According to her, many patients, after a few weeks of taking medications, begin to consider stopping treatment, believing that they are feeling better. "However, abruptly stopping the medications can lead to withdrawal syndrome," the specialist noted.
In the first days after discontinuing the medications, patients may feel fine, but then the levels of active substances in the body decrease, leading to a deterioration in condition: sleep disturbances, anxiety, and decreased appetite may occur. "Sometimes the symptoms can even worsen," Ulitina warned.
She added that to restore the necessary level of serotonin, it is essential to return to the previous medications at the same doses. "It is important for patients not to stop treatment on their own. We always advise coming for a new prescription when there are only a few tablets left in the package, as our medications are dispensed only by prescription," the doctor emphasized.
According to Health Minister Erkin Checheybaev, 11% of the population of Kyrgyzstan suffers from mental illnesses. Yulia Ulitina also noted that the number of such patients is increasing. For the first time in a long time, a National Mental Health Strategy is being developed in the country.
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