Antidepressant Addiction: Withdrawal, Detox, and Help

What Are Antidepressants?

Antidepressant medications are used to treat many mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These disorders include mood-related problems that affect how a person feels and functions each day.

Doctors first began using antidepressant drugs in the 1950s. Since then, use has grown steadily in daily life. Today, they are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. This increase has raised concerns about long-term use and dependence.

According to health surveys:

Antidepressant use among ages 12–25 grew by over 66% from 2016 to 2022.
In 2023, more than 10% of U.S. adults were taking antidepressants.
Women use them more than men—15.3% compared to 7.4%.
Almost 14% of users have taken them for more than 10 years.

Antidepressants work by changing brain chemicals that control mood and emotions. While they don’t cure mood disorders, they help reduce symptoms of depression and allow people with depression to lead more stable, healthy lives.

Are Antidepressants Addictive?

Antidepressants don’t give users a “high” like opioids or stimulants. However, they can still cause psychological dependence. Some people misuse them by increasing the dose, taking them without a prescription, or combining them with alcohol.

This misuse may play a role in antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, side effects, or overdose. Common risk factors include using the drug for a long time, having a substance use disorder, or skipping medical guidance.

Warning signs may include hiding use from family members, trying but failing to stop, or continuing use despite side effects. If you are considering quitting, always talk to your doctor first.

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Street Names and Slang for Antidepressants

To hide their use, people sometimes use slang for antidepressants. These include:

Bottled Smiles
Happy Pill
Miracle Drug
Wonder Drug

Although these names sound harmless, they can make it harder to take misuse seriously.

Types and Examples of Antidepressants

There are five main types of antidepressants, all approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
These raise serotonin levels and treat depression, OCD, and anxiety.
Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
Also called reuptake inhibitors SNRIs, these help with generalized anxiety disorder, nerve pain, and post traumatic stress disorder.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
These are older drugs used for mental health disorders and chronic pain.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Also known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors moa, they are used less often but treat borderline personality disorder and phobias.
Noradrenaline and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants (NASSAs)
These affect noradrenaline and serotonin and help manage anxiety and mood disorders.

Other options include norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which support emotional balance.

Common antidepressant medications:

Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Zoloft (Sertraline)
Paxil (Paroxetine)
Lexapro (Escitalopram)
Celexa (Citalopram)
Cymbalta (Duloxetine)
Effexor (Venlafaxine)
Wellbutrin (Bupropion)
Desyrel (Trazodone)

How Long Do Antidepressants Stay in Your System?

Different drugs stay in the body for different lengths of time. Some leave within a few days. Others, like Prozac, can take weeks.

Here’s how long it takes for 99% of each drug to clear:

Fluoxetine (Prozac): 25 days
Citalopram (Celexa): 7.3 days
Escitalopram (Lexapro): 6.1 days
Sertraline (Zoloft): 5.4 days
Duloxetine (Cymbalta): 2.5 days
Bupropion (Wellbutrin): 4.4 days
Venlafaxine (Effexor): 1 day

How fast they clear depends on your dosage, metabolism, medical condition, and whether the treatment was short-term or long-term.

Side Effects of Antidepressant Misuse

Misusing antidepressants can lead to a range of health issues. Common signs and symptoms include:

Drowsiness
Weight gain
Mood changes
Headaches
Fatigue
Shaking or physical symptoms
Blurry vision
Sexual problems
Nausea
Emotional flatness

The signs and symptoms of abuse often overlap with withdrawal or overdose.

Signs of Antidepressant Overdose

Overdose happens when someone takes too much at once or mixes antidepressants with other drugs. Symptoms including:

Dilated pupils
High body temperature
Fast or slow heart rate
Nausea and vomiting
Hallucinations
Seizures
Serotonin syndrome
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIS
Trouble breathing
Coma
Death

If someone shows these symptoms, don’t wait. Call 911 right away.

Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms

When someone stops taking antidepressants suddenly, withdrawal may begin. Many people experience withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants, including:

Dizziness
Electric shock sensations (brain zaps)
Trouble sleeping
Nightmares
Muscle cramps
Irritability
Mood swings
Fatigue
Confusion
Nausea
In rare cases, psychosis

These antidepressant withdrawal symptoms are the body’s reaction to losing a drug it had adapted to.

Antidepressant Withdrawal Timeline

Everyone’s timeline is different. Some people feel better in days. Others take weeks. Many symptoms can look like symptoms of depression, which makes it hard to know when withdrawal ends.

Signs of Antidepressant Addiction

Look for these signs of addiction:

Needing more of the drug to feel “normal”
Using antidepressants with alcohol or other drugs
Taking pills in secret
Lying to doctors or family members
Struggling to stop
Skipping responsibilities
Stealing prescriptions

How to Overcome Antidepressant Addiction

The best way to recover is with a personalized treatment plan. Most plans include:

Inpatient rehab
Outpatient rehab
Gradual tapering with medical help
Detox in a supervised setting
Therapy like behavioral therapy CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy
Support groups
Long-term planning
Sober living homes

You should never stop on your own. Always talk to your doctor to plan a safe path forward.

Get Help Today

Addiction doesn’t have to control your life. Nova Recovery Center offers proven, supportive care for people dealing with antidepressant dependence.

Call (888) 343‑1967 now to learn how we can help you or your loved one recover safely.

Antidepressant Addiction: Withdrawal, Detox, and Help