Millions of antidepressant users in the UK are potentially affected by withdrawal symptoms.
The review, published yesterday (2 October) in The Journal of Addictive Behaviors was carried out by Dr James Davies of the University of Roehampton and Professor John Read of the University of East London, on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence.
The authors carried out a review of the evidence from 23 studies from several countries.
Overall, 56% of participants on average experienced withdrawal symptoms. Many of the studies contradicted the UK and USA official guidelines in that they found that a significant proportion of people experienced withdrawal for more than two weeks, and up to several months.
The authors write: "We recommend that UK and USA guidelines on antidepressant withdrawal be urgently updated as they are clearly at variance with the evidence – and are probably leading to the widespread misdiagnosing of withdrawal."
They warn that the current guidance could be causing "much unnecessary antidepressant prescribing and higher rates of antidepressant prescriptions overall".
They also urge prescribers to fully inform patients about the possibility of withdrawal effects.
Dr Davies said: "This new review of the research reveals what many patients have known for years – that withdrawal from antidepressants often causes severe, debilitating symptoms which can last for weeks, months or longer. "
Sir Oliver Letwin MP, chair of the APPG for Prescribed Drug Dependence, added: "The data suggests that existing medical guidelines in this area should be urgently updated to reflect the fact that antidepressant withdrawal is much more common, severe and long-lasting than previously stated."
Davies, J. and Read, J. A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? The Journal of Addictive Behaviors 2 October 2018; doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027
http://prescribeddrug.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Davies-Read.pdf
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