Long-Term Antidepressant Use Linked to Tougher Withdrawal

If you have been on antidepressants for over two years, you are more likely to experience more intense and prolonged withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to withdraw. In a new University College London (UCL) study, researchers have discovered that individuals who take antidepressants long-term find it much harder to quit compared to those who took the medication for a shorter duration.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Mark Horowitz, visiting clinical researcher at UCL Division of Psychiatry, said: “Our findings confirm what many researchers have long suspected, that the likelihood of experiencing withdrawal symptoms when coming off antidepressants is largely determined by duration of use".

The duration effect: Why time matters.

Subjects who had been taking antidepressants for over two years were 10 times more likely to experience withdrawal than subjects who had been taking them for fewer than six months, the study found. Of the long-term users, 64% had moderate to severe withdrawal, and 25% reported severe withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, 12% experienced symptoms lasting over a year.

In contrast, short-term users experienced a much more uneventful time. The majority (73%) either had no symptoms at all or only minor issues, and the symptoms tended to resolve themselves within four weeks.

Withdrawal symptoms: More than just mood swings

The research interviewed 310 individuals being treated for psychiatric illness using NHS services in England. Although certain symptoms, including anxiety or low mood, can be depressive withdrawal-like, the research examined non-emotional symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and headaches. A staggering 76% of them said they had at least one of these physical symptoms, and 43% said they had four or more.

Having trouble quitting: Many have trouble quitting.

What's concerning is that 38% of all respondents reported not being able to quit their antidepressant even after attempting to do so. For sustained users, it increased to 79%. These statistics point to the necessity for greater assistance and improved methods of tapering safely off antidepressants.

Gradual tapering could be the solution, but further research is required.

While there were some participants who used a tapering method to decrease medication, the outcome was not conclusive because there was not sufficient diminution within four weeks. According to researchers, the studies revealed that gradual tapering decreases withdrawal, but more information is necessary.

Lead study author Dr. Marc Horowitz pointed out the findings:

 “This is one reason to use antidepressants for no longer than necessary – because doing so may make it harder to stop using them later on.”

Senior author Professor Joanna Moncrieff added:

Why this matters

As millions of individuals around the world take antidepressants for years at a time, these results are a timely reminder of the risks that may accompany long-term use. They also suggest the need for educated prescribing, realistic timescales, and sensible tapering strategies to allow individuals to safely discontinue them at the appropriate moment.

References: 

1. Davies, James, Joanna Moncrieff, John Read, and Mark Horowitz. “Antidepressants Withdrawal Effects and Duration of Use: A Survey of Patients Enrolled in Primary Care Psychotherapy Services.” Psychiatry Research, 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178125001453.

2. Neuroscience News. “Long-Term Antidepressant Use Tied to Tougher Withdrawal Symptoms.” Neuroscience News, May 21, 2025. https://neurosciencenews.com/antidepressant-withdrawl-29118/.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)