- Annabel Rackham and Elena Bailey
- BBC
The British National Institute for Health and Quality of Care recommended that antidepressant doses should be reduced in stages and with the help of a specialist doctor.
He said this helps control withdrawal symptoms that can be caused by medication.
The institute has also published new information showing how to improve mental health care services in England and Wales.
An expert panel said social care services should agree an appropriate treatment plan with patients.
This includes assessing the medical condition and whether it is appropriate for her to stop taking medications, and what is the time period required for withdrawal.
The committee also recommended that extra attention should be given to adults from ethnic minority backgrounds who suffer from depression.
This comes after data published by the British National Health Service Authority for 2021 showed that 57 percent of people from mixed British, black, British black, Asian or black Asian family backgrounds completed a course of treatment for depression, compared to 64 percent of people from a white family background.
The recommendation implies that mental health services should be provided in a culturally appropriate manner and that language barriers should also be removed.
The agency says prescriptions for antidepressants hit an all-time high in 2022, with 8.3 million people taking them in England.
Statistics also indicate that one in six adults, aged 16 and over, in the United Kingdom suffered some form of depression in the summer of 2021, with the rate remaining higher than it was before the coronavirus pandemic and the imposition of lockdown measures.
image copyright Getty Images
Antidepressant use hit an all-time high in 2022
‘There is no one-size-fits-all approach’
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Quality of Care believes that people with mild depression should undergo behavioral therapy or group exercise before discussing any medication.
Paul Crisp, who is responsible for the institute’s guidance, said: “In many cases, people experience withdrawal symptoms, and the length of time it takes for them to safely come off these medications may vary, which is why our committee’s helpful and practical statement of gradual withdrawal from these medications over time is so commendable.”
“But it should be emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to coming off antidepressants,” he added.
image copyright John Junior
During the COVID-19 lockdown, John Jr decided to give up antidepressants
“constant dizziness”
John Jr., 34, started taking antidepressants in 2017 after being diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety disorder.
John gradually relied on doses of sertraline, and says the drug “really helped” curb suicidal thoughts.
Despite this, the side effects were found to be intolerable.
He told the BBC: “I had palpitations, which is a very difficult side effect, and I had all sorts of headaches, migraines, severe anxiety and other things, even high blood pressure as well.”
“After that I was prescribed other medications in an effort to overcome the additional side effects I was experiencing,” he added.
“It got to the point where I thought I was going to be completely dependent on antidepressants,” he said.
During the period during which the closure measures were imposed to limit the spread of the Corona pandemic, he decided to give up the medication, despite the fact that he was unable to communicate with his doctor.
“His (the doctor’s) phone was always on, which made it really difficult,” he said.
He added, “I was suffering from more side effects and it was not helpful for me, after my body was tired to the limit, and I knew I had to stop it.”
image copyright Getty Images
Statistics show that one in six adults in the UK suffered some form of depression in the summer of 2021
He says that “stopping antidepressants” causes feelings of “fatigue, headaches, severe anxiety, sweating and sleepless nights” and likens it to “constant dizziness”.
John added that he coped well after he stopped taking antidepressants, and that he goes to gyms and practices meditation to maintain his mental health.
He welcomed the new guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Quality and said: “I think having a plan for everyone is a great idea because it will allow people to achieve that goal. It would be great to get that communication and reassurance from clinicians.”
Stephen Buckley, of mental health charity MIND, said: “Medicines help some people, but they are not always right for others.
He added, “If you are taking medication for your mental health, you may get to the point where you want to stop taking it.”
He added: “We strongly suggest consulting your doctor or mental health team if you are considering withdrawing from your medication, want to change a medication, or if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, in order to support you in safely discontinuing or changing your medication in a gradual way.”
