A 30-year-old woman with generalised anxiety disorder has been taking sertraline 100 mg daily for 12 months with good effect and wishes to stop. Accor...

Question

A 30-year-old woman with generalised anxiety disorder has been taking sertraline 100 mg daily for 12 months with good effect and wishes to stop. According to NICE and NHS guidance on stopping antidepressants, what is the most appropriate advice?

Accepted Answer

Reduce the dose gradually over several weeks to months while monitoring for withdrawal and relapse

Answer

Stop the sertraline immediately

Answer

Switch to a shorter-acting SSRI then stop suddenly

Answer

Continue the same dose indefinitely

Answer

Stop now and restart only if symptoms return

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Stopping antidepressants

A 30-year-old woman with generalised anxiety disorder has been taking sertraline 100 mg daily for 12 months with good effect and wishes to stop. According to NICE and NHS guidance on stopping antidepressants, what is the most appropriate advice?