Stopping your antidepressant more slowly and in a method informed by the ways the drugs work, as Outro does, will reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms, making the process smoother, so that you can continue your normal activities.
The time required to taper is individual, and likely depends on how much time your brain takes to readapt to a state without an antidepressant medication. We take a personalized approach, using careful observation to understand how dose reductions affect you and adjusting your taper plan accordingly.
Based on the latest guidance, if someone has been on medication for more than a year, 3-6 months is the minimum amount of time we would expect anyone to safely come off of their antidepressant. This helps in minimizing the risks of both withdrawal symptoms and relapse.