Which antidepressant medication is least likely to cause discontinuation syndrome due to its long half-life?

Fluoxetine, commonly known by its brand name Prozac, is the antidepressant that is least likely to cause discontinuation syndrome primarily due to its long half-life. This means that fluoxetine remains in the body for an extended period, allowing for a more gradual reduction in drug levels when therapy is stopped. The long half-life helps prevent abrupt changes in serotonin levels, which are typically responsible for withdrawal symptoms observed with many antidepressants when treatment is discontinued suddenly.

Discontinuation syndrome is often characterized by symptoms such as dizziness, irritability, and flu-like symptoms when a medication is abruptly stopped. In contrast to fluoxetine, other antidepressants, such as sertraline, duloxetine, and escitalopram, generally have shorter half-lives, which can lead to a quicker drop in medication levels in the body and a higher likelihood of experiencing such withdrawal symptoms if the medication is suddenly ceased.

Therefore, fluoxetine’s pharmacokinetics contribute to its favorable profile in reducing the risk of discontinuation syndrome compared to other antidepressants.