New Study Reveals the Safest Way to Stop Antidepressants

A sweeping new analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry suggests that the safest and most effective way for people to discontinue antidepressants is to taper very gradually while receiving psychological support.

The review examined 76 randomized controlled trials involving 17,000 participants and found that slow deprescribing combined with therapy reduces the risk of relapse far more than abruptly stopping or tapering too quickly.

Researchers emphasize that antidepressants help prevent depressive relapses, but many patients do not need to stay on them indefinitely, though stopping them without guidance can be destabilizing.

Experts note that real-world access to psychological care is uneven, and many patients attempting to reduce medication report anxiety, minimal follow-up, and stigma from clinicians.

The study highlights both the promise of careful tapering and the gaps in mental-health systems that leave patients unsupported at a critical moment.