Antidepressants are drugs prescribed by doctors to treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and chronic pain.
In the UK, 8.32 million people are on antidepressants – worldwide this figure amounts to more than 100 million. ​
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It is a common misconception that antidepressants can cure a 'chemical imbalance'. No chemical imbalances have been proven to exist in relation to depression or any mental disorder.​
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Antidepressants do not cure depressive illnesses - they only alleviate symptoms for some people by numbing emotions or by giving a temporary boost of euphoria.
About Antidepressants
Common Side Effects
Many people suffer side effects from antidepressants and several large scale studies support this.
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One study reports that more than half of patients will experience negative side effects from taking antidepressants.
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Another large survey published in 2014 found that 60 % reported emotional numbness, 62% experienced sexual difficulties and 52% felt addicted to the drug.
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According to other published data, more than 50% of users experience sexual dysfunction. In men this can mean delayed ejaculation and erectile dysfunction and in women difficulties achieving orgasm. In both there can be a loss of libido.
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These figures suggest ​side effects are not rare or trivial. They can significantly affect quality of life, relationships, identity and functioning.
The NHS, Mayo Clinic list other side effects as:
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agitation
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sickness
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indigestion and stomach aches
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diarrhoea, constipation
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insomnia
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headaches, joint and muscle pain
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blurring of vision
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drowsiness
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problems passing urine
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dry mouth
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weight gain
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excessive sweating
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low sex drive
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heart rhythm problems
Opinion is divided as to how well antidepressants work.
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There is little data on long term outcomes as the drugs are only tested for 6-8 weeks by the pharmaceutical companies that make them.
Data on short term effectiveness is also limited because drug companies are not obliged to publish all of their trials.
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In their guide to taking antidepressants The Royal College of Psychiatrists state: 'Overall research shows antidepressants help to reduce the symptoms of moderate and severe depression in adults. But different people have very different experiences with these medications.' Link
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Some clinicians believe they are no more effective than a placebo.
In 2008 Dr Irving Kirsch from Harvard Medical School and a group of researchers acquired the unpublished trials for six antidepressants using the Freedom of Information Act (U.S.). They discovered that the drugs produced a small but clinically meaningless improvement in mood compared to a placebo for mild to moderate depression. Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect.
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Other studies have reached a range of differing conclusions.
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How Effective Are Antidepressants?
​The most dangerous time for those who react adversely to antidepressants is within the first few weeks of going on them, around any change of dose (up or down), during and after withdrawal.
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Extreme Reactions
Akathisia
A very common sign that someone is having a dangerous reaction to medication is that they develop a condition called akathisia.
This is a life-threatening condition that occurs in some people after starting, changing or withdrawing from psychiatric medication.
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The medication attacks the nervous system creating the following symptoms:
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An intense inner restlessness with need for constant movement.
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Pacing, shuffling feet, rocking back and forth on feet.
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Foot stomping or rocking when seated.
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Inability to sleep.
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Panic attacks.
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Overwhelming sense of paranoia, terror and fear.
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Unrelenting and impulsive thoughts of violence and death.
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A feeling of wanting to rip off one's skin/escape a physical torture.
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Akathisia can lead sufferers to harm or kill themselves.
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With thanks to MISSD
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life threatening condition that can be triggered by a single dose of an antidepressant. Symptoms can include confusion, agitation, muscle twitching, sweating, shivering, diarrhoea, fits, unconsciousness and psychosis.
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The NHS and similar websites around the world advise that if you experience any of the above symptoms of serotonin syndrome you should stop taking the medicine and seek immediate advice from your GP, specialist or emergency services.
Extreme Outcomes
Suicide
According to drug company data 1 in 100 people have a severe adverse reaction to antidepressants that results in a desire to kill themselves. Unpublished trial data puts this figure at between 2% - 5%. Other studies of healthy volunteers have shown up to 10% of people who have never had depression have become suicidal from taking an antidepressant.
Suicidal ideation (thoughts about killing yourself) can happen within just hours from people taking a single dose of an antidepressant. This is often mistaken for a sign that their depression is worsening.
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Some survivors of these effects report that the desire to kill themselves stemmed from acute physical and mental agony caused by a condition called akathisia (see above)
Others report that they become confused, detached from their actions and may go into a dream-like state in which they feel compelled to harm themselves and/or others.
Homicide and Violence
There have been well documented cases of antidepressants causing homicide and violence.
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Like suicide, this can be the result of akathisia or an antidepressant induced psychosis.
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15 courts of law around the world have attributed homicidal behaviour to a defendant's use of antidepressants leading to acquittal or a more lenient sentence.
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The legal defence in these cases is 'involuntary intoxication' or 'automatism'.
Antidepressant induced violence is not always recognised by courts. The result is that there are a number of people in prisons around the world for crimes that they, and experts, believe were caused by antidepressants.
Kurt served 24 years for killing his father after a violent reaction to Prozac.
Click here to read Kurt's story.
Long Term Risks of Antidepressants
People can suffer debilitating side effects that may continue after they stop the drug.
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These include emotional bluntness, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbances, weight gain, loss of fertility, diabetes, brain fog, persistent dizziness, visual disturbances and sexual problems.
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PSSD (Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction) is a condition where sufferers continue to have sexual dysfunction after stopping taking antidepressants and can be permanent.
