SSRIs are initiated for specific clinical indications. Those indications evolve. A structured, clinician-led step-down with the right psychological scaffolding in place is fundamentally different from abrupt stopping — and produces very different outcomes.
Full page coming soonClinical appointments via CQC-registered Sutton Medical Consulting · Sutton Coldfield
What withdrawal from antidepressants actually feels like, how long it lasts, and how a gradual taper prevents it.
Paroxetine and venlafaxine have the shortest half-lives and highest discontinuation risk. Fluoxetine is often the easiest. The approach differs for each.
Sleep architecture, stress load, social support, and relapse prevention planning — the non-pharmacological framework that makes step-down sustainable.
Standard guidance recommends 4 weeks. For patients on long-term high doses, the evidence supports much slower reduction — sometimes over months.
The most important clinical distinction in SSRI step-down — and how to tell the difference if symptoms emerge during taper.
Dr Reardon's MSc in Mental Health directly informs how SSRI step-down is approached — pharmacological and psychological picture considered together.
In the meantime — if you have questions or would like to book a consultation before this page is complete, contact the practice directly. Every enquiry is reviewed personally by Dr Dan Reardon.