New research has been published Molecular It is estimated that about 43%of people who stop taking antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms generally appear within two weeks after the drug is discontinued and varies from mild to severe. The result is a widespread withdrawal effect and emphasizes the need for better instructions on how to stop the antidepressant.
Antidelia is part of the most widely prescribed drug in mental health, such as depression and anxiety. They can be effective, but many people remain for a long time. In the United States, almost half of the users have been taking over five years. In the UK, the majority have been using it for more than two years. Despite these organs, the withdrawal symptoms that can follow the interruption are not fully understood. Previous reports were greatly diverse to estimate how common these symptoms were.
To deal with this uncertainty, the researchers led by Mi-Mi Zhang and colleagues at the Peking University have performed the most comprehensive analysis of antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. Their goal was to estimate how often these symptoms occur, how they generally look, and which factors increase the risk of experience. We also aimed to provide clear evidence that clinical and patients helped to thin these drugs.
The researchers systematically reviewed six major medical databases and included 35 studies in the final analysis. This study included observation and cross -sectional studies as well as random contrast tests. Overall, the analysis deals with tens of thousands of individual data who have stopped taking antidepressants. While some studies tracked patients in clinical environments, other studies relied on their own reports in online surveys. In these various types of studies, researchers continued to discover that withdrawal symptoms are common.
In all studies, the pooled incidence of antidepressant withdrawal symptoms was 42.9%. Among the random contrast tests, the ratio was slightly higher at 44.4%. Symptoms generally appeared within two weeks after the drug was interrupted and was generally measured for less than four weeks. But some long -term users have reported that symptoms lasted for months or years. For example, according to an online survey, “brain zaps”, a sudden electric shock of the head, can last for decades.
The seriousness of the symptoms also varied. Most people, especially after using 8 to 12 weeks, experienced moderate symptoms in mildness. However, a large number of minority people have long reported on serious or serious symptoms with antidepressants. In one study, almost half of the participants who stopped venlafaxine after eight weeks experienced moderate or serious symptoms.
The type of withdrawal symptoms also depended on the antidepressant class. In the case of selective serotonin reinstallation inhibitors (SSRI), the most commonly reported symptoms included dizziness, dreams or nightmares, irritability and anxiety. In the case of serotonin-Norrefineprin reinstallation inhibitors (SNRI), neurological symptoms such as dizziness were more common. The triangular antidepressant had the highest withdrawal rate (about 60%), but it was less often studied.
Studies have found that taping doses over time is related to the low incidence of withdrawal symptoms compared to the sudden stop (34.5% vs. 42.5%), but the difference was not statistically significant. This may be due to the relatively short taper period (usually 2-4 weeks) used in most studies. Some experts argue that, in particular, people with antidepressants for several years may need a much longer taping schedule.
Some risk factors were associated with the likelihood of experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This includes women, young age, initial side effects, high doses, longer treatment periods, and sudden interruption. There is also evidence that genetic differences, such as changes in serotonin receptor genes, can play a role.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the psychological factors expected to worsen after stopping the drug are not the main drivers of withdrawal symptoms. The group that actually stopped taking the drug in the random contrast test had a much higher symptom than the symptoms of continuing treatment, suggesting that the symptoms are not expected.
Despite the strong results, there is a limit to the study. Most of the research included followed the patient for weeks after the interruption, which can underestimate the actual duration and seriousness of the symptoms. There have been significant changes in the methods of withdrawal symptoms measured and defined, which can affect the accuracy of the estimates. The author also mentioned the possibility of publishing bias, which means that the research may be more likely to be published.
Another major restriction is that most of the research focuses on those who have taken antidepressants for a relatively short period of less than three months. This is more likely to be withdrawal symptoms, and experience is an important way that does not represent other typical long -term users. Researchers emphasize the necessity of future research, which tracks long -term users withdrawal during the long -term follow -up period.
Despite these limitations, this study provides powerful evidence that withdrawal symptoms stop the antidepressant. The result is that it is generally simple to stop these drugs and emphasize the importance of patient education and individual interruption plans.
The author recommends that the clinician informs the patient the possibility of withdrawal symptoms when the clinical starts the antidepressant, and closely monitors it after interruption and interruption. It also requires better research on long -term use and better studies on more refined taping strategies, which can reduce the risk of stopping antidepressants.
research,”Factors and risk factors for withdrawal of antidepressants: meta -analysis and systematic review”,“ Mi-mi zhang, xuan tan, yong-zheng, Na zeng, zhe Li, mark Abie Horowitz, Xue-Zhu Feng, Ke Wang, Zi-Yi Li, Wei-Li Zhu Xiujun Zhang, Yumei Wang, JIE SHI, Joan-Ping Bao Su-Xia Li.
