Severe reaction for mood drug withdrawal

Millions of antidepressant users face side-effects when they try to come off the drugs, a new review has found.

More than half (56 per cent) of patients who stop taking antidepressants or try to reduce their usage will experience withdrawal symptoms, according to the research.

Of these, 46 per cent will report experiencing severe side-effects.

The research, by Dr James Davies, of the University of Roehampton, and Professor John Read, from the University of East London, has been published in the Journal of Addictive Behaviours.

Dr Davies said: “This new review of the research revealswhatmanypatients have known for years - that withdrawal from antidepressants often causes severe, debilitating symptoms which can last for weeks, months or longer.”