People who have taken antidepressants for more than two years are much more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop, according to a new study from University College London (UCL).
The study, published in Psychiatry Research, found that long-term users not only face a higher risk of withdrawal but also experience more severe and longer-lasting symptoms than those who used the drugs for a shorter time.
Lead researcher Dr. Mark Horowitz, a visiting clinical researcher at the UCL Division of Psychiatry, explained that duration of use was the key factor in determining whether someone would face withdrawal effects.
“While stopping antidepressants may be easier for short-term users, many people stay on them for years,” he said.
“In fact, about half of people in the UK taking antidepressants have been on them for at least a year, and in the U.S., most users have taken them for more than two years.”
The study surveyed 310 people in England who had accessed NHS therapy services and had previously attempted to stop their prescribed antidepressant. While 62% of participants said antidepressants had been helpful, nearly 80% reported experiencing at least one withdrawal symptom. Around 45% said their symptoms were moderate or severe.
Importantly, 38% of all participants said they were unable to stop taking the medication when they tried, a number that jumped to 79% among those who had used antidepressants for two years or more.
Withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, mood changes, or fatigue can sometimes resemble depression or anxiety returning, making it difficult to know if it’s withdrawal or relapse.
To clarify this, researchers also tracked “non-emotional” symptoms like dizziness, headaches, or nausea. They found that 76% of participants had at least one non-emotional symptom, and 43% had four or more.
Researchers at UCL’s Division of Psychology & Language Sciences analyzed the data and found that how long someone had been on antidepressants was the biggest factor in determining whether they experienced withdrawal symptoms and how severe those symptoms were.
These findings held true regardless of the severity of the person’s original depression or anxiety.
People who had used antidepressants for more than two years were 10 times more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms than those who had used them for less than six months.
Among long-term users, 64% had moderate or severe symptoms (with 25% reporting severe symptoms). By contrast, 73% of short-term users (less than six months) had no symptoms or only mild ones, and just 7% had severe withdrawal effects.
The length of withdrawal symptoms also differed. In long-term users, 30% had symptoms that lasted more than three months, and 12% said their symptoms lasted over a year. For short-term users, only 10.5% had symptoms beyond three months, and most recovered within four weeks.
“These findings support using antidepressants for no longer than necessary,” said Dr. Horowitz. “Long-term use makes it harder to stop.”
The study had some limitations. Only 18% of those invited completed the survey, and those with withdrawal experiences may have been more motivated to respond.
While the survey asked whether people tapered off their medication gradually or stopped suddenly, there weren’t enough long-term taperers to draw clear conclusions. However, previous studies suggest tapering may help reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Senior author Professor Joanna Moncrieff emphasized the importance of medical guidance: “Withdrawal symptoms are common when stopping antidepressants. We recommend that people who want to stop should do so with the help of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.”
If you care about mental health, please read studies about Cannabis use disorder linked to increased risk of these mental diseases and findings of Some mental health drugs can cause rapid weight gain.
For more information about mental health, please read studies about One sleepless night can reverse depression for days and findings of Scientists find better treatment for older adults with depression.
The study was published in Psychiatry Research.
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