Latest news with #antidepressants
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
One in seven of us take antidepressants. Getting off them can be a nightmare
Chances are you, or someone you know, took an antidepressant this morning. One in seven Australians are on the medication, and for many it's lifesaving. But are we staying on antidepressants for too long? Is there a right time to stop? And what should we know about withdrawal symptoms? Guest: Jordan Bissell, journalist and producer on Radio National's Life Matters. ------ To find out more about how frequently antidepressants are prescribed, check out this Life Matters episode. Or you can read on the topic here. And if you're into mental health-related chats, check out our show on how to make big life decisions. As always, we'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed the episode, email us at If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 Headspace on 1800 650 890
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
New antidepressant warning - the longer pills are taken the bigger the risk of often-overlooked condition
Long-term users of antidepressants are 10-times more likely to suffer severe withdrawal symptoms when coming off the drugs, a study suggests. Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the UK, with about one in seven people now using the powerful mood-altering drugs. But University College London (UCL) researchers found the longer a patient uses them the more likely they are to suffer from little-known withdrawal symptoms as they come off. Experts also found long-term users had a higher risk of these withdrawal symptoms being severe and of experiencing them for longer. While some of these symptoms could be attributed to the depression the drugs are designed to treat returning, many were physical problems like dizziness, headaches and nausea. The researchers said their findings were concerning given how approximately half of Britons who take antidepressants do so for at least a year, with the figure being even higher in the US. Some patients are known to have been taking the drugs for at least half a decade. It also adds to a growing level of concern regarding extended use of antidepressants, with previous studies linking them to heart problems in young people alongside long-term and even permanent sexual dysfunction. However, independent experts warned that the study's findings should be treated with caution. All experts have advised patients using antidepressants to not stop taking their medication before discussing options with their medical team. Publishing their findings in the journal Psychiatry Research, the team found 64 per cent of patients who had taken antidepressants for at least two years suffered moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms once they tried to stop. In contrast, 73 per cent of people who had been using the drugs for six months or less experienced either no or only mild withdrawal symptoms when coming off the medication. The researchers said this meant a patient taking antidepressants for at least two years or more was 10-times more likely to experience withdrawal problems compared to patients only taking the drugs for six months. Across the study group, one in six patients reported suffering a severe withdrawal symptom. Almost a third of long-term users also reported withdrawal symptoms lasting longer than three months, with about one in 10 having these last for over a year. For short term users, only a tenth reported withdrawal problems lasting longer than three months. While many of the reported symptoms could be due to problems linked to depression and anxiety 76 per cent of patients experienced physical problems like dizziness, headache, vertigo, or nausea. Almost half of patients who reported symptoms experienced four or more of these physical side effects. There are also fears withdrawal symptoms are so severe they stopped patients from coming off the drugs. Across the study group, 38 per cent of patients said they were unable to stop taking antidepressants when they tried to do so. This rose to 79 per cent among people taking them for over two years. Dr Mark Horowitz, an expert in psychiatry and lead author of the new study, has previously warned about a lack of research on how to safely get patients off antidepressants. Speaking today, he said the findings supported the idea that patients should only be given the drugs for the shortest possible time. 'This is one reason to use antidepressants for no longer than necessary – because doing so may make it harder to stop using them later on,' he said. World-renowned UCL psychiatrist Professor Joanna Moncrieff, senior author of the paper and another expert concerned about extended antidepressant use, said patients should consult their medical team before coming off the drugs. 'Withdrawal symptoms are commonly experienced by people coming off antidepressants, so we would advise that people who want to stop taking the medication should do so in consultation with an informed health professional,' she said. The study was based off a small group of 310 patients who responded to a survey. Most—62 per cent—said antidepressants had been helpful to them. The authors noted a limitation of their study was, because it was survey, patients who had experienced withdrawal symptoms may have been more motivated to respond to these questions, which could have influenced the results. Independent experts have urged caution over interpreting the new findings. Dr Gemma Lewis, an expert in psychiatric epidemiology at UCL, said: 'This type of study is highly susceptible to bias and the findings should not be used to inform practice.' 'The number of people included in the study was very small, compared to the number of people who use this NHS service. 'These types of studies are at a much higher risk of bias than studies which use larger samples, follow people over time, and have a control group.' Professor Anthony Kendrick, and expert in primary care at University of Southampton, was another who urged caution. What are antidepressants? Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression symptoms. There are around 30 different types that can be prescribed. The NHS says that most people who have moderate or severe depression notice improvement when they take antidepressants. But it notes that this isn't the case for everyone. Side effects vary between different people and antidepressants but can include nausea, headaches, a dry mouth and problems having sex. Antidepressants aren't addictive but patients may have withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking them suddenly or miss a dose. These can include an upset stomach, flu-like symptoms, anxiety, dizziness and vivid dreams. 'The percentage of people reporting severe withdrawal symptoms of 15 per cent is likely to be an overestimate,' he said. He added the nature of survey could also have influenced the results: 'Giving people a list of symptoms to choose from elicits a greater number than asking them to report symptoms themselves, spontaneously.' Reacting to the study a spokesperson for the Royal College of Psychiatrists said antidepressants are an effective option for many patients. However, they added that long-term use of the drugs should only be considered for serious cases involving recurrent depression and this should be reviewed regularly. 'Most people will be able to stop taking antidepressants without significant difficulty by reducing the dose, known as "tapering", over a few weeks or months. 'Some people can experience withdrawal symptoms that last longer and may be more severe, particularly when the medication is stopped suddenly. 'Ultimately, the use of antidepressants, should always be a shared decision between a patient and their doctor based on clinical need and the preferences of the patient. Until 2019, NHS guidance on antidepressant withdrawal symptoms stated this was mostly a mild and short-lived problem–lasting no more than about a week. Now NHS guidance acknowledges that it can be severe for some patients and can last many months. The authors of new paper said their survey didn't have enough data to show if tapering could help patients coming off antidepressants experience fewer and milder symptoms. As such they said this was an area in need of further research. Antidepressants are typically taken for mood disorders as the drug is thought to interfere with the chemical serotonin—the brain's 'happiness hormone'. Figures show an estimated 8.7million people in England take antidepressants, about one in seven people, with numbers increasing annually. In the US an estimated one in eight people are currently taking an antidepressant, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Psychiatrists advise patients concerned about the side effects of antidepressants to talk to their medical professional about their options. Clinicians can sometimes offer an alternative dose, a different drug, or prescribe another medication to combat the side effects. They urge patients who are taking them not to quit without talking to the medical professional responsible for their care first to ensure they are adequately supported.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Millions taking one of UK's most common medications could be saved from cancer, study suggests
Taking antidepressants could help the body fight off cancer, a study has suggested. Experts found selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), one of the most common types of the drug, were found to have significantly improved the ability of T cells to fight cancer and suppress tumour growth. T cells are a type of white blood cell that play a major role in helping the immune system identify and kill infections and cancer cells. 'It turns out SSRIs don't just make our brains happier, they also make our T cells happier—even while they're fighting tumours,' said Dr Lili Yang, senior author of the new study at University of California. 'These drugs have been widely and safely used to treat depression for decades, so repurposing them for cancer would be a lot easier than developing an entirely new therapy,' she added. Antidepressants are typically taken for mood disorders as the drug increase levels of serotonin—the brain's 'happiness hormone'—by blocking the activity of a protein called serotonin transporter, or SERT. But the study sought to explore if this process could also influence other parts of the body including digestion, metabolism and immune activity. The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Cell noticed that immune cells isolated from tumours had higher levels of serotonin-regulating molecules. Dr Bo Li, another author of the study explained: 'SERT has one job—to transport serotonin. 'SERT made for an especially attractive target because the drugs that act on it—SSRIs—are widely used with minimal side effects.' The researchers tested SSRIs in mouse and human tumour models representing melanoma, breast, prostate, colon and bladder cancer. In lab tests on tumours the researchers found SSRI treatment reduced average tumour size by over 50 per cent and made the cancer-fighting T cells more effective at killing cancer. 'SSRIs made the killer T cells happier in the otherwise oppressive tumour environment by increasing their access to serotonin signals, reinvigorating them to fight and kill cancer cells,' said Dr Yang. The researchers also found SSRIs boosted the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies. They tested a combination of an SSRI and a treatment called anti-PD-1 antibody in mice with cancer. This antibody therapy works by blocking immune checkpoint molecules that normally suppress immune cell activity, therefore allowing T cells to attack tumours more effectively. By adding SSRIs to this researchers significantly reduced tumour size in all treated mice and even achieved complete remission in some cases. People with depression are thought to have low levels of serotonin, though there is scientific debate over this, and SSRIs combat this by boosting these levels. While the study suggested SSRIs could one day be used to help treat cancer others have linked their long term usage to health problems. Some experts suspect that the drugs could be causing too much serotonin to be released, with negative consequences for people's health. Previous studies have linked their use to health issues including heart problems in young people alongside long-term and even permanent sexual dysfunction. Health service figures show antidepressants are one of the most commonly taken medications in the UK. Official data suggests as 8.7 million people in England were prescribed the medication—about 15 per cent of the total population. In the US an estimated one in eight people are currently taking an antidepressant, according to the Centers for Disease Control. More than 400,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
The Risks and Rewards of Antidepressants
To the Editor: Re 'Harm From Antidepressants Is Real. Let's Not Cede the Conversation to Kennedy,' by Awais Aftab, a psychiatrist (Opinion guest essay, May 7): As a practicing psychiatrist, I agree with Dr. Aftab's call for studies of psychiatric drug side effects and withdrawal effects, as well as greater transparency about potential risks and benefits. He describes well the dilemmas faced by psychiatrists in everyday clinical practice. It is important, though, to point out that a number of studies show that the majority of S.S.R.I. prescriptions are written by primary care providers, not psychiatrists, and by other providers who do not have adequate training or support in treating depression and other serious conditions these medications can address. Most well-trained psychiatrists do take the time to explain and monitor side effects and withdrawal symptoms. It is not unusual, for instance, to take a year or more to properly taper off these medications. It is the rare primary care physician who has the time and training to do this. The studies Dr. Aftab calls for would not only help guide treatment, but just as important, also mitigate the effects of disinformation about these important medications. Jeffrey Rubin Madrid To the Editor: While I appreciate Awais Aftab's concerns about antidepressant side effects and withdrawal symptoms, I believe that there are more pressing and legitimate causes for concern.
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Weight-loss jabs ‘can treat depression'
Weight-loss jabs could work as antidepressants, research to be presented to the ongoing obesity summit in Spain will suggest. Studies on more than 25,000 adults found evidence that the injections could have a powerful impact on the mind, as well as the body. Scientists called for trials of the drugs to specifically treat mental illness, after research found the class of medication could help people beat the blues. Experts believe appetite-suppressing drugs may have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, potentially due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. Researchers analysed 36 studies including 26,000 adults in 19 countries. The findings, which will be presented to the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, showed that the weekly jabs improved mood, wellbeing and quality of life measures more than insulin and other anti-diabetic drugs The injections slow digestion and reduce appetite by mimicking the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) hormone which regulates hunger and feelings of fullness. Author Dr Sigrid Breit from the University of Bern, Switzerland, said: 'GLP-1 RAs (receptor agonists) may have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, potentially due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, which can also help reduce neuroinflammation.'
