summation: New studies have shown that people who have taken antidepressants for more than two years are more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drugs. The more people used the antidepressants, the more 64%of the long -term users reported moderate or severe withdrawal, which was more severe and extended.
On the other hand, short -term users (taking less than 6 months) have not experienced almost or minor symptoms without lasting for more than four weeks. These results emphasize the importance of careful prescriptions, provide information so that individuals can stop the antidepressants safely, and support the necessity of gradual tapering strategies.
Main fact:
- Period problem: Long -term use (for 2 years) increases the probability of withdrawal symptoms 10 times compared to the use of less than 6 months.
- Severity and persistence: 25%of long -term users reported serious symptoms. 12%have experienced symptoms for a year.
- Short -term benefits: Most short -term users have solved the symptoms within four weeks and only 7% have reported serious effects.
source: UCL
Those who have been taking antidepressants for more than two years have found a new study led by UCL researchers that they are more likely to experience withdrawal than short -term users when they leave the drug.
Long -term users also tend to experience better withdrawal symptoms than short -term users and longer longer periods of time. Psychiatric research.
Dr. Mark Horowitz, the senior author of the research in Psychiatry’s UCL department, said: “Our findings are determined by the period of use,“ Our findings have been suspected that many researchers have been suspected for a long time, and the possibility of experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the antidepressant is out of the antidepressant.
“Getting out of antidepressants can be easier for those who have taken only for a short time, but this drug is usually used for a long time.
“Half of the UK, which is taking antidepressants, has been taking drugs for at least a year, and most of the users of antidepressants have been taking more than two years.”
The study approached the NHS primary care treatment service and was based on a survey of 310 participants who attempted to stop taking antidepressants at some point. Most participants (62%) have reported that antidepressants have helped them.
Respondents were asked about the extensive list of potential withdrawal symptoms and reported whether the symptoms were mild, moderate or serious.
In the whole group, 79%reported at least one withdrawal symptom, and 45%experienced symptoms of moderate or severe (30%and 15%, respectively).
38%said that they could not stop antidepressants throughout the group, rising to 79%among those who took antidepressants for more than two years.
Since some withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, bad moods, stirring and fatigue) may overlap with depression and anxiety symptoms, researchers also experience 76%of respondents experienced at least one non -emotional withdrawal symptom such as dizziness, headache, vertigo or nuusea, while experiencing 4 or more ratio symptoms. I found it.
In an analysis conducted by the UCL Psychological and Linguistic Research Institute, the team found how long some of the antidepressants were, the period of incidence, seriousness and withdrawal effect, and whether someone could stop taking the drug.
The difference between short -term users and long -term users was not explained by the seriousness of the fundamental depression or anxiety disorder.
The researchers found that they were 10 times larger than those who took less than six months for those who had been taking antidepressants for more than two years.
64%of those who have taken antidepressants for two years have reported moderate or severe withdrawal effects (25%of the serious impacts), while most of the people who have taken less than six months have reported that they have experienced withdrawal symptoms with no forbidden effects or light symptoms.
For long -term users, 30%reported withdrawal symptoms that lasted for more than three months, and 12%experienced these symptoms for more than a year, while only 10.5%of short -term users experienced withdrawal symptoms for more than three months. For most short -term users, withdrawal symptoms have been solved within 4 weeks.
Dr. Horowitz said: “This is one of the reasons for using antidepressants more than necessary. This makes it more difficult to stop using later.”
Researchers say that one in the survey is one out of five (18%). The survey did not focus on withdrawal, but respondents may have motivated the survey if they experience withdrawal symptoms.
The researchers asked if they had slowly left the antidepressant with tapered technology or terminated at once, but the results were not decisive because the participants did not thinner to four weeks for more than four weeks.
Researchers say that, as other studies have suggested that tapering is beneficial, further studies are needed on how to do their best from antidepressants and how to relieve withdrawal symptoms.
Joanna Moncrieff (Psychiatry of Psychiatry) senior professor said: “Withdrawal symptoms are generally experienced by people out of antidepressants, so those who want to stop taking drugs should advise you to consult with a health expert on information.”
About this mental health and psychological pharmacology research news
author: Chris Lane
source: UCL
Contact: Chris Lane -UCL
video: Images are recognized as neurological science news
Original study: Open access.
“Antidepressant withdrawal effect and period of use: Investigations of patients registered in primary medical psychological therapy services“Mark Horowitz et al. Psychiatric research
Abstract
Antidepressant withdrawal effect and period of use: Investigations of patients registered in primary medical psychological therapy services
background
Previous studies of antidepressants withdrawal were limited by drug exposure or short periods of self -selection samples. Our research aimed to estimate the withdrawal effect in everyday clinical practice.
methods
Participants in the NHS first medical psychological treatment service who tried to stop antidepressants were investigated. The regression model is organized to investigate the connection between individuals and drug characteristics and withdrawal.
result
Respondents (respondentsN = 310) was mostly women (78 %), white (75 %), and the average age was 38.79 (SD 12.4). The response rate was 18 %of the eligible patients. 62 %reported that antidepressants helped.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms were reported to be 79 %. 45 %reported serious or severe symptoms. 43 %of them met the most strict definitions of withdrawal syndrome and reported more than four ‘non -emotional’ withdrawal symptoms. 38 %of the participants reported that the antidepressant could not stop the antidepressant. 20 %reported that withdrawal symptoms lasted for more than one year or more.
It was highly likely to experience withdrawal syndrome (or 95 %CI) = 10.41 (2.88; 37.67) in a complete adjustment model using an antidepressant for more than 24 months before stopping, and reports a severe withdrawal effect (or 95 %CI) = 5.16 (2.75; 9.70) and longer (95). 18.11 (3.85; 32.38), or less than 6 months can be suspended ((95 %CI) = 27.55 (10.29; 73.81).
conclusion
Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms were common, and it was serious and extended to a considerable ratio. The longer use period was more likely to be severe and long -term symptoms and less likely to stop. The limit of this study is a low response rate.
