following remission of the original illness
* evidence that an antidepressant is ineffective in a patient who fails to comply with his/her therapy
* adverse effects of a new antidepressant following switching from 1 antidepressant to another.
In all of these cases, subsequent decisions about investigation, referral and treatment are likely to be inappropriate, may lead to a waste of resources, and can contribute to an incorrect and more negative prognosis.
Figure 1. Data from an analysis of UK spontaneous adverse reaction (ADR) reports of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (to March 1993) showing the number of discontinuation reactions per 1000 prescriptions.
Compliance May Suffer in Affected Patients
It is not uncommon for patients to miss antidepressant doses for several days. Such discontinuations would be expected to produce symptoms, which can develop within hours of missing a single dose of some agents. A compliance problem can then arise if the patient links his/her symptoms to the antidepressant without understanding the mechanism for development of symptoms, and particularly when the patient considers these symptoms to be evidence of 'addiction' to the antidepressant. In this way, discontinuation symptoms can result from, and cause, poor compliance.
Tapering May Prevent Symptoms...
Various case reports have shown that discontinuation symptoms can be suppressed by re-introduction of the antidepressant, with subsequent tapering preventing their re-emergence. Such findings support the conventional recommendation that discontinuation of antidepressants should be tapered as a matter of routine.
...But is More an Art Than a Science
Unfortunately, there are no controlled data demonstrating the effectiveness of tapering in general or of any tapering regimen in particular. According to the British National Formulary, antidepressants administered for 8 weeks or more should be reduced over a 4-week period. Other authorities suggest reducing treatment dosage by one-quarter every 4 to 6 weeks after maintenance treatment. Another approach with SSRIs is to halve the dose and administer the drug on alternate days.
A number of specific factors will also influence tapering strategies. These include:
* the antidepressant used. Fluoxetine, for example, rarely causes discontinuation symptoms and accordingly may not need to be tapered as a matter of routine. Paroxetine and venlafaxine, in contrast, are much more likely to be associated with discontinuation symptoms and should therefore be tapered. Careful tapering is also required when stopping MAOIs, which can cause very severe discontinuation symptoms
* duration of therapy. Discontinuation symptoms are more likely in patients who have received more prolonged periods of therapy. Indeed, there is probably no need for tapering in patients who have received antidepressants for short periods
* previous history of discontinuation symptoms. Patients who have previously experienced discontinuation symptoms may require very gradual tapering.
Fluoxetine May Help
Anecdotal reports suggest that fluoxetine, at least in some cases, can suppress discontinuation symptoms associated with other SSRIs and venlafaxine. When successful in this regard, fluoxetine can then generally be stopped without re-emergence of symptoms.
Switching Therapies is a Special Case
The importance of establishing effective antidepressant therapy overrides concerns about possible discontinuation symptoms in patients who require a switch of antidepressant therapy because of lack of efficacy. In such cases, rapid tapering or even abrupt switching is often justifiable, although the potential for discontinuation symptoms must be borne in mind. Other factors to consider when switching antidepressants include the possibility of drug interactions and the need for an appropriate wash-out period.
Education of Both Patients and Doctors Needed
Current evidence suggests that substantial proportions of general practitioners, psychiatrists and pharmacists are unfamiliar with antidepressant discontinuation syndromes. In addition, patients are generally unaware that antidepressants are not addictive, that abrupt stoppage of antidepressants (because of noncompliance or when starting drug holidays to reduce adverse effects) can cause discontinuation symptoms, and that tapering of antidepressants is recommended to avoid such symptoms.
Flexible Approach to Treatment Required
Patients with discontinuation symptoms who remain depressed (e.g. treatment noncompliers) and those who are at high risk of relapse/recurrence should be recommenced on their antidepressant. In other cases, the severity of the discontinuation syndrome should determine treatment. Most patients will have mild reactions and need to be reassured only. Symptoms of moderate severity may require symptomatic treatment (e.g. short course benzodiazepines for insomnia). Severe or treatment-refractory symptoms may require recommencement of the antidepressant and subsequent careful tapering. Antipsychotics and hospital admission may also be required in patients who develop severe mania, confusion or psychotic symptoms.
