For many people, stopping antidepressants and other long-term medications isn’t as simple as just quitting. Helena Burton, a psychotherapist from Essex, knows this all too well.
After 15 years on the antidepressant venlafaxine, she faced a whirlwind of overwhelming symptoms when she tried to come off the drug — numbness, a sensation like her brain was being shocked, and a feeling that her whole world was slipping away.
“I honestly thought I was losing my mind,” Helena recalls.
Decades of Denial About Antidepressant Withdrawal
For years, patients like Helena were often dismissed when they reported severe withdrawal symptoms.
Doctors and pharmaceutical companies would tell them it was all in their head or simply a return of their original depression.
But in 2019, after mounting research and public pressure, medical bodies like the Royal College of Psychiatrists finally acknowledged that antidepressant withdrawal can be serious and long-lasting.
Since then, guidelines have shifted to encourage slow and careful tapering — gradually reducing doses over months — to help patients avoid intense withdrawal effects.
This approach isn’t just for antidepressants; it’s recommended for other drugs like benzodiazepines (sedatives), sleeping pills called ‘z’ drugs, opioid painkillers, steroids, and even some blood pressure medications like beta blockers.
Why Tapering Matters But Support Often Doesn’t Exist
Tapering helps the body adjust slowly to lower doses and prevents nasty side effects.
But despite the advice, many patients on the NHS find that professional support when coming off these drugs is spotty or nonexistent.
In fact, some doctors remain unaware or skeptical about withdrawal symptoms.
A recent controversial study even claimed that withdrawal symptoms might mostly be imagined or caused by negative expectations, though this study mainly looked at short-term antidepressant use.
Critics argue it doesn’t reflect the experiences of millions on long-term medication.
Helena’s Difficult Journey to Freedom From Medication
Helena’s breaking point came when her antidepressant stopped working and her psychiatrist suggested electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a treatment she found frightening.
Choosing instead to quit venlafaxine, she initially tried to reduce her dose too quickly and had to go back to the full amount.
Then she discovered “hyperbolic tapering” — cutting doses by tiny amounts every couple of weeks, which helped her manage withdrawal symptoms better.
Unfortunately, venlafaxine isn’t available in liquid form on the NHS, making precise dosing hard.
Helena had to measure and record doses meticulously to get through the year-long tapering process.
Now, four years off the drug, she says she feels stronger emotionally than ever and helps others facing the same challenges.
The Gap Between Recommendations and Reality
Public Health England once called for an NHS helpline and website to support patients withdrawing from psychiatric drugs, but nothing has materialized.
Meanwhile, professional denial and lack of expertise continue to make it harder for people to get safe, informed help.
GPs often don’t have training in tapering and deprescribing, meaning many patients face withdrawal symptoms alone or are misdiagnosed.
Some groups and specialists are pushing for change, but progress is slow.
Another Patient’s Story: Kiera’s Battle With Gabapentin Withdrawal
Kiera Dawes, 25, was prescribed gabapentin for fibromyalgia pain.
Though told it was safe with few side effects, she quickly experienced brain fog, dizziness, and other withdrawal symptoms.
Her dose increased over time without relief, and when she decided to quit, her GP offered little support aside from a brief check-in every two weeks.
Despite tapering, Kiera describes withdrawal as “hell,” with shakes, mood swings, and near loss of appetite.
She emphasizes that better support is urgently needed for anyone trying to come off difficult medications.
The Road Ahead: Hope for Better Support and Awareness
Clinicians like Dr. Mark Horowitz, who co-founded the US network Outro, are pioneering specialized tapering clinics offering tailored support.
Similar services are being explored in the UK, but the demand far outstrips the available resources.
Until more comprehensive help arrives, patients like Helena and Kiera continue to navigate a system that often leaves them to struggle alone — highlighting a critical gap in healthcare that urgently needs addressing.