In a recent study published in Lancet Psychiatry , researchers performed a meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms. Adverse symptoms associated with antidepressant cessation are a rising issue in psychiatry , clinical practice, patients, and the public. Antidepressant discontinuation syndromes (ADS) are a collection of symptoms classified in various ways.
Clinical practice guidelines now urge educating patients about the hazards of sudden withdrawal and decreasing antidepressants. The most common symptoms are dizziness, headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, and irritability. The prevalence and severity of ADS are debated, with some authors suggesting that 56% of patients suffer from discontinuation symptoms, with over half categorized as severe.
Medical specialists share opposing views on the severity of ADS. In the present meta-analysis, researchers examined the frequency of antidepressant stoppage symptomatology in individuals stopping antidepressants or using a placebo. The team systematically searched the PubMed, CENTRAL, and EMBASE databases through 13 October 2022 for randomized clinical trials (RCTs), observational studies, and other trials evaluating the incidence rates of antidepressant usage termination-related symptoms.
Included studies investigated the tapering or cessation of antidepressant drugs (excluding lithium, thyroxine, and antipsychotics) or placebo among individuals with behavioral, neurodevelopmental, or mental d.
