We present a patient who developed discontinuation symptoms following abrupt cessation of nefazodone. Three days after the first appearance of the discontinuation symptoms (i.e. 5 days after cessation of the drug), all symptoms resolved spontaneously without a need for intervention. This case report emphasizes the importance of gradual discontinuation of serotonergic drugs to avoid any consequent unpleasant discontinuation symptoms.
Benazzi F (1998a) Mirtazapine withdrawal symptoms . Can J Psychiatry43: 525-525
2.
Benazzi F (1998b) Nefazodone withdrawal symptoms . Can J Psychiatry43: 194–195
3.
Black K , Shea C , Dursun S , Kutcher S (2000) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: proposed diagnostic criteria . J Psychiatry Neurosci25: 255–261
4.
Bogetto F , Bellino S , Revello R B , Patria L (2002) Discontinuation syndrome in dysthmic patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors . CNS Drugs16: 273–283
5.
Boyd I W (1998) Venlafaxine withdrawal reactions . Med J Aust169: 91–92
6.
Coupland N , Bell C J , Potokar J P (1996) Serotonin reuptake inhibitor withdrawal . J Clin Psychopharmacol16: 356–362
7.
Haddad P (1998) The SSRI discontinuation syndrome . J Psychopharmacol12: 305–313
8.
Kaplan E M (1997) Antidepressant noncompliance as a factor in the discontinuation symptoms . J Clin Psychiatry58 (Suppl 7): 31–36
9.
Kent J M (2000) SNaRIs, NaSSAs, and NaRIs: new agents for the treatment of depression . Lancet355: 911–918
10.
Kotlyar M , Golding M , Brewer E R , Carson S W (1999) Possible nefazodone withdrawal syndrome . Am J Psychiatry156: 1117-1117
11.
Lauber C (1999) Nefazodone withdrawal syndrome . Can J Psychiatry44: 285–286
12.
Lejoyeux C , Ades J (1997) Antidepressant discontinuation: a review of the literature . J Clin Psychiatry58 (Suppl 7): 11–16
13.
Michelson D , Fava M , Amsterdam J , Apter J , Londborg P , Tamura Ret al. (2000) Interruption of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment . Br J Psychiatry176: 363–368
14.
Olver J S , Burow G D , Norma T R (1999) Discontinuation syndromes with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Are there clinically relevant differences?CNS Drugs12: 171–177
15.
Price J S , Waller P C , Wood S M , Mackay A V (1996) A comparison of post marketing safety of four selective re-uptake inhibitors including the investigation of symptoms occurring on withdrawal . Br J Clin Pharmacol42: 757–763
16.
Rajagopalan M , Little J (1999) Discontinuation symptoms with nefazodone . Aust NZ J Psychiatry33: 594–597
17.
Rosenbaum J F , Zajecka J (1997) Clinical management of antidepressant discontinuation . J Clin Psychiatry58(Suppl 7): 37–40
18.
Rosenbaum J F , Fava M , Hoog S L , Ascroft RC , Krebs W B (1998) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: a randomized clinical trial . Biol Psychiatry44: 77–87
19.
Stahl M M S , Lindqvist M , Peterson M , Edwards I R , Sanderson J H , Taylor N F A et al. (1997) Withdrawal reactions with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors as reported to the WHO system . Eur J Clin Pharmacol53: 163–169
20.
Tamam L , Ozpoyraz N (2002) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: a review . Adv Ther19: 17–26
21.
Zajecka J , Tracy K A , Mitchell S (1997) Discontinuation symptoms after treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors: A literature review . J Clin Psychiatry58: 291–297
22.
Zajecka J , Bailey L G (2002) Nefazodone discontinuation issues and safety in chronic major depression . J Clin Psychiatry63 (Suppl 1): 36–38
