Are antidepressants addictive?

They don't cause craving or compulsive use, so they aren't addictive in the way opioids or benzodiazepines are. However, stopping abruptly can cause discontinuation symptoms, so they should be tapered under medical supervision.

Discontinuation symptoms — dizziness, electric-shock sensations, irritability, flu-like feelings — can occur if stopped abruptly, which is why a gradual taper is used.

These are not the same as addiction: there is no craving, no escalating dose requirement, and no compulsive use.