Potential SSRI/SNRI and benzodiazepine withdrawal symptom list

The SSRI/SNRI symptoms are originally from this website on Effexor withdrawal.

I thought after this list I would also put a benzo withdrawal symptom list. Unfortunately there has not been enough study of other psychotropic drug classes to come up with comprehensive lists, though in my experience in all my groups I’ve seen there is a lot of crossover among all psychiatric drugs even when they have different methods of action. This is, most likely, due to the fact that they all effect the autonomic nervous system.

Certainly mood stabilizers and antipsychotics have all sort of similar issues and the withdrawal syndromes also can look quite similar.

I made a list last year of my symptoms but I did not look at these lists. Might be interesting to compare and contrast. I imagine I left stuff out. Here was my list which I’ve not revisited at this time. (my list got longer and more complicated later in the process: here they are revisited later)

For support and help in withdrawal visit these posts for information and resources:

Sadly, these lists are not exhaustive.

ANTIDEPRESSANT WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. (SSRI/SNRI)

1. Crying spells
2. Worsened mood
3. Low energy (fatigue, lethargy, malaise)
4. Trouble concentrating
5. Insomnia or trouble sleeping
6. Change in appetite
7. Suicidal thoughts
8. Suicide attempts
9. Anxious, nervous, tense
10. Panic attacks (racing heart, breathless)
11. Chest pain
12. Trembling, jittery,or shaking
13. Irritability
14. Agitation (restlessness, hyperactivity)
15. Impulsivity
16. Aggressiveness
17. Self-harm
18. Homicidal thoughts or urges
19. Confusion or cognitive difficulties
20. Memory problems or forgetfulness
21. Elevated mood (feeling high)
22. Mood swings
23. Manic-like reactions
24. Auditory hallucinations
25. Visual hallucinations
26. Feeling detached or unreal
27. Excessive or intense dreaming
28. Nightmares
29. Flu-like aches and pains
30. Fever
31. Sweats
32. Chills
33. Runny nose
34. Sore eyes
35. Nausea
36. Vomiting
37. Diarrhea
38. Abdominal pain or cramps
39. Stomach bloating
40. Disequilibrium
41. Spinning, swaying, lightheaded
42. Hung over or waterlogged feeling
43. Unsteady gait, poor coordination
44. Motion sickness
45. Headache
46. Tremor
47. Numbness, burning, or tingling
48. Electric zap-like sensations in the brain
49. Electric shock-like sensations in the body
50. Abnormal visual sensations
51. Ringing or other noises in the ears
52. Abnormal smells or tastes
53. Drooling or excessive saliva
54. Slurred speech
55. Blurred vision
56. Muscle cramps, stiffness, twitches
57. Feeling of restless legs
58. Uncontrollable twitching of mouth

And for a list of benzodiazepine withdrawal symtoms from Wikipedia (I’ve seen very similar lists on benzo boards everywhere (you may need to google a medical dictionary)—click on the continue here link:

Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms:

* Electric shock sensations
* Muscular spasms, cramps or fasciculations
* Insomnia
* Blurred vision
* Dizziness
* Dry mouth
* Aches and pains
* Hearing disturbances
* Taste and smell disturbances
* Chest pain
* Flu like symptoms
* Impaired memory and concentration
* Increased sensitivity to sound
* Increased urinary frequency
* Numbness and tingling
* Hot and cold fushes
* Headache
* Rebound REM sleep
* Stiffness

* Fatigue and weakness
* Hyperosmia
* Metallic taste
* Photophobia
* Paranoia
* Hypnagogia-hallucinations
* Nausea and vomiting
* Nightmares
* Agitation and restlessness
* Anxiety, possible terror and panic attacks
* Hypochondriasis
* Impaired concentration
* Elevation in blood pressure
* Tachycardia
* Hypertension
* Postural hypotension
* Depression (can be severe), possible suicidal ideation
* Tremor
* Perspiration
* Loss of appetite and weight loss
* Dysphoria
* Depersonalization
* Derealisation (Feelings of unreality)
* Tinnitus
* Paraesthesia
* Visual disturbances
* Mood swings
* Indecision
* Gastrointestinal problems (Stomach and abdomen)

An abrupt or over-rapid discontinuation of benzodiazepines may result in a more serious and very unpleasant withdrawal syndrome that may additionally result in:

* Convulsions, which may result in death
* Catatonia, which may result in death
* Coma (rare)
* Temporal lobe epilepsy
* Suicide
* Attempted suicide
* Suicidal ideation
* Self harm
* Hyperthermia
* Delusions
* Homicidal ideation
* Urges to shout, throw, break things or to harm someone
* Violence
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Psychosis
* Confusion
* Mania
* Effects similar to delirium tremens