New Analysis Challenges Antidepressant Withdrawal Myths

Recent research published in JAMA Psychiatry indicates that withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants, often seen as severe, may not be as significant as previously reported.

Few subjects in mental health spark as much debate as the long-term use of antidepressants, which are currently prescribed to approximately one in nine adults in the United States, according to the CDC. Discussions around this topic intensified following a 2019 study conducted by British researchers, which revealed that 56% of patients experienced withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing antidepressants, with 46% describing their experience as severe. This alarming data raised concerns and altered psychiatric training and prescribing guidelines, fueling a grassroots movement advocating for stricter regulations on psychotropic drug prescriptions.

However, a new study released on July 8, 2025, in JAMA Psychiatry, suggests these withdrawal warnings may be overstated. The authors report that patients experienced withdrawal symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and vertigo after one week of stopping their antidepressants. Yet, they maintained that these symptoms often remained "below the threshold for clinically significant" withdrawal, which should provide reassurance to both patients and physicians.

Dr. Sameer Jauhar, a key author of the study and professor of psychiatry at Imperial College London, emphasized the need to critically evaluate the earlier warnings from 2019. "The messaging that emerged suggested all antidepressants could cause withdrawal and that a large proportion of users would be affected, but that perspective lacks scientific backing," he stated. As the conversation around antidepressant safety evolves, continued research will be essential to guide effective treatment practices.