Written by:

Nuno Albuquerque – Former UKAT Counsellor

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Mateen Durrani – MBBS, DPM, MSc, BCPsych

Last Updated:

May 21st, 2025

Antidepressant Addiction | Signs, Symptoms & Effects

Living with depression is hard enough without worrying that the medicine meant to help you manage it might also be causing you harm. Antidepressants help millions of people around the world, but they can become a real problem if addiction takes hold. If you have started to feel like you can’t function without them or you’re worried about someone you know, help is available. Knowing what antidepressant addiction looks like and how to get the right support is crucial for recovery and avoiding potential harm.

What are antidepressants?

Antidepressants are prescription drugs designed to treat ongoing clinical depression. This is the kind that doesn’t pass in a day or two but is a chronic condition, draining all joy and motivation from your life.

Depression can have many triggers, but on a chemical level, it occurs when your brain isn’t producing enough of certain chemicals, like serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters, and when their levels are low, they create depressive symptoms. Antidepressants help to increase those chemicals or make them work more effectively gently. This improves your mood and makes life feel a bit more manageable again.

Some of the most common forms of antidepressants include:

There are a few main types of antidepressants, each working a bit differently:

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors): The most common type which increases serotonin levels in your brain.
SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors): These boost both norepinephrine and serotonin levels.
TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants): An older type of antidepressant that influences multiple neurotransmitters. Rarely used now due to unpleasant side effects.
MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors): These are also older antidepressants which stop neurotransmitters from being broken down, but they are rare now because of their side effects.

What is antidepressant addiction?

Antidepressant addiction doesn’t always look or develop like other types of drug addiction. Antidepressant abuse is not about chasing a buzz or taking more for fun but is often an escalation of a legal prescription.

With long-term antidepressant use, especially in high doses, your body can become dependent on the medicine. This means that your brain starts to think it needs antidepressants for normal brain activity and function.

Stopping then brings on withdrawal symptoms like nausea, anxiety or a crushing return of depression. That fear of rebound depression, in particular, can keep you clinging to the meds, even when you’re ready to move on.

Antidepressants in the UK

The UK has taken various steps to try to prevent antidepressant addiction. For example, older forms of antidepressants which have more side effects, including a high addictive potential, are rarely prescribed now. Despite this, figures from 2022 show that 83.4 million antidepressants were prescribed that year alone in England.

While this is positive in some ways, as it shows that people are now becoming more aware of mental health needs and there is less stigma about taking medicine for depression, it does raise the chances of antidepressant addiction. This is particularly true if medicine is given as a standalone treatment without therapy or other holistic approaches which explore the root causes of depression at the same time.

Who is most likely to become addicted to antidepressants?

Antidepressant addiction usually has a few layers to it, and it is rarely just about the pills themselves. For some people, it starts when they rely on medication alone without therapy, self-care or support systems.

Others may begin to increase their dosage on their own, especially if they feel their symptoms returning. Using antidepressants to manage issues they weren’t prescribed for, like everyday stress, trauma or anxiety, can also be a slippery slope.

Family history can play a role too so if addiction runs in your family, you may be more at risk without even knowing it.

Am I addicted to antidepressants?

If you’re not sure whether you’re still healthily using antidepressants, it helps to be honest about your habits. Here are some signs that antidepressant addiction might be developing:

Frequently taking more than your prescribed dose or finishing antidepressant prescriptions too early
Obsessively thinking about when you’ll get your next prescription refill
Taking antidepressants to deal with unrelated feelings like anxiety, anger or stress
Feeling physically or emotionally unable to face your day without them
Hiding pills, fibbing about your use or avoiding the topic altogether
Watching your home life, job or studies suffer but continuing to use them anyway

If any of these points are alarming, don’t worry. You have spotted an issue, and professional drug detox and rehab treatment can help you resolve it.

What harm do antidepressant abuse and addiction cause?

Antidepressant abuse and addiction can cause serious, long-lasting damage. Some of the most serious consequences which people often underestimate include:

Strain on your body

Using more than you should can affect your sleep, appetite and energy levels. You might constantly feel run down or just “off” without knowing why and this can lower your immunity and make you more susceptible to various illnesses.

Mental health problems

Issues with mental health and addiction are inextricably tied. Instead of helping your mind heal or find balance, antidepressant addiction can trap you in a cycle where depression or anxiety persist and even get worse. This often leads to a further ramping up of antidepressant abuse and worsening mental health in turn.

Everyday struggles

Antidepressant addiction can throw a wrench into your daily life. You might fall behind at school or work, avoid loved ones or stop taking care of yourself altogether.

Accidental antidepressant overdose

Taking too many antidepressants when you’re desperate for relief or you have developed a tolerance and need increased doses can cause scary and potentially life-threatening effects. The danger of antidepressant overdose increases significantly if you mix antidepressants with other drugs or alcohol, and in the absolute worst cases, it can be fatal.

Financial pressure

If you’re always trying to refill prescriptions early, pay for extra appointments or buy antidepressants illegally, the costs can pile up fast and add even more stress to your life. These can be made worse by poor performance at work and unemployment.

What are the three stages of treating antidepressant addiction?

Antidepressant addiction treatment at Linwood House is about starting over with the right support. We begin with a medically managed detox to get you through the hardships of withdrawal safely. Next, we dig into the emotional side of things with drug rehab therapy to get to the bottom of what has really been going on. Finally, we stick with you through our aftercare and alumni programmes, helping you put everything you have learned into practice once you go back home.

Seek help for antidepressant addiction today

It’s never too late to get help for antidepressant addiction, and no matter how far things have gone, recovery is still possible. At Linwood House, we will be at your side with real support and offer proven treatment and compassionate care. Contact us today, and let’s start building a life from which you don’t need to escape.

Frequently asked questions

What is an SSRI antidepressant?

An SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is one of the most common types of antidepressant medication. It works by boosting the amount of serotonin, which is a chemical linked to your mood. When levels of serotonin increase in your brain, it can gradually help lift feelings of depression and anxiety. SSRIs don’t work instantly, but with consistent use under a doctor’s guidance, they can make a real difference in how you feel day to day. This is especially true if they are used in conjunction with therapy as part of a holistic treatment programme.

What should I expect with an increased antidepressant dosage?

If your doctor increases your antidepressant dose, you might notice a few changes, some good, some possibly uncomfortable. It is common to feel side effects like headaches, nausea or trouble sleeping for a week or two while your body adjusts and in some severe cases, there is a heightened risk of antidepressant addiction. But if the dose is right for you, you should also start to see your mood lift and your symptoms ease. Always keep your doctor in the loop about how you are feeling, as small changes can make a big difference.

Is it illegal to take antidepressants outside of a prescription?

Yes, in the UK, taking antidepressants without a prescription is illegal and potentially unsafe. Antidepressants are classed as prescription-only drugs for a reason, as they need to be tailored to your needs and monitored by a medical professional. Taking them without that guidance can lead to side effects, dangerous interactions, addiction and even legal trouble if you’re caught possessing or supplying them illegally.

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