Incidence and nature of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis (9 July 2025)

Summary

Most people do not experience severe withdrawal when discontinuing antidepressants, and clinical guidelines should be updated to reflect this, say the UK authors of the largest review of the evidence to date.

The past decade has seen heated debate about the effects of stopping antidepressants. Both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists now warn that severe symptoms can result from withdrawal of antidepressants and that such treatment should be tapered.

The new systematic review and meta-analysis, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that on average, participants who stopped antidepressants experienced 1 more discontinuation symptom compared to those who discontinued placebo or continued antidepressants. The most common symptom in the first 2 weeks following antidepressant discontinuation was dizziness, and discontinuation of antidepressants was not associated with depressive symptoms.

Related reading on the hub:

• Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction: After 30 years, why is the health system still failing to recognise this life-limiting adverse effect?
• The question that will save lives: Interview with Katinka Blackford Newman, founder of Antidepressant Risks