Medications You Should Never Stop Abruptly

1. Antidepressants

Antidepressants refer to a class of medications used to treat mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. They work by increasing certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, to help regulate your mood. Though common — more than 1 in 10 Americans use them — antidepressants can pose serious risks if you just stop taking them.

“Stopping antidepressants suddenly can cause dizziness, flu-like symptoms, insomnia and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts,” said Alisha Reed, PharmD, board-certified geriatric pharmacist and member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Council. This has to do with fluctuating levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. “Your brain needs time to adjust to changing serotonin levels,” Reed said.

The risks are greater for those who’ve been taking antidepressants for longer than four to six weeks. Taking them for a period of time and abruptly stopping can lead to withdrawal symptoms, like headache attacks, tiredness, nausea and other symptoms over the course of several weeks.

This is also true of other medications that affect the central nervous system, such as depressants, which include medications like benzodiazepines and sleeping pills.

2. Blood pressure medications

Medications used to treat hypertension (you might know this more simply as high blood pressure) generally shouldn’t be stopped abruptly. This can include medications like diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and others. Beta blockers also belong on this list. They’re blood pressure-lowering medications that work by slowing your heart rate and blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine.

“Stopping beta blockers too quickly can cause rebound hypertension, increased heart rate and even heart attacks,” Reed said.

3. Steroids

Steroids aren’t just used for bodybuilding. Another type of steroid, corticosteroids, is commonly used to treat a wide array of conditions. They’re particularly helpful in lowering inflammation, such as in treating rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and other inflammatory conditions.

However, abrupt discontinuation of corticosteroids like prednisone can lead to withdrawal symptoms. “Stopping steroids too quickly can cause adrenal crisis — a potentially life-threatening condition where your body can’t produce enough cortisol,” Reed said.

4. Opiates

Opiates are naturally derived medications such as morphine and codeine that come from the opium poppy plant. They’re mainly used for moderate-to-severe pain management. However, there’s some stigma surrounding them because it’s possible to become dependent on them.

Because they’re powerful painkillers, opiates are usually intended for short-term use. When people use them for longer periods of time, such as weeks or months, you can go into withdrawal, making it dangerous to stop taking them suddenly. “Stopping opiates abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms, blood pressure and heart rate elevations and mental health issues,” Reed explained.

It’s worth mentioning that opiates and opioids are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. The main difference is how they’re produced. Opioids include drugs that are natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic while opiates are only natural. Despite this difference, neither should be stopped abruptly because doing so can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

5. Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics are medications used to treat some brain and mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with mania and depression. They’re mainly intended to reduce the symptoms of psychosis, and they work by influencing the chemicals in the brain.

Reed warned that stopping antipsychotics abruptly can have unwanted effects. “Doing so can trigger psychosis relapse, severe anxiety and movement disorders that might become permanent,” she said. Gradual tapering of antipsychotics with the help of an HCP will reduce the likelihood of relapse and withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating and motor symptoms, like involuntary movements.

6. Proton pump inhibitors

Stomach acid plays a vital role in the digestion of your food, but too much of it can cause problems. Therefore, a class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs for short, may be used to reduce stomach acid. They’re commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers and other conditions.

PPIs are another example of medications you should stop gradually. Coming off too quickly can cause rebound symptoms — a sudden increase in stomach acid production. These are similar to acid reflux symptoms, which include nausea, burping, pain when swallowing and a burning sensation in your throat or chest. PPIs work best when taken as needed or for short-term use. However, some people may need them for longer periods of time, which can increase the risk of rebound symptoms.

Play it safe

If you want to get off a medication you’re taking, make sure you do it safely by talking to your HCP about the safest way to do it. You don’t want to go out of the frying pan into the fire.