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Journal of Psychopharmacology
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Antidepressant discontinuation (withdrawal) symptoms presenting as ‘stroke’

Peter M. Haddad

Cromwell House, Mental Health Services of Salford, UK

Sivakumaran Devarajan

Serdar M. Dursun

Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

We report two patients who developed a severe discontinuation (withdrawal) reaction following stoppage of paroxetine and venlafaxine, respectively. Neurological symptoms were prominent and neither patient could walk unaided. Both patients feared they had suffered a ‘stroke’ and arranged an emergency medical consultation. One patient was correctly diagnosed, the antidepressant was recommenced and symptoms resolved within 24 h. Failure to recognize the reaction resulted in the other patient being referred to a neurologist, undergoing a computed tomography brain scan and an electroencephalogram and remaining symptomatic for over 8 weeks. Relevant pharmacological issues are discussed. The cases illustrate the importance of patients and clinicians being familiar with antidepressant discontinuation symptoms.

Key Words: adverse drug reaction • SSRI • substance withdrawal syndrome

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 15, No. 2, 139-141 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/026988110101500210
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