It’s a sad but true state of affairs in the United States that one in three adults is taking medications that have been linked to depression, new research reveals.
A study published this week in the Journal of the AMA (American Medical Association) revealed the startling number of Americans taking medications with depression listed as an adverse potential side effect.
Researchers Dima Mazen Qato and Katharine Ozenberger of the University of Illinois in Chicago, and Mark Olfson of Columbia University in New York City, found that “the estimated overall prevalence of U.S. adults using medications with depression as a potential adverse effect was 37.2 percent,” according to their study.
The cross-sectional research conducted between 2005 and 2014 included cases from 26,192 adults. It referenced more than 200 common medications sold in the United States with depression as a potential side effect, NPR reported.
The pharmaceuticals listed in the study reflect a surprising array of drugs, including ACE inhibitors, acid reflux medications, beta blockers, anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, and anti-anxiety medications.
“The more of these medications you’re taking, the more likely you are to report depression,” study author Olfson, a psychiatry professor, told NPR.
For anyone taking even the most seemingly benign medications, there are important considerations before adding anything else.
“If you are already being treated for depression, and one of these medications is added to your regimen,” Seattle-based pharmacist George Hatziantoniou told LifeZette, “the interaction between the antidepressant and the new medication can decrease the effectiveness of the antidepressant and worsen the depression.”
While the study does not prove these drugs “cause” depression, it does find that the incidence of depression goes up significantly when people take them, by even as much as three times, if a patient is taking three or more of the medications.
“We’re just showing that if you’re already taking them, you are more likely to be depressed,” said Olfson.
“If you were not taking a medication that had [depression] listed as a side effect, in that survey you had a 5 percent chance of depression,” CBS News medical contributor Dr. Tara Narula told “CBS This Morning” on Wednesday. “That’s compared to about a 15 percent risk of depression if you were taking three or more drugs that had depression listed as a side effect.”
It could be that people had pre-existing depression. It could be the chronic conditions for which they’re taking the medications.
Narula explained why it is overly simplistic, and perhaps wrong, to conclude that the medications “cause” depression.
“It’s hard to prove this link with this type of research. It could in fact be that the drugs are leading to depression,” she said. “However, it could be that people had pre-existing depression. It could be the chronic conditions they’re taking the medications for — heart condition, cancer, other conditions could be what’s causing depression and not the drugs.”
Clearly doctors play a crucial role in patient care.
“Health care in the U.S. is highly fragmented — patients should get all their prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy, so that the pharmacist has the most current medications taken,” advised Hatziantoniou. “Ask the pharmacist as many questions as necessary regarding side effects of individual medications and combinations of medications.”
Among the symptoms of depression, the Mayo Clinic lists these:
- feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness;
- angry outbursts, irritability or frustration;
- loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities;
- sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much;
- tiredness and lack of energy; and
- reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain
“If a drug is causing depression, speak to the prescriber about changing to another medication that is considered equally as effective but having less of the depression side effects,” advised Hatziantoniou.
Related: The Shocking Influence of the Media on Suicide Attempts
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of depression or is contemplating suicide, reach out to a psychologist or medical professional, or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Kyle Becker is a content writer and producer with LifeZette. Follow him on Twitter.
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