Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by janrinok on Saturday June 16 2018, @01:01AM   Printer-friendly
from the happy-pill dept.

1 in 3 Adults In The U.S. Take Medications That Can Cause Depression. These drugs already list depression as a possible symptom:

If you take Prilosec or Zantac for acid reflux, a beta blocker for high blood pressure, or Xanax for anxiety, you may be increasing your risk of depression.

More than 200 common medications sold in the U.S. include depression as a potential side effect. Sometimes, the risk stems from taking several drugs at the same time. Now, a new study finds people who take these medicines are, in fact, more likely to be depressed.

The list includes a wide range of commonly taken medications. Among them are certain types of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (used to treat acid reflux), beta blockers, anxiety drugs, painkillers including ibuprofen, ACE inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure), and anti-convulsant drugs.

I often take Zantac or Rantab for acid reflux. I used to take the beta blocker propanolol for the hand tremor caused by the anti-convulsant Depakote.

About 15 percent of participants who simultaneously used three or more of these drugs were depressed. By comparison, among participants who didn't use any of the medications, just 5 percent were depressed. Even those who used just one of these medications were at slightly higher risk of depression: About 7 percent were depressed.

See also:


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @01:22AM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @01:22AM (#693809)

    "feeling down" for 3 months straight is not normal, I know this.

    I avoid the drugs that 'fix' that because they have a LONG list of interactions that no one really understands. I can cope with it. But it takes a lot of work.

  • (Score: 5, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday June 16 2018, @02:09AM (6 children)

    by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday June 16 2018, @02:09AM (#693825) Homepage

    Try crack cocaine. You feel like king of all Mexico and you come up with all kinds of great ideas. Like how to hawk a broken keyboard for 5 bucks, or trade a dented tailgate you stole off of a truck for a half-can of Folgers coffee and a Fun-Center-token they claimed is a Spanish Doubloon worth thousands. It makes pushing your stolen shopping cart feel like driving a NAS-car.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @03:49AM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @03:49AM (#693843)
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @06:29AM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @06:29AM (#693867)

        That too made me depressed and low energy. I have the notes. One size does not fit all. Glad it worked for you.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @07:16AM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @07:16AM (#693877)

          How long did you give it? Depressed and low energy is just the initial phase (~3 days for me).

          • (Score: 1) by anubi on Saturday June 16 2018, @07:31AM (1 child)

            by anubi (2828) on Saturday June 16 2018, @07:31AM (#693881) Journal

            Is this the mechanism by which Anorexia Nervosa works?

            Instead of a drug-induced dependency, its a feedback from low blood sugar or similar?

            --
            "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @01:42PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @01:42PM (#693939)

              No idea how exactly it works, but Im beginning to suspect the "addictive" nature of many drugs is actually via messing with blood sugar.

    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @04:17AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @04:17AM (#693846)

      I think you missed the spot where I do not like side effects.

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @01:17PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 16 2018, @01:17PM (#693934)

    MDMA, psilocybin, and cannabis work for me!