A new study found that antidepressant withdrawal is common and debilitating. Those using antidepressants for more than two years were more likely to experience withdrawal and to have severe withdrawal symptoms.
The researchers found that 79% of those who tried to stop taking antidepressants experienced withdrawal, with 49% experiencing severe or moderately severe symptoms. Over a third (38%) were unable to stop taking the drug because of this.
“Antidepressant withdrawal effects are common, and can be severe and long-lasting,” the researchers write.
“Short-term users experience mostly brief and mild effects,” they add, while “long-term users (>24 months) experienced common, often severe and longer-lasting effects.”
The researchers were led by Mark Horowitz at University College London, and also included prominent researchers James Davies and Joanna Moncrieff. The study was published in Psychiatry Research.
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