Patients should be told of the potential ‘severe and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms’ when coming off antidepressants, leading doctors have said.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said official guidance on stopping medical treatment for depression needs to reflect ‘the full range of patients’ experiences’.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health Care Excellence (Nice) suggest most people should be able to stop taking antidepressants within four weeks.

But the college said it was ‘increasingly apparent’ that some patients can suffer severe symptoms such as restlessness, difficulty sleeping and altered sensations, for longer.

College president Wendy Burn said she hoped their position would be reflected in the new Nice guidelines, which are being updated for the first time in 10 years.

She said: ‘As psychiatrists, we are duty-bound to take on board the concerns of patients who’ve experienced more severe and long-lasting side effects of these medications.’

Prescriptions for antidepressants in England doubled in a decade, from 36 million given out in 2008 to 70.9 million in 2018, according to data published by NHS Digital.

That figure only includes NHS prescriptions.

A report from the college published on Thursday said the use of medication should be ‘underpinned by a discussion with the patient… about the potential level of benefits and harms, including withdrawal’.

It added: ‘There should be greater recognition of the potential in some people for severe and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms on and after stopping antidepressants in Nice guidelines and patient information.’

Mrs Burn said: ‘Antidepressants can be very effective for treating moderate to severe depression, particularly in combination with talking therapies, and what we want is guidance that best supports their use.’

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