A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry revealed that there is a 15% chance—roughly one in six to seven people—of experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
The study also showed that approximately 3%—or one in 35—of individuals who stopped taking the medicine experienced significant discontinuation symptoms, which could prompt them to stop taking antidepressants or quit participating in studies. The researchers highlight the strong data that antidepressants, when used either on their own or in combination with other therapies like psychotherapy, are effective for many people with depressive disorders.
However, even though these drugs work for a lot of people, they are not always beneficial and can have negative side effects for certain people. When patients have recovered from antidepressant therapy, medical professionals and patients may decide together to go off antidepressants gradually. Therefore, it is imperative that healthcare providers and patients have a clear, fact-based understanding of the possible consequences of stopping antidepressants.
Many people have symptoms of withdrawal and need support.
It is crucial to emphasize that these symptoms of stopping antidepressants are not due to their addictive nature. It is imperative that those who stop using antidepressants get advice, oversight, and assistance from medical professionals.
However, their combined findings—which draw from a number of studies—should reassure us that the prevalence of symptoms associated with cessation is not as high as some previous single-study studies and reviews have shown. Prior studies have demonstrated that more than 50% of individuals experience withdrawal symptoms after they stop using antidepressants, with about 50% of these symptoms falling into the severe category.
However, well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in which the medication is given to one group while the other receives a placebo, provide a more reliable way to identify symptoms that are specifically associated with the medication as opposed to non-specific symptoms that may be influenced by patients' or clinicians' expectations.
In an interview with Medical News Today, Dr. Joao L. de Quevedo, an independent psychiatrist at UTHealth Houston, talked about the effects of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. In order to improve patient care, Dr. de Quevedo stressed how crucial it is to understand this problem because patients frequently have discontinuation symptoms when they stop taking antidepressants suddenly and don't tell their doctors about it. Clinically, it can be useful to know which antidepressants are more likely to cause severe withdrawal symptoms so that medication termination can be managed more carefully and intelligently.
Dr. de Quevedo says that stopping antidepressants gradually is usually thought to be a preferable strategy. While there is no statistically significant distinction between suddenly quitting medication and tapering off, tapering is seen as a safer approach. This study identifies some antidepressants that have a higher chance of side effects when stopped. It is especially crucial to let people know about the dangers of stopping treatment and to get advice from a qualified medical professional while doing so. If you are experiencing depression, think about reaching out to people who understand how you feel. Locate a helpful group where you can get support.