Quick Withdrawal From Antidepressants Can Take Emotional, Cognitive Toll

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 19, 2024
• Full Page

People coming off antidepressants often struggle with emotional and social turmoil, especially if they quit their meds cold turkey, a new study reports.

Challenges reported by patients quitting antidepressants included feeling overwhelmed by their emotions, finding socia...

Postpartum Depression Pill Now Available to Women, Drug Maker Says

• Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
• December 15, 2023
• Full Page

The first postpartum depression pill approved for use in the United States is now available to women who need it, the drug's makers announced Thursday.

Sold under the name Zurzuvae, the medication can quickly ease severe postpartum depression and help women regain their ...

New Postpartum Depression Drug Comes With Hefty Price Tag

• Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
• November 8, 2023
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 8, 2023 (Healthday News) -- A new drug to treat postpartum depression will cost nearly $16,000 for a 14-day course of treatment, a price tag that has doctors worried that some patients won't be able to afford the medication.

Zurzuvae (zuranolone) was firs...

Ketamine's Antidepressant Benefit: Is It All in Your Head?

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 24, 2023
• Full Page

The party drug ketamine has gotten a lot of notice for its potential to help people with severe and persistent depression who haven't responded to other treatments.

But a new study has discovered the drug's effect may be in the heads of patients who take it.

Resear...

Commonly Used Drug Might Be New Treatment Option for IBS

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 18, 2023
• Full Page

An inexpensive medication long used for depression and migraines now has a clinical trial to back up its off-label use for another condition that lowers quality of life: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In the study, British researchers found that those taking amitriptyli...

Some Antidepressants Take Weeks to Kick In, and Scientists May Now Know Why

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 12, 2023
• Full Page

Most folks know that certain antidepressants have to be taken for a few weeks before people start seeing improvement, and now a new study sheds light on that delay.

Scientists have discovered this is because of physical changes in the brain that unfold over those first f...

Running vs. Meds: Which Works Best to Beat Depression?

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• October 9, 2023
• Full Page

Exercise has been dubbed "nature's antidepressant" by doctors for years, and now a new study confirms the notion.

The finding follows a four-month look at the impact that running had on anxiety and depression when compared to a common antidepressant.

SSRIs (selecti...

Study Debunks Notion That Antidepressant Might Ease COVID Symptoms

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 18, 2023
• Full Page

A clinical trial designed to test repurposed medications for their impact on fighting COVID-19 has found no benefit to taking the antidepressant fluvoxamine (Luvox) to ease coronavirus symptoms.

The study, led by Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) in partnership wit...

Antidepressants for Postpartum Depression Could Mean Better Mental Health for Kids, Too

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 30, 2023
• Full Page

If you are a new mom struggling with postpartum depression, taking antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also bear benefits for your child's development.

That's according to new research that found the medications were associated wi...

Could Ativan Pose Harm to People Battling Pancreatic Cancer?

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 17, 2023
• Full Page

Sometimes patients with pancreatic cancer are prescribed the benzodiazepine lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety, but that may be harming their health.

A new study found this treatment was linked to worse outcomes, with shorter survival times and faster disease progression. <...

Extended Use of Antidepressants May Help People With Bipolar Depression

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• August 10, 2023
• Full Page

Modern antidepressants could be effective for long-term treatment of some patients with bipolar disorder, a new trial suggests.

Current guidelines discourage use of antidepressants in these patients, over concerns that the drugs will trigger a manic episode.

But bi...

The Most Common Depression Medications, Explained

• Ann Schreiber HealthDay Reporter
• May 26, 2023
• Full Page

You've been diagnosed with depression. What's next?

The cornerstone of treatment remains antidepressants, so it's likely your doctor will prescribe one for you, but which one might be best?

You will join millions around the world who struggle with how to treat the ...

Depression Treatments: Medications, Lifestyle Changes & More

• Ann Schreiber HealthDay Reporter
• May 25, 2023
• Full Page

Depression is a debilitating condition that can leave its millions of sufferers in despair.

Globally, an estimated 5% of adults suffer from depression, according to the World Health Or...

For Seniors on Antidepressants, Adding a Drug May Work Better Than Switching

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• March 10, 2023
• Full Page

Many older adults with depression don't respond to their first antidepressant, so doctors will switch them to another one to see if that does the trick.

Now, new research suggests that the best strategy for these folks may instead be to add the antipsychotic drug A...