Newborns Can Develop Symptoms...
Maternal use of antidepressants during pregnancy can result in a neonatal discontinuation syndrome characterised by symptoms such as irritability, respiratory difficulty and poor feeding. Tapering or discontinuing antidepressants prior to delivery may therefore be beneficial for the neonate, but also introduces the risk of depressive relapse in the mother. Neonates born to mothers on antidepressant therapy should be monitored for discontinuation symptoms over the first week of life.
...Or Even as a Result of Breast Feeding
All antidepressants studied have been shown to be present in breast milk and therefore have the potential to cause toxic effects in breast fed infants. Furthermore, a possible case of neonatal discontinuation reaction following abrupt discontinuation of sertraline by a nursing mother has been reported. Whether the possibility of antidepressant neonatal toxicity and/or discontinuation symptoms outweighs the benefits of breast feeding for mother and infant is a decision which can be made only on a case by case basis.
Tables
Table 1. Antidepressants reported to have caused discontinuation symptoms
Class Drugs
TCAs and related compounds Amineptine, amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, trazodone
MAOIs Isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine
SSRIs Citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline
Miscellaneous antidepressants Venlafaxine, nefazodone, mirtazapine
TCA = tricyclic antidepressant; MAOI = monoamine oxidase inhibitor; SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Table 2. Key symptom groups and common symptoms in SSRI and TCA discontinuation syndromes
Symptom group Common symptoms Common feature of
SSRI discontinuation syndromes Common feature of
TCA discontinuation
syndromes
Dysequilibrium Light headedness/dizziness, vertigo, ataxia
Sensory symptoms Paraesthesia, numbness, electric shock-like sensations
General somatic symptoms Lethargy, headache, tremor, sweating, anorexia
Sleep disturbance Insomnia, nightmares, excessive dreaming
Gastrointestinal symptoms Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
Affective symptoms Irritability, anxiety/agitation, low mood
SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; TCA = tricyclic antidepressant.
References
1. Haddad PM. Antidepressant discontinuation syndromes: clinical relevance, prevention and management. Drug Saf 2001; 24 (3): 183-97
2. Haddad P. The SSRI discontinuation syndrome. J Psychopharmacol 1998; 12 (3): 305-13
3. Michelson D, Fava M, Amsterdam J, et al. Interruption of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment: double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2000; 176: 363-8
4. Oehrberg S, Christiansen PE, Behnke K, et al. Paroxetine in the treatment of panic disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Psychiatry 1991; 167: 374-9
5. Fava M, Mulroy R, Alpert J, et al. Emergence of adverse effects following discontinuation of treatment with extended-release venlafaxine. Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154 (12): 1760-2
6. Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Hoog SL, et al. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: a randomised clinical trial. Biol Psychiatry 1998; 44: 77-87
7. Olver JS, Burrows GD, Norman TR. Discontinuation syndromes with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: are there clinically relevant differences? CNS Drugs 1999 Sep; 12 (3): 171-7
8. Price JS, Waller PC, Wood SM, et al. A comparison of the postmarketing safety of four selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, including the investigation of symptoms occurring, on withdrawal. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1996; 42: 757-63
9. British National Formulary. No. 41. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 2001 Mar: 187
10. Rosenbaum JF, Zajecka J. Clinical management of antidepressant discontinuation. J Clin Psychiatry 1997; 58 Suppl. 7: 37-40
11. Kent LSW, Laidlaw JDD. Suspected congenital sertraline dependence . Br J Psychiatry 1995; 167: 412-3
-----------------------------------------------
Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndromes
Common, Under-Recognised and Not Always Benign
Introduction
Antidepressants have varying potentials to cause discontinuation syndromes. Symptoms begin within a few days of stopping or reducing the dosage of the drug and are usually mild and short-lived. However, in some patients, antidepressant discontinuation symptoms can produce significant morbidity, be incorrectly attributed to other causes, and lead to subsequent lack of compliance with antidepressant therapy. The best approach to the problem is prevention, which involves educating patients and healthcare professionals about discontinuation symptoms and ensuring that antidepressants are tapered before they are stopped.
