Antidepressants: discontinuation syndrome: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Antidepressants: discontinuation syndrome

Sample item

A patient abruptly stops paroxetine and develops dizziness, flu-like symptoms, irritability, electric shock sensations and nausea. The most appropriate step is:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Reintroduce the drug and taper slowly

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome follows abrupt cessation, especially with short half-life drugs such as paroxetine and venlafaxine. It begins within days, and is managed by restarting and tapering gradually, as fluoxetine rarely causes it because of its long half-life.

Option by option

  • A. Give haloperidol

    Antipsychotics are not indicated and may cause adverse effects.

  • B. Diagnose relapse of depression and increase the dose of a new drug

    The syndrome is a withdrawal effect, not a relapse of depression.

  • C. Reintroduce the drug and taper slowly (correct)

    Correct. Reintroduce and taper slowly.

  • D. Start lithium

    Lithium has no role.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Reintroduce the drug and taper slowly. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome follows abrupt cessation, especially with short half-life drugs such as paroxetine and venlafaxine.

Why is "Give haloperidol" not the answer?

Antipsychotics are not indicated and may cause adverse effects.

Why is "Diagnose relapse of depression and increase the dose of a new drug" not the answer?

The syndrome is a withdrawal effect, not a relapse of depression.

Why is "Start lithium" not the answer?

Lithium has no role.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antidepressants: discontinuation syndrome in Psychiatry. It begins within days, and is managed by restarting and tapering gradually, as fluoxetine rarely causes it because of its long half-life.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Antidepressants: discontinuation syndrome?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.