Definition of Withdrawal
As described in the History section above, SSRI withdrawal syndrome began to be called SSRI discontinuation syndrome following a symposium in 1996; since then, the terms have been used interchangeably. SSRIs are not addictive in the conventional medical use of the word (i.e. animals given free access to the drug do not actively seek it out and do not seek to increase the dose), but discontinuing their use can produce both somatic and psychological symptoms.
Critics argue that the pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in creating a distinction between addiction to recreational or illegal drugs and dependence on antidepressants. Arguments against the use of the term "withdrawal" are primarily predicated on not frightening patients or alienating potential customers who may or may not need the medication. According to the consensus definition by the American Academy of Pain Medicine, withdrawal is a symptom of "Physical Dependence", not of "Addiction" and as such the word "withdrawal" is appropriate to the symptoms caused by ceasing an SSRI.
Regardless of reinforcing properties, or lack therof, a substance which results in downregulation of receptors has addictive properties. Upon cessation, receptor activation in response to baseline levels of endogenous transmitters increases versus the drug-naive baseline, resulting in a disruption in normal functioning of the regulatory system in question.
Read more about this topic: SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome
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