Doctors Often Prescribe Antidepressants for Pain, But Do They Really Work?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 2, 2023
• Full Page

Antidepressants are often prescribed to people suffering from chronic pain, but a new evidence review argues that the science behind these prescriptions is shaky at best.

These drugs helped people in chronic pain in only a quarter of potential uses tested, and even then ...

Depression Treatment Starts Changing the Brain Within 6 Weeks

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• November 2, 2022
• Full Page

New research reveals that the brain is much more flexible than once thought and can change rapidly during treatment for major depression.

People receiving inpatient treatment for major depression had increased brain connectivity after just six weeks, German researchers r...

Study Debunks Use of Antidepressant Luvox as COVID Treatment

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 20, 2022
• Full Page

A study testing drugs that are used for other conditions for their potential in treating COVID-19 has found that the antidepressant fluvoxamine (brand name Luvox) offered no benefit, at least at an initial smaller dose.

Study participants took 50 mg of the medication twi...

With 'Chemical Imbalance' Theory in Doubt, What's Next for Depression Care?

• Serena McNiff HealthDay Reporter
• September 6, 2022
• Full Page

TUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (HealthDay Now) -- For Mary Christ, the idea that depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain has always felt true to her personal experience.

A former educator, C...

No Link Between Antidepressants in Pregnancy, Epilepsy in Children

• By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
• May 12, 2022
• Full Page

There's good news for women with a mental health condition: Taking antidepressants early in pregnancy doesn't increase a baby's risk of having epilepsy or seizures, researchers say.

"The findings of this study are very important," said study co-author Ayesha Sujan of Ind...

In Long Run, Antidepressants Don't Improve Quality of Life: Study

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• April 20, 2022
• Full Page

Millions of Americans take antidepressants to combat low moods. But a large, new study suggests that these medications over time may do little to improve overall quality of life.

"We found the change in health-related quality of life to be comparable or similar between p...

Certain Meds Raise Odds for Delirium After Surgery

• Robert Preidt
• December 13, 2021
• Full Page

Older adults have a higher risk of delirium after hip and knee surgery if they're taking anxiety, depression or insomnia drugs, researchers say.

"Our findings show that different classes of medicine are riskier than others when it comes to causing delirium after surgery,...

Many Psychiatric Patients Are Getting Risky Drug Gabapentin 'Off-Label'

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• November 22, 2021
• Full Page

Most prescriptions for the medication gabapentin are for unapproved uses -- and many patients end up taking it along with drugs that create potentially dangerous interactions.

That's the conclusion of a new study that looked at "off-label" use of gabapentin. In the Unite...

Certain Antidepressants Appear to Curb Severe COVID-19

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• November 15, 2021
• Full Page

Certain commonly prescribed antidepressants appear to substantially lower the risk of dying among seriously ill COVID-19 patients, a large new study indicates.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most widely prescribed drugs for the treatment of...

Placebo Effect Plays Big Role in Antidepressant's Impact on Anxiety: Study

• Ernie Mundell and Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporters
• November 10, 2021
• Full Page

Illustrating the power of the mind to heal itself, new research suggests that the placebo effect could help drive antidepressants' effects against anxiety disorders.

The placebo effect refers to an increase in the success of a treatment when a patient expects a benefit.<...

Cheap Antidepressant Might Help Keep COVID Patients Out of Hospital

• Ernie Mundell and Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporters
• October 28, 2021
• Full Page

A cheap and widely available antidepressant drug called fluvoxamine may reduce COVID-19 patients' risk of serious illness requiring hospitalization, according to a new study.

The trial included almost 1,500 unvaccinated outpatients in Brazil. All of the patients tested p...

Antidepressants Plus Common Painkillers May Raise Bleeding Risk

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• October 26, 2021
• Full Page

Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a mainstay of depression treatment, but a new study warns that taking common painkillers alongside SSRIs may raise the chances for intestinal bleeding.

In a review of 10 published studies involvin...

Stopping Antidepressants Raises Relapse Risk

• September 29, 2021
• Full Page

People who stop taking antidepressants after long-time use may face a high likelihood of spiraling into depression again, a new study suggests.

British researchers found that among patients who stopped taking their antidepressants because they felt well, 56% relapsed wit...

Loneliness Raises Opioid Dangers in Seniors: Study

• Robert Preidt
• July 29, 2021
• Full Page

Illustrating a heartbreaking cycle, new research finds that