Antidepressants could lead to lifelong dependence, doctors warn, since going off them can trigger agitation, headaches, and flu-like symptoms

More people than ever before are taking antidepressant medication to manage their depression symptoms, but a new study warns about an overlooked side effect of long-term antidepressant use: something similar to withdrawal symptoms. Reviewing six decades of data, three Chicago researchers found persistent evidence that, when a person abruptly stops taking their antidepressant medication, they can experience symptoms like headaches, insomnia, agitation, diarrhea, anxiety, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms.

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