Does depression come back after stopping medication?
Reviewed by Dr. Akinwande Akintola, MD - Sun Jul 19 2026
It can, and the risk is highest in the first months after stopping, which is why how you stop matters as much as whether. Staying on medication six to twelve months after full recovery from a first episode cuts relapse risk substantially. After several episodes, longer-term maintenance is a legitimate choice, not a failure of willpower.
And therapy alongside medication measurably lowers relapse after the medication ends. The skills stay even when the prescription stops.
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