Nineteen readers about their experiences with taking and stopping antidepressants

When we asked you to share your experiences with stopping antidepressants, more than 700 readers responded. They told us about the withdrawal symptoms they experienced and what they found helpful or problematic about the medications. We found that many people were given little information about the possible side effects of stopping the medication and suffered withdrawal symptoms that they believed were worse than the initial symptoms that led to the medication being prescribed.

Clinical guidelines approved by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in July recommending a much slower, safer approach to stopping antidepressants than previously recommended by doctors. Although there were readers who said the medications ultimately helped them, and some people described the medications as lifesaving, most people wanted more information at the time they prescribed the medication. Here are some of the stories chosen by readers (minor changes have been made for clarity and readability).