People who take antidepressants for more than two years are much more likely to face withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop, according to a new study led by researchers at University College London (UCL).
The study found that long-term users experience stronger and longer-lasting withdrawal symptoms compared to those who take the medication for a shorter time.
The findings were published in the journal Psychiatry Research. Dr. Mark Horowitz, the study’s lead author and a clinical researcher at UCL, explained that the longer someone takes antidepressants, the harder it can be to stop.
He said that while people on these medications for a short time may stop without much trouble, many people stay on antidepressants for a long period. In the UK, half of the people taking these drugs have been on them for over a year. In the US, most users have taken them for more than two years.
The study surveyed 310 people in England who had received mental health therapy through the NHS and had tried to stop taking their prescribed antidepressants. Most of them—62%—said that antidepressants had been helpful.
They were asked about different withdrawal symptoms and how severe these symptoms were. Overall, 79% of participants said they experienced at least one withdrawal symptom. About 45% had symptoms that were moderate or severe.
When looking at how many people could successfully stop taking the medication, only 62% could do so. This dropped to just 21% among long-term users (two years or more). In other words, nearly 80% of long-term users couldn’t quit the medication when they tried.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms, like anxiety or a low mood, are similar to the original symptoms of depression or anxiety. To focus on other effects, the researchers also looked at physical symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and headaches. About 76% of people had at least one of these physical symptoms, and 43% had four or more.
The team at UCL’s Division of Psychology & Language Sciences found that how long someone had been on antidepressants was the biggest factor in determining the severity, number, and length of withdrawal symptoms. The seriousness of the original mental health problem did not explain the differences.
People who had taken antidepressants for more than two years were 10 times more likely to have withdrawal symptoms compared to those who had taken them for less than six months.
Among long-term users, 64% reported moderate or severe symptoms. About 25% of them said the symptoms were severe. For short-term users (six months or less), 73% had no or only mild symptoms, and just 7% had severe symptoms.
Also, 30% of long-term users had symptoms that lasted more than three months. About 12% had symptoms lasting more than a year. Most short-term users recovered in less than a month, and only 10.5% had symptoms that lasted more than three months.
Dr. Horowitz emphasized that it is important not to use antidepressants for longer than necessary, as this can make quitting much harder.
The researchers also mentioned a limitation of the study: only 18% of those contacted responded to the survey, and it’s possible that people who had bad withdrawal symptoms were more likely to take part.
They also tried to look at whether people tapered off their medication slowly or stopped all at once, but there weren’t enough responses to draw firm conclusions. They suggest more research is needed to understand how to safely stop antidepressants and reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Professor Joanna Moncrieff, a senior author of the study, said that people who want to stop taking antidepressants should speak with a knowledgeable healthcare professional to make the process as safe and smooth as possible.
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