When symptoms do occur, reassurance is usually sufficient; in some patients, however, there may be a need for symptomatic treatment, temporary reinstatement of the antidepressant (followed by careful tapering), or a switch to fluoxetine (which has a low potential for discontinuation symptoms). More research into this common and clinically relevant syndrome is required so that evidence-based recommendations can be developed.
All Types of Antidepressants Are Implicated
So far, at least 21 different antidepressants have been reported to cause discontinuation symptoms (table 1). All major classes of antidepressants have been implicated.
Many Different Syndromes Exist
Discontinuation syndromes vary considerably with respect to symptom type, grouping and severity. General features associated with discontinuation syndromes involving different classes of antidepressants are as follows:
* in patients stopping selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most common discontinuation syndrome involves 6 main symptom groups (table 2). Both physical and psychological symptoms may be experienced; the most commonly reported symptoms are dizziness, nausea, lethargy and headache
* as with SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)-associated discontinuation syndromes also include both physical and psychological symptoms but are much less likely to be associated with sensory abnormalities and problems with equilibrium (table 2). Hypomania, akathisia, parkinsonism, cardiac arrhythmias, panic attacks and delirium have been reported on rare occasions in patients discontinuing TCAs
* stoppage of venlafaxine can result in an SSRI-like discontinuation syndrome
* monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) discontinuation syndromes, particularly those involving tranylcypromine, can result in psychotic confusion, worsening of depressive symptoms, hypomania and generalised seizures.
Key Clinical Features Suggest the Diagnosis
Common clinical features of antidepressant discontinuation syndromes include the following:
* antecedent antidepressant discontinuation or (less commonly) dosage reduction
* appropriate onset, i.e. usually within a few days of discontinuing or reducing the dose of an antidepressant
* adequate duration of treatment. Antidepressant discontinuation symptoms are rare in patients who have been treated for less than 5 weeks
* short duration (between 1 day and 3 weeks) if left untreated
* rapid reversibility (within 24 hours) on recommencement of the withdrawn drug.
It is important to note, however, that while most antidepressant discontinuation reactions are mild and transient, others may persist for up to 3 months and/or be associated with substantial morbidity.
Discontinuation Symptoms Common...
Discontinuation symptom rates in patients taking older antidepressants can be high, as evidenced by reports of 100% with imipramine, 80% with amitriptyline, 33% with clomipramine and 32% with phenelzine. Abrupt discontinuation of treatment with newer agents such as sertraline, paroxetine, and venlafaxine also results in spontaneously reported discontinuation symptoms in at least 1 out of 3 patients. Even higher rates have been documented when patients are specifically asked about symptoms, with one study finding evidence of discontinuation syndromes in 2 out of 3 patients treated with paroxetine and sertraline.
* ...Except in Patients Taking Fluoxetine
Presumably because of the long half-lives of the parent drug (2 to 4 days) and its active metabolite norfluoxetine (7 to 15 days), fluoxetine appears to be much less likely to be associated with discontinuation symptoms than SSRIs such as paroxetine and sertraline. When spontaneous adverse drug reaction reports in the UK (up to March 1993) were analysed, the rate of discontinuation reactions per 1000 prescriptions was 100 times lower with fluoxetine than with paroxetine (0.002 vs 0.3 per 1000, respectively) . Furthermore, in a double-blind placebo-controlled 'treatment interruption' study, discontinuation of fluoxetine for 5 to 8 days was found to produce fewer adverse events than discontinuation of sertraline or paroxetine for a similar length of time (p
* Good History Makes Diagnosis Easier...
Unexpected physical or psychological symptoms in a patient who has recently stopped taking an antidepressant point to an antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. The diagnosis also becomes clearer when direct questioning reveals noncompliance with therapy in patients currently on an antidepressant prescription.
* ...And Prevents the Pitfalls of Misdiagnosis
Antidepressant discontinuation symptoms can be misinterpreted as:
o recurrence of depression in a patient who stops his/her antidepressant therapy following remission of the original illness
o evidence that an antidepressant is ineffective in a patient who fails to comply with his/her therapy
o adverse effects of a new antidepressant following switching from 1 antidepressant to another. In all of these cases, subsequent decisions about investigation, referral and treatment are likely to be inappropriate, may lead to a waste of resources, and can contribute to an incorrect and more negative prognosis.
Compliance May Suffer in Affected Patients
It is not uncommon for patients to miss antidepressant doses for several days. Such discontinuations would be expected to produce symptoms, which can develop within hours of missing a single dose of some agents. A compliance problem can then arise if the patient links his/her symptoms to the antidepressant without understanding the mechanism for development of symptoms, and particularly when the patient considers these symptoms to be evidence of 'addiction' to the antidepressant. In this way, discontinuation symptoms can result from, and cause, poor compliance.
Tapering May Prevent Symptoms...
Various case reports have shown that discontinuation symptoms can be suppressed by re-introduction of the antidepressant, with subsequent tapering preventing their re-emergence. Such findings support the conventional recommendation that discontinuation of antidepressants should be tapered as a matter of routine.
* ...But is More an Art Than a Science
Unfortunately, there are no controlled data demonstrating the effectiveness of tapering in general or of any tapering regimen in particular. According to the British National Formulary, antidepressants administered for 8 weeks or more should be reduced over a 4-week period. Other authorities suggest reducing treatment dosage by one-quarter every 4 to 6 weeks after maintenance treatment. Another approach with SSRIs is to halve the dose and administer the drug on alternate days.
A number of specific factors will also influence tapering strategies. These include:
* the antidepressant used. Fluoxetine, for example, rarely causes discontinuation symptoms and accordingly may not need to be tapered as a matter of routine. Paroxetine and venlafaxine, in contrast, are much more likely to be associated with discontinuation symptoms and should therefore be tapered. Careful tapering is also required when stopping MAOIs, which can cause very severe discontinuation symptoms
* duration of therapy. Discontinuation symptoms are more likely in patients who have received more prolonged periods of therapy. Indeed, there is probably no need for tapering in patients who have received antidepressants for short periods
* previous history of discontinuation symptoms. Patients who have previously experienced discontinuation symptoms may require very gradual tapering.
Fluoxetine May Help
Anecdotal reports suggest that fluoxetine, at least in some cases, can suppress discontinuation symptoms associated with other SSRIs and venlafaxine. When successful in this regard, fluoxetine can then generally be stopped without re-emergence of symptoms.
Switching Therapies is a Special Case
The importance of establishing effective antidepressant therapy overrides concerns about possible discontinuation symptoms in patients who require a switch of antidepressant therapy because of lack of efficacy. In such cases, rapid tapering or even abrupt switching is often justifiable, although the potential for discontinuation symptoms must be borne in mind. Other factors to consider when switching antidepressants include the possibility of drug interactions and the need for an appropriate wash-out period..
Education of Both Patients and Doctors Needed
Current evidence suggests that substantial proportions of general practitioners, psychiatrists and pharmacists are unfamiliar with antidepressant discontinuation syndromes. In addition, patients are generally unaware that antidepressants are not addictive, that abrupt stoppage of antidepressants (because of noncompliance or when starting drug holidays to reduce adverse effects) can cause discontinuation symptoms, and that tapering of antidepressants is recommended to avoid such symptoms.
Flexible Approach to Treatment Required
Patients with discontinuation symptoms who remain depressed (e.g. treatment noncompliers) and those who are at high risk of relapse/recurrence should be recommenced on their antidepressant. In other cases, the severity of the discontinuation syndrome should determine treatment.. Most patients will have mild reactions and need to be reassured only. Symptoms of moderate severity may require symptomatic treatment (e.g. short course benzodiazepines for insomnia). Severe or treatment-refractory symptoms may require recommencement of the antidepressant and subsequent careful tapering. Antipsychotics and hospital admission may also be required in patients who develop severe mania, confusion or psychotic symptoms.
Newborns Can Develop Symptoms...
Maternal use of antidepressants during pregnancy can result in a neonatal discontinuation syndrome characterised by symptoms such as irritability, respiratory difficulty and poor feeding. Tapering or discontinuing antidepressants prior to delivery may therefore be beneficial for the neonate, but also introduces the risk of depressive relapse in the mother. Neonates born to mothers on antidepressant therapy should be monitored for discontinuation symptoms over the first week of life.
* ...Or Even as a Result of Breast Feeding
All antidepressants studied have been shown to be present in breast milk and therefore have the potential to cause toxic effects in breast fed infants. Furthermore, a possible case of neonatal discontinuation reaction following abrupt discontinuation of sertraline by a nursing mother has been reported. Whether the possibility of antidepressant neonatal toxicity and/or discontinuation symptoms outweighs the benefits of breast feeding for mother and infant is a decision which can be made only on a case by case basis.
Table 1. Antidepressants reported to have caused discontinuation symptoms
Class Drugs TCAs and related compounds Amineptine, amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, trazodone MAOIs Isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine SSRIs Citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline Miscellaneous antidepressants Venlafaxine, nefazodone, mirtazapine
TCA = tricyclic antidepressant; MAOI = monoamine oxidase inhibitor; SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Table 2. Key symptom groups and common symptoms in SSRI and TCA discontinuation syndromes
Symptom group Common symptoms Common feature of SSRI discontinuation syndromes Common feature of TCA discontinuation syndromes Dysequilibrium Light headedness/dizziness, vertigo, ataxia Sensory symptoms Paraesthesia, numbness, electric shock-like sensations General somatic symptoms Lethargy, headache, tremor, sweating, anorexia Sleep disturbance Insomnia, nightmares, excessive dreaming Gastrointestinal symptoms Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea Affective symptoms Irritability, anxiety/agitation, low mood
SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; TCA = tricyclic antidepressant.
SOURCE:- Drug Ther Perspect 17(20):12-15, 2001. © 2001 Adis International Limited
References
Haddad PM. Antidepressant discontinuation syndromes: clinical relevance, prevention and management. Drug Saf 2001; 24 (3): 183-97
Haddad P. The SSRI discontinuation syndrome. J Psychopharmacol 1998; 12 (3): 305-13
Michelson D, Fava M, Amsterdam J, et al. Interruption of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment: double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2000; 176: 363-8
Oehrberg S, Christiansen PE, Behnke K, et al. Paroxetine in the treatment of panic disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Psychiatry 1991; 167: 374-9
Fava M, Mulroy R, Alpert J, et al. Emergence of adverse effects following discontinuation of treatment with extended-release venlafaxine. Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154 (12): 1760-2
Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Hoog SL, et al. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: a randomised clinical trial. Biol Psychiatry 1998; 44: 77-87 Olver JS, Burrows GD, Norman TR. Discontinuation syndromes with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: are there clinically relevant differences? CNS Drugs 1999 Sep; 12 (3): 171-7
Price JS, Waller PC, Wood SM, et al. A comparison of the postmarketing safety of four selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, including the investigation of symptoms occurring, on withdrawal. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1996; 42: 757-63
British National Formulary. No. 41. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 2001 Mar: 187
Rosenbaum JF, Zajecka J. Clinical management of antidepressant discontinuation. J Clin Psychiatry 1997; 58 Suppl. 7: 37-40
Kent LSW, Laidlaw JDD. Suspected congenital sertraline dependence . Br J Psychiatry 1995; 167: 412-3
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What is Clinical Depression? Clinical
depression can affect your body, mood, thoughts, and behavior. It can
change your eating habits, how you feel and think about things, your
ability to work and study, and how you interact with people. Clinical
depression is not a passing mood, a sign of personal weakness or a
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help get better. And many people begin to feel better in just a few
weeks.
Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health World Health Organization Finds Depression Often Goes Untreated By Salynn Boyles WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Sept.
6, 2007 -- Depression has a greater impact on overall health than
arthritis, diabetes, angina, and asthma, but it all too often goes
unrecognized and untreated, a report from the World Health Organization
(WHO) suggests. more... Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health
For Additional Information About Depression Write To: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
For free brochures on depression and its treatment call: 1-800-421-4211. or visit: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
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