New warning for antidepressants – the longer pills are taken, the greater the risk of often overlooked

Long -term users of antidepressants are more likely to suffer serious withdrawal symptoms when the drugs come, suggests an investigation.

Antidepressants are one of the most prescribed medicines in the UK, with about one in seven people who now use the powerful mood -changing medicines.

But researchers from the University College London (UCL) discovered the longer a patient used them, the greater the chance that they suffer from few well -known withdrawal symptoms when they come.

Experts also discovered that long -term users had a higher risk that these withdrawal symptoms were serious and they experience them longer.

Although some of these symptoms can be attributed to depression, the drugs are designed to treat the return, many were physical problems such as dizziness, headache and nausea.

The researchers said that their findings were careful, considering how about half of the British taking antidepressants do this for at least a year, where the figure is even higher in the US.

It is known that they have been using the medicines for at least half a decade.

It also contributes to a growing level of concern about the extended use of antidepressants, where previous studies connect them with heart problems in young people in addition to long -term and even permanent sexual dysfunction.

However, independent experts warned that the findings of the study should be treated carefully.

All experts have advised that patients who use antidepressants not to stop taking their medication before discussing options with their medical team.

Publishing their findings in the magazine Psychiatry researchThe team found 64 percent of patients who had taken antidepressants for at least two years, suffered moderate to serious withdrawal symptoms as soon as they tried to stop.

73 percent of the people who had used the medicines for six months or less, on the other hand, experienced no or only mild withdrawal symptoms when completing the medication.

The researchers said this meant that a patient would take antidepressants for at least two years or more, was 10 times more likely to experience withdrawal problems compared to patients who only last six months.

In the study group, one in six patients reported serious withdrawal symptoms.

Almost a third of the long -term users also reported withdrawal symptoms that lasted longer than three months, of which about one in 10 lasts more than a year.

For users in the short term, only a tenth reported withdrawal problems that last longer than three months.

Although many of the reported symptoms can be due to problems related to depression and anxiety, 76 percent of patients encountered physical problems such as dizziness, headache, dizziness or nausea.

Almost half of the patients who reported symptoms experienced four or more of these physical side effects.

There are also fears that withdrawal symptoms are so serious that they did not get patients from the medication.

38 percent of patients said about the study group that they could not stop taking antidepressants when they tried this.

This rose to 79 percent among people they took for more than two years.

Dr. Mark Horowitz, an expert in psychiatry and main author of the new study, has previously warned of a lack of research into the safe rejecting of patients of antidepressants.

Speaking today, he said that the findings supported the idea that patients should only receive the medication for the shortest possible time.

“This is a reason to use antidepressants for no longer than necessary – because this can make it harder to stop them later,” he said.

The world-famous UCL professor Psychiatrist-Professor Joanna MoncrieFF, senior author of the newspaper and another expert who is concerned about long-term antidepressants, said that patients should consult their medical team before they come from the drugs.

“Withdrawal symptoms are often experienced by people who come from antidepressants, so we would advise that people who want to stop taking the medication should do this in consultation with an informed health star,” she said.

This NHS data shows the number of British that every type of antidepressant has taken over the past eight years. The line with the green triangles indicates the total number of patients

The study was based on a small group of 310 patients who responded to a survey.

Most – 62 percent – antidepressants consulted had been useful for them.

The authors noted that a limitation of their studies was because the study was, patients who had experienced withdrawal symptoms were possibly more motivated to respond to these questions, which could have influenced the results.

Independent experts have urged the interpretation of the new findings.

Dr. Gemma Lewis, an expert in psychiatric epidemiology at UCL, said: “This type of study is very sensitive to bias and the findings should not be used to inform practice.”

‘The number of people included in the study was very small, compared to the number of people who use this NHS service.

“These types of studies run a much higher risk of bias than studies that use larger samples, follow people over time and have a control group.”

Professor Anthony Kendrick, and expert in first -line care at the University of Southampton, was another one that encouraged.

“The percentage of people who report serious withdrawal symptoms of 15 percent is probably an overestimation,” he said.

He added that the nature of the survey could also have influenced the results: “Give people a list of symptoms to choose from a larger number than ask them to report symptoms themselves, spontaneously.”

Responding to the study said a spokesperson for the Royal College of Psychiatrists that antidepressants are an effective option for many patients.

However, they added that long -term use of the medicines should only be taken into account for serious cases with recurring depression and this must be assessed regularly.

“Most people will be able to stop taking antidepressants without significant difficulties by reducing the dose, known as” tapered “for a few weeks or months.

‘Some people can experience withdrawal symptoms that last longer and can be more serious, especially when the medicine is suddenly stopped.

‘Ultimately, the use of antidepressants must always be a shared decision between a patient and their doctor based on clinical needs and the patient preferences.

Until 2019, NHS guidelines for antidepressants withdrawal symptoms stated that this was usually a mild and short-term problem not more than about a week.

Now NHS guidelines acknowledges that it can be serious for some patients and can take many months.

The authors of New Paper said that their survey did not have enough data to prove whether tapered patients could help from antidepressants to experience less and milder symptoms.

As such, they said this was an area that needed further research.

Antidepressants are usually taken for mood disorders, because it is thought that the drug disrupts chemical serotonin – the ‘happiness hormone’ of the brain.

Figures show that an estimated 8.7 million people in England take antidepressants, about one in seven people, with the number increasing annually.

In the US, one in eight people currently takes an antidepressant, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Psychiatrists advise patients who are concerned about the side effects of antidepressants to talk to their medical professional about their options.

Doctors can sometimes offer an alternative dose, offer another medicine or prescribe another medicine to combat the side effects.

They penetrate patients they take with them not to stop without talking to the medical professional who is first responsible for their care to ensure that they are sufficiently supported.