Report Your Harm to the FDA
Join the reporting drive to advocate for warnings on antidepressants that highlight the risks of withdrawal and the need for evidence-based tapering guidance.
Begin Reporting NowAdvancing
Education, Advocacy, Research
Laying the Foundation
Every movement begins with a first step.
Antidepressant Coalition for Education is grounded in years of lived experience, professional insight, and a growing community of voices demanding change. We’re working to shift the conversation around antidepressants—from awareness to action.
Our impact is beginning now, and we invite you to be a part of it.
“ ... People considering antidepressants deserve full, informed consent about the real risks... I support this organization's role in raising awareness and driving change. ”“It's widely recognized that benzodiazepines can cause physical dependence and severe withdrawal. Yet many remain unaware that antidepressants can lead to similar—if not more severe—iatrogenic effects. The belief that these drugs are 'safer' or not 'dependence-forming' is a dangerous misconception. People considering antidepressants deserve full, informed consent about the real risks. The medical community has a responsibility to close the knowledge gap and support safe tapering for those already physically dependent. The overprescription and prolonged use of antidepressants is a public health crisis on par with that of benzodiazepines—and it's time we acknowledge that. I support this organization's role in raising awareness and driving change.”
— Nicole Lamberson
Medical Director, Benzodiazepine Information Coalition
What we do
We lead efforts to educate the public, advocate for change, and support research on the risks and long-term effects of antidepressant medications.
While antidepressants are widely prescribed, there is a critical gap in both public understanding and medical education about the range of potential side effects, withdrawal challenges, and the limited research on long-term safety. ACE exists to bridge that gap.
Awareness
Raising awareness about the risks, limitations, and long-term impacts of antidepressant medications through research and education.
Advocacy
Advocating for better healthcare practices, policies, and informed decision-making regarding antidepressant use and discontinuation.
Change
Working toward long-term systemic changes in healthcare policy to improve patient outcomes and safety.
The Impact of Antidepressants
According to recent data, 45 million people in the US were prescribed antidepressants
In certain studies, withdrawal symptoms have been reported in up to 86% of those discontinuing antidepressants
Nearly half of those who experienced antidepressant withdrawal rated their severity as the highest level
One-fourth of antidepressant users have been taking antidepressants for more than 10 years
“ If long-term antidepressant users come off the drugs too quickly without evidence-based guidance, the side-effects are often brutal and sometimes can take months or years for people to recover from. ”
— Mark Horowitz,
Psychiatric Researcher