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Outcome of antidepressant drug discontinuation with taperingstrips after 1–5 years
| Content Provider | SAGE Publishing |
|---|---|
| Author | Groot, Peter C. Os, Jim Van |
| Copyright Year | 2020 |
| Abstract | Stopping antidepressants is often difficult due to withdrawal. Taperingstrips were developed to facilitate antidepressant discontinuation according to the recently described Horowitz-Taylor method, allowing for personalised titration of discontinuation to the intensity of withdrawal. A taperingstrip consists of antidepressant or other medication, packaged in a 28-day roll of small daily pouches, each with the same or slightly lower dose than the one before it. We previously reported that the short-term success rate of antidepressant taperingstrips was 71%. Here, we examine longer-term outcome after 1–5 years.Methods:Patients whose doctor had ordered taperingstrips between January 2015 and December 2019 were sent a questionnaire for participation in anonymised research in January 2020. Of 1012, 483 participated, of whom 408 (85%) had attempted antidepressant tapering.Results:Of the 408 patients included, 192 (47%) had used strips for tapering venlafaxine, 142 (35%) for paroxetine and 74 (18%) for other antidepressants. Median length of antidepressant use was 4 years, and most (61%) had tried to come off without taperingstrips at least once. After 1–5 years, 270 patients (66%) remained off antidepressants after tapering their antidepressant, 6 (2%) had successfully reduced their medication, 87 (21%) had restarted due to (self-reported) relapse, 35 had restarted for another indication (9%), and 10 (3%) reported another outcome. People with more severe experience of withdrawal prior to tapering, and people who had been on antidepressants for a shorter period of time, were more likely to remain off medication after 1–5 years.Conclusion:The previously reported 71% short-term success rate of taperingstrips in the most severely affected group, was matched by a 68% rate after 1–5 years. The evidence-based approach of personal tapering to counter withdrawal, as used for drugs causing withdrawal, for example, benzodiazepines, may represent a simple solution for an important antidepressant-related public health problem, without extra costs. |
| Related Links | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2045125320954609?download=true |
| ISSN | 20451253 |
| Volume Number | 10 |
| Journal | Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology (TPP) |
| e-ISSN | 20451261 |
| DOI | 10.1177/2045125320954609 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Sage Publications UK |
| Publisher Date | 2020-09-02 |
| Publisher Place | London |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Rights Holder | © The Author(s), 2020 |
| Subject Keyword | antidepressants dependence patient medication knowledge drug withdrawal symptoms tapering |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
| Subject | Pharmacology (medical) Psychiatry and Mental Health |
