Study finds half of long-term antidepressant users could taper off with simple support – News

A study by the University of Liverpool found that almost half of people taking long-term antidepressants were able to stop taking them with just the support of their GP and access to online or telephone helplines.

The scientists found that more than 40% of people who were healthy and not at risk of relapse were able to stop taking the medication on their doctor's advice.

The study also found that patients who had access to online support or a psychologist over the phone reported lower rates of depression, fewer withdrawal symptoms, and better mental health.

According to NHS statistics, more than 10% of adults in the UK take antidepressants to treat depression, and more than half have been taking them for more than two years.

Liverpool Professor of General Medicine Mark Gabbay He is a co-author of the study, which was led by the University of Southampton and also involved Hull York Medical School.

Professor Tony Kendrick, from Southampton, is lead author of the study, which was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

He said the findings were significant because they showed that many patients who were weaned off the drugs did not need expensive intensive care.

He added: “This approach could potentially eliminate the risk of serious side effects for patients taking antidepressants for long periods of time and concerned about withdrawal symptoms.”

“Providing patients with internet and telephone psychologist support is also cost-effective for the NHS.

“Our findings suggest that support not only improves patient outcomes, but also tends to reduce the burden on primary health care while gradually tapering antidepressants.”

The scientists behind the study enrolled 330 adults who had been taking medication for at least a year for a first episode of depression and for at least two years for a relapse.

Co-author Una MacLeod, professor of primary care medicine at Hull York Medical School, said: “Many patients have been taking antidepressants to treat their depression for more than two years and probably no longer need them.”

“The evidence from our study is clear and suggests the UK should establish a national telephone and online helpline to help people trying to quit medication.”

The new study is the latest in REDUCE, a seven-year university-led research programme looking at the long-term effects of stopping antidepressants.

Co-author Mark Gabbay, professor of general practice at the University of Liverpool, said the study showed many patients don't need intensive face-to-face therapy while they're experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

He added: “This is the first study to demonstrate that inappropriate chronic antidepressant treatment can be discontinued on a large scale without the need for psychological therapy.”

“Most antidepressants are only recommended for use for a maximum of two years, and there is an increased risk of side effects as you get older.

“Our findings call for encouraging active consideration by family physicians of discontinuing antidepressants.”

The full study can be read below. Translation: doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18383.

paper Internet and telephone support for discontinuing long-term antidepressants (DOI: doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18383) has been published in JAMA Network Open.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos