Withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant: A case report and review of the literature

Although the phenomenon of withdrawal symptoms is well known for some psychotropic drugs, including serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, reports of withdrawal symptoms following the discontinuation of a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant are limited. A case of a female patient who experienced rebound withdrawal after tapering and discontinuing (30 mg) mirtazapine is herein described. The present clinical case supports a growing literature suggesting that withdrawal symptoms might occur after the discontinuation of antidepressants. It highlights the importance of diagnosing withdrawal due to the discontinuation of a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant and suggests that such a withdrawal might be treated with a different strategy than reintroducing the drug previously discontinued.