SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR (SSRI) DISCONTINUATION SYNDROME: STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING AND MINIMIZING SYMPTOMS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Authors

  • Camila Victoria Rodrigues Ramalho Centro Universitário Santa Maria - UNIFSM
  • José Guilherme Ferreira Marques Galvão Centro Universitário Santa Maria - UNIFSM
  • Carla Islene Holanda Moreira Coelho Centro Universitário Santa Maria - UNIFSM
  • Diego Igor Alves Fernandes de Araújo Universidade Federal da Paraíba https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8032-6240

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61164/eepm2q42

Keywords:

Depression, Paroxetine, Fluoxetine, Psychological, Public Health

Abstract

Depression is a highly prevalent mental health condition worldwide and represents a significant public health challenge in Brazil. Treatment often involves the use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), recognized for their efficacy and safety profile. However, discontinuation of these medications can trigger discontinuation syndrome, characterized by physical and psychological symptoms whose intensity varies according to the drug, with paroxetine being the drug most associated with severe cases due to its short half-life. This study analyzes SSRI discontinuation syndrome and identifies strategies used to minimize the symptoms resulting from withdrawal. An integrative literature review was conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, and NCBI databases, including studies published between 2020 and 2025, available in full text and written in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. The results show that gradual dose reduction, health education, and individualized clinical follow-up are the most effective strategies to reduce the occurrence and intensity of symptoms. It is concluded that the discontinuation of SSRIs should be conducted in a planned, progressive, and supervised manner in order to ensure greater patient safety and adherence during the process.

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References

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Published

2025-12-10

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 02 (2025): REMUNOM - ISSN 2178-6925

Section

Artigos

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Copyright (c) 2025 Camila Victoria Rodrigues Ramalho, José Guilherme Ferreira Marques Galvão, Carla Islene Holanda Moreira Coelho, Diego Igor Alves Fernandes de Araújo

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How to Cite

SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR (SSRI) DISCONTINUATION SYNDROME: STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING AND MINIMIZING SYMPTOMS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW. (2025). REMUNOM, 21(02), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.61164/eepm2q42