How long does antidepressant withdrawal last?

If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat at chat.988lifeline.org. In an emergency, call 911.

Antidepressants help many people manage depression. If you’re planning to stop taking one, or you’ve recently stopped, it’s helpful to know what to expect. Some people experience withdrawal symptoms as their bodies adjust, while others have few or no symptoms. Here’s what you should know about how long symptoms may last and when to talk to your doctor.

How long antidepressant withdrawal usually lasts

Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms often begin within one to four days of lowering your dose or stopping medication. For many people, symptoms improve within one to two weeks, but they can last longer.

How long withdrawal lasts can depend on the medication, how long you’ve taken it, and how quickly you reduce your dose. A 2025 survey found that some people experienced symptoms for several months or longer, although the findings may not reflect everyone’s experience.

However, a separate 2025 review of 50 clinical trials found that withdrawal symptoms were generally mild. Most people in those trials had taken antidepressants for only a few months, which may help explain the different findings.

The type of antidepressant, your dose, and how quickly you stop can also affect withdrawal.

Don’t stop or change your medication without talking to your clinician. If withdrawal symptoms become difficult to manage, your clinician may recommend a slower dose reduction or other adjustments. Stopping treatment too soon can also increase the risk of depression returning.

Antidepressant withdrawal, week by week: what to expect and when

Every antidepressant clears your body at a different speed, so your own timeline will depend on which one you are taking and how long you’ve been taking it. Here’s a general guide to when symptoms may appear and improve. Not everyone experiences withdrawal, and timelines can vary.

Timeframe	What’s typically happening
Days 1–3	Some people begin noticing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or headaches. Others may not experience symptoms this early.
Days 4–7	Symptoms may become more noticeable during the first week, although the timing and severity vary.
Week 2	Many people begin to notice improvement, while others may need more time.
Weeks 3–4	Some people continue to experience symptoms, including changes in sleep or mood.
Beyond one month	Symptoms can last longer for some people. If yours continue, your clinician can help you assess what may be causing them.

Think of this as a general timeline, not a week-by-week countdown. Moving through each stage quicker or slower than shown here doesn’t mean anything’s wrong.

How long each symptom tends to last

Each symptom on this list follows its own timeline. Here’s a general look at how long each commonly lasts.

Symptom	Typical course
Dizziness and unsteadiness	Usually the first symptom to appear and the most common overall; tends to improve within one to two weeks.
Electric-shock sensations (“brain zaps”)	Tend to show up early and usually fade within the first couple of weeks.
Nausea and stomach upset	Usually settles within the first seven to ten days.
Flu-like aching and fatigue	Tends to peak in the first week and ease by week two, though fatigue itself can linger a bit longer.
Sleep problems and vivid dreams	Tends to hang on longer than most other symptoms, sometimes into week three or four.
Mood symptoms (irritability, low mood)	Also one of the slower symptoms to fade, often taking several weeks to level out.

If your symptoms are getting worse, affecting your daily life, or lasting longer than expected, contact your clinician. They can help you understand what may be causing them and whether your treatment plan needs to change. If it does, they can talk you through how to stop antidepressants safely.

Why antidepressant withdrawal may last longer

Your body adjusts to taking an antidepressant regularly. When you lower your dose or stop taking it, your body may need time to adjust to the change. How long this takes varies from person to person.

Duration of use	What to expect
Under about 6 months	Withdrawal is often mild or absent altogether, and for most people it’s done within about a month.
More than 2 years	Withdrawal is more likely, tends to be more noticeable, and may stretch beyond three months.

A 2025 survey found that people who had taken antidepressants for more than two years were more likely to report withdrawal symptoms than those who had taken them for less than six months. However, the survey had limitations, including a low response rate, so the findings may not apply to everyone.

Longer treatment may increase the chance of withdrawal symptoms for some people, but it doesn’t mean everyone who takes antidepressants long-term will experience them.

A few other things can also affect how long your withdrawal lasts:

• How slowly the dose was lowered.
• Whether you stopped all at once or tapered off gradually with a doctor’s help.
• Which medication you were taking. Medications that leave your body fast tend to cause withdrawal symptoms sooner and with greater intensity.

If you’re thinking about stopping, your clinician can help you make a gradual plan that works for you.

When you may start to feel like yourself again

If you’re wondering whether things go back to “normal,” for most people, they do settle. Many people begin feeling better as withdrawal symptoms improve. Some symptoms may take longer to settle than others, and everyone’s experience is different.

If you notice changes in your sleep, energy, or mood, talk to your clinician. They can help you understand whether these changes may be related to withdrawal or the return of depression symptoms.

Improvement may happen gradually, and symptoms can vary from day to day. Try comparing yourself to a month ago instead of yesterday. Zooming out that far usually makes progress easier to see. 

If low mood is part of what’s lingering, our guide to treating depression covers what your options look like.

When symptoms last longer than expected

If your withdrawal symptoms are lasting longer than you expected, you’re not alone. Two weeks is a general estimate, not a deadline. Some people need more time to recover, and that doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.

Much of the research on withdrawal comes from short-term studies involving people who took antidepressants for only a few months, rather than years. Longer-lasting withdrawal hasn’t been studied as closely, so it can be difficult to predict exactly how long symptoms may last. Everyone’s experience is different, and your clinician can help you manage symptoms as you recover.

If withdrawal is taking longer than expected, it’s understandable to feel frustrated, especially if you weren’t prepared for it. 

Your clinician can review your symptoms and, when appropriate, recommend changes to your dose or treatment plan.Reach out to a doctor if:

• Symptoms are bad enough to interfere with work, driving, or caring for anyone
• Symptoms are getting worse instead of better
• Your mood is dropping in a way that feels like your original depression coming back, rather than withdrawal.

If you’re having any thoughts of self-harm, contact a doctor or a crisis line right away. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text, any time.