Quote from Alex bobby on July 11, 2025, 5:04 AM

Antidepressant Withdrawal Is Rare, Study Finds — Here Are the Most Common Symptoms

A new comprehensive review has found that most people do not experience severe withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking antidepressants, challenging long-standing fears about discontinuation and adding to a growing effort to destigmatize mental health treatment.

Published in JAMA Psychiatry, the study is the largest review to date on antidepressant withdrawal and involved an analysis of 50 randomised controlled trials, covering around 17,800 people. Led by Dr. Sameer Jauhar of Imperial College London, the research offers a clearer understanding of what happens when people stop taking these commonly prescribed medications.

What the Study Found

The key finding is both reassuring and surprising: while some people do experience symptoms like dizziness, nausea, vertigo, or nervousness, these effects are typically mild and short-lived. Most importantly, the majority of patients did not experience enough symptoms to meet the criteria for clinical withdrawal.

“Our work finds that most people do not experience severe withdrawal, in terms of additional symptoms,” Dr. Jauhar said in a statement.

In fact, the data showed that patients who discontinued antidepressants experienced just one additional symptom on average compared to those taking a placebo. For instance, dizziness occurred in about 20% of people who stopped taking the SNRI venlafaxine, while only 1.8% of placebo users reported the same issue.

Understanding the Difference: Withdrawal vs. Relapse

One of the study’s goals was too distinguish between actual withdrawal symptoms and the return of underlying depression or anxiety. Researchers found that most people's moods did not worsen when stopping antidepressants, suggesting that any mood-related symptoms were likely signs of a possible relapse—not withdrawal.

This distinction is important for both patients and healthcare providers, as it helps avoid confusion between side effects of discontinuation and the reappearance of mental health conditions that the medication was treating in the first place.

Which Antidepressants Have the Most (and Least) Symptoms?

The study reviewed various classes of antidepressants, including:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): such as escitalopram, sertraline, and paroxetine
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): such as venlafaxine, duloxetine, and desvenlafaxine
• Newer antidepressants: like vortioxetine and agomelatine

Symptoms varied depending on the medication:

• Desvenlafaxine users reported the highest number of symptoms during withdrawal.

Vortioxetine, by contrast, had the lowest withdrawal symptoms, showing results similar to those of people taking a placebo.

These differences may help guide future prescribing decisions and offer reassurance to those concerned about stopping treatment.

A Response to Conflicting Research

The findings challenge a previous study published earlier this year, which claimed that antidepressant withdrawal was common, severe, and long-lasting. However, critics of that earlier study—including Professor Katharina Domschke of the University of Freiburg—pointed out its small sample size of just 310 patients and higher risk of bias.

Domschke praised the latest review as being methodologically rigorous, saying it provides valuable insight and “helps to destigmatize antidepressants.”

Indeed, fear of withdrawal is a common reason why many patients hesitate to begin or stop antidepressant treatment. This new data offers a more science-based and balanced understanding of what people can expect, potentially easing anxieties around medication use.

Limitations and the Need for More Research

While the findings are promising, experts say more work is needed to understand the long-term impact of discontinuation, especially for people who have been on antidepressants for many years.

Most of the studies in the review only tracked symptoms for two weeks after stopping medication, which means the long-term withdrawal experience remains unclear.

“We still need more data on long-term users, individual vulnerability, and best practices for discontinuation,” said Dr. Christiaan Vinkers, a psychiatrist at Amsterdam University Medical Center who was not involved in the study.

Until then, clinicians and patients are encouraged to make personalised decisions based on individual needs and to consider gradual tapering strategies when discontinuing antidepressants.

Final Thought

The largest-ever review of antidepressant withdrawal sheds much-needed light on a topic often surrounded by anxiety and misinformation. While symptoms like dizziness or nausea can occur, severe withdrawal appears to be rare, and the findings emphasise that stopping antidepressants is safer and more manageable than many assume. For patients and healthcare providers alike, this study offers clarity, reassurance, and a path toward more informed, stigma-free mental health care.

Conclusion

The latest and most comprehensive review on antidepressant withdrawal provides a welcome shift in understanding: severe withdrawal symptoms are uncommon, and most people experience only mild, short-term effects when discontinuing these medications. While some symptoms like dizziness or nausea may occur, they typically fall below clinical thresholds and often resolve within two weeks. This research not only challenges earlier, more alarming studies but also offers hope and reassurance to those considering stopping antidepressants. Importantly, it encourages a more balanced, evidence-based conversation around mental health treatment—free from fear and stigma. As always, patients should consult their healthcare providers to determine the best and safest discontinuation plan tailored to their individual needs.

Meta Description:

A major review finds that antidepressant withdrawal is rare and usually mild. Learn about the most common symptoms and what this means for those stopping their medication.