Uni takes closer look at antidepressant withdrawal
People who have experienced withdrawal symptoms or side-effects while trying to wean off antidepressant medications are being invited to take part in University of Adelaide research on the issue.
Photo: Nastya Dulhiier via Unsplash.
The university’s Critical and Ethical Mental Health (CEMH) research group is asking Australians who have stopped taking antidepressants, or who are trying to stop, to complete a brief online survey about their experiences.
Researchers hope the results will be able to assist in improving services and supports for patients whose symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed as the return of a mental health condition, rather than side-effects of withdrawal.
Speaking to InDaily, CEMH head Professor Jon Jureidini said more than 50 per cent of people who stop taking antidepressants experience withdrawal effects, while half of that group experience “severe” side-effects while tapering off.
“Many people can stop taking them without too much difficulty, and that’s true of benzodiazepines and other drugs – some people use opiates without ever getting addicted to them,” he said.
“But the point is that so many people take antidepressants, and it’s common for people to have some withdrawal effects. Because so many people – millions of people – are taking antidepressants, that means many people are having serious withdrawal effects.”
Jureidini said many people prescribed antidepressants have not been diagnosed with clinical levels of anxiety and depression.
“There’s a lot of inappropriate prescribing to people who should never have been given antidepressants,” he said.
It was hoped the research would improve support services for those looking to come off the medication.
“By investigating real-life experiences with withdrawal, we hope to obtain a better understanding of what resources people might need to help them stop the medication safely and easily,” Jureidini said.
“This could include upskilling of the health workforce and the establishment of specialised withdrawal clinics.
“Many psychiatrists and GPs who prescribe antidepressants are unaware of the scale and significance of withdrawal problems, because there is little information about it.”
The university is looking for survey participants that are over 18 years old, are Australian residents and have experience of taking and stopping or trying to stop antidepressants.
More information on the survey is available here.