Since 2019 the European Medicines Agency has required drug companies to put warnings in their patient information leaflets that sexual problems may persist after coming off antidepressants that act on the serotonin system. Sufferers report genital numbness, erectile dysfunction, inability to orgasm and emotional blunting.
"While these drugs help some people in the short term, there is growing evidence that long term use leads to worse outcomes and many patients report devastating persistent withdrawal and other negative effects"
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​There is now evidence that millions are trapped into taking antidepressants indefinitely because withdrawal symptoms are so severe.
According to a review of studies led by the University of Roehampton more than half (56%) of people who stopped or reduced their intake of antidepressants experienced withdrawal symptoms, with almost half of these people (46% ) reporting symptoms as severe.
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These include insomnia, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, mania, depersonalisation and depression.
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In some cases reactions are so severe that patients report 'brain zaps' - these are electrical shock sensations in the brain which may extend down the body. ​
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A 2024 Lancet review discovered that one in six people will experience discontinuation symptoms when stopping antidepressants.
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Another study found that for 40% of people, withdrawal symptoms lasted over two years, with 80% of these people moderately or severely impacted by them. In total, one in four were unable to stop the medications and returned to them.
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It can take many months or years to come off antidepressants safely and many report that when they suffer withdrawal symptoms they are told by their doctors that their depression is returning.
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The Royal College of Psychiatrists have published a guide - Stopping Antidepressants.​
Dr. Ed White was a co-founder of this website. He suffered debilitating withdrawal effects and took his life in October 2021
Click here to read Ed's story.
Hooked on Antidepressants - The Evidence
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
bupropion
Celexa
Cipralex
Cipramil
citalopram
Cymbalta
desvenlafaxine
duloxetine
Effexor
escitalopram
fluoxetine
imipramine
Lexapro
Lustral
mirtazapine
paroxetine
Paxil
Pristiq
Prozac
Seroxat
sertraline
venlafaxine
WellbutrinÂÂÂ
Zoloft
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Panic attacks
Insomnia
Mania
Depersonalisation
Depression
Emotional numbing
Sexual dysfunction
Serotonin Syndrome
Akathisia
Suicide
Violence
Homicide
Anxiety
Chronic exhaustion
What to Know Before You Start Antidepressants
Your emotions might go flat
Antidepressants don’t just turn down sadness - they can dial down everything. Many people report feeling emotionally ‘blunted’ or distant. Joy, love, tears - all muted. This isn’t just the depression talking; even people who take the pills for other reasons than depression experience it. It can quietly chip away at relationships and your sense of self.
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There’s a suicide risk - especially for young people
Antidepressants can make some people suicidal - people who have never felt suicidal before. This happens to about 1 in 100 people (according to drug company data) and the most dangerous time is when people go on, change dose or come off antidepressants. Families are often caught off guard, which is why it’s crucial to monitor changes closely and watch out for signs of akathisia (inability to sit still accompanied by inner terror) or serotonin syndrome (changes in temperature, delirium and an altered sense of reality).
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Some reactions can be misdiagnosed as bipolar
Sometimes, antidepressants cause symptoms like insomnia, impulsivity, or agitation. Instead of recognising these as side effects, doctors may diagnose bipolar disorder. That diagnosis brings new meds, new labels, and potentially a whole new treatment path - often based on a reaction not a real underlying condition.
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Brain fog is a real possibility
Struggling to focus? Forgetting things? Many people assume it’s the depression, but research shows SSRIs themselves can cause memory problems and foggy thinking - especially with long-term use.
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Weight gain
Antidepressants can affect appetite, slow down your metabolism, and lead to significant weight gain. For some, it also increases the risk of diabetes. This isn’t about willpower. It’s about the medication.
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Withdrawal can be tough - really tough
Studies on numbers vary, but some report that up to half of all people who stop antidepressants experience withdrawal. And for many, it’s severe. We’re talking brain zaps, panic, dizziness, and emotional distress that can last weeks, months - even years. People can be unable to work, are bedridden and lose relationships because of antidepressant withdrawal. Worse still, many doctors misinterpret withdrawal symptoms as a ‘relapse’.
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Antidepressants can affect your heart
Some antidepressants can interfere with your heart’s rhythm, which in rare cases can lead to arrhythmias or sudden cardiac events. This is more of a risk if you already have heart conditions, or if you're on certain combinations of medications. It’s important to be monitored.
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Antidepressants can cause internal bleeding
SSRIs can increase your risk of gastrointestinal bleeding - especially if you also take common painkillers like ibuprofen. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it can be serious. Most people are never warned about this potential interaction.
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Antidepressants don’t work for everyone
Some people feel a bit better. Some don’t. Studies show that the average improvement from SSRIs is only slightly better than a placebo. They might help some people by emotionally numbing them or even in some cases causing a temporary euphoria. But they’re not a magic fix - and unfortunately, no one can predict if you’ll be one of the people they help.
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If you’re considering antidepressants, it’s only fair you have the full picture . We’re here to inform you, so you can make decisions that feel right for you.
Here’s what we wish more people were told before they took that first pill.
Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction. We’re not just talking about a lower libido. This can mean permanent numbness, loss of orgasm, and emotional disconnection - even after you stop the drug. Some people say it felt like a light switch suddenly turned off. It's now officially recognised by regulators, but many doctors still don’t mention it.