Antidepressant drugs, which are widely used in palliative care patients for both management of psychiatric disorders and non-psychiatric symptoms, may cause a cluster of distressing symptoms on discontinuation. In dying patients, cessation of oral intake may occur either temporarily or permanently for reasons related to disease or its treatment, as well as in the days before death. We examined antidepressant use in palliative care patients by risk of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADDS). Strategies for reducing the risk of ADDS, and for managing it that should occur, are discussed.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	palliative care, antidepressants, depression, withdrawal
Research Division:	Health Sciences
Research Group:	Health services and systems
Research Field:	Palliative care
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Efficacy of medications
UTAS Author:	Peterson, GM (Professor Gregory Peterson)
UTAS Author:	Abraham, A (Mr Arun Abraham)
ID Code:	144599
Year Published:	2021
Deposited By:	Pharmacy
Deposited On:	2021-05-30
Last Modified:	2021-10-19
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