Stopping Antidepressants in Primary Care

Questions about optimal duration of treatment with antidepressant medications arise almost daily in primary care practice. But prior studies of antidepressant discontinuation have had limited applicability for a variety of reasons: small sample sizes, short follow-up, or use of medications no longer considered to be first line. A 2021 study of antidepressant discontinuation in U.K. primary care practices can help patients and providers know what to expect when stopping antidepressants.

Researchers enrolled 478 patients (75% women) with depression in remission who were taking sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram, or mirtazapine and who felt ready to discontinue their antidepressant. The majority reported at least three prior episodes of depress…