Side effects related to antidepressant cessation have been studied for decades. According to a 1998 study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), gastrointestinal distress is among the most common side effects experienced; specifically, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea. The researchers noted that such side effects are more often seen in connection with stopping antidepressant use all at once as opposed to gradually reducing one’s dosage.
Also known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADDS), researchers from a 2020 case report published in Cureus outlined the case of a female in her mid-50s who experienced headache, vomiting, and ten to 12 episodes of diarrhea daily after stopping use of an antidepressant she had been taking for 6 months. Symptoms began two days later. The researchers noted that ADDS affects approximately 30% to 50% of patients who suddenly stop taking antidepressants after having been using them for at least 4 to 6 weeks.