Why can’t I just quit my antidepressant?

Going cold turkey (stopping in one day) is not a good idea! Why? Because the quicker you stop your antidepressant the more severe your withdrawal symptoms are likely to be, and the higher the likelihood that you’ll need to go back on your medication.

Sometimes these symptoms can be so unpleasant that they interfere with your ability to work or carry on normal social activities. Sometimes severe withdrawal symptoms can be very disruptive or even lead to hospitalization.

Tapering (stopping slowly in small steps) is therefore highly recommended to minimize the risks of these issues.