Overview

• University College London researchers found that patients taking antidepressants for over two years are ten times more likely to experience severe withdrawal symptoms than short-term users.
• Symptoms include psychological effects like anxiety, worsened mood, and agitation, as well as physical issues such as dizziness, headaches, and nausea, often lasting months or even over a year.
• The study reported that 79% of long-term users struggled to discontinue antidepressants, compared to 38% of the overall group surveyed.
• Experts recommend gradual tapering of doses under the guidance of informed health professionals to mitigate withdrawal severity and duration.
• Approximately 8.7 million people in England are prescribed antidepressants, with half of users taking the medication for at least a year, highlighting the widespread implications of these findings.