New Study Casts Doubt on Antidepressant Withdrawal Severity
A recent investigation challenges the prevailing notions regarding the severity of withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants, proposing that fears may be exaggerated.
A fresh analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry brings to light questions about the previously held beliefs on antidepressant withdrawal. A study from 2019 highlighted that 56% of patients experienced withdrawal symptoms following the cessation of these medications, with nearly half describing them as severe. This sparked an important shift in psychiatric practices and fueled a growing movement against the widespread prescription of psychotropic drugs, especially as vocal critiques emerged in the U.S. A new study now critiques the 2019 findings, suggesting that while patients might report mild symptoms like dizziness and nausea after stopping antidepressants, these experiences typically do not reach the level of clinical significance. Dr. Sameer Jauhar, a researcher in the latest study, emphasizes that the previous messaging has not withstood scientific scrutiny and reassures both patients and prescribers that the actual risk may be less severe than portrayed.
A recent investigation challenges the prevailing notions regarding the severity of withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants, proposing that fears may be exaggerated.
A fresh analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry brings to light questions about the previously held beliefs on antidepressant withdrawal. A study from 2019 highlighted that 56% of patients experienced withdrawal symptoms following the cessation of these medications, with nearly half describing them as severe. This sparked an important shift in psychiatric practices and fueled a growing movement against the widespread prescription of psychotropic drugs, especially as vocal critiques emerged in the U.S. A new study now critiques the 2019 findings, suggesting that while patients might report mild symptoms like dizziness and nausea after stopping antidepressants, these experiences typically do not reach the level of clinical significance. Dr. Sameer Jauhar, a researcher in the latest study, emphasizes that the previous messaging has not withstood scientific scrutiny and reassures both patients and prescribers that the actual risk may be less severe than portrayed.
