Discontinuing medicines in depression and anxiety

Learning objectives

After completing this module, pharmacy technicians will be able to:    

• Respond with confidence to patients who ask about stopping their antidepressant
• Describe the updated NICE principles on stopping antidepressants 
• Understand the tapering process used to discontinue antidepressants. 

Contributing author: Ami Hale, MPharm, PgDip and Nana Tomova MPharm, PgDip, MRes Pharmacist Independent Prescribers and Lead Pharmacists, Mental Health Community Teams, Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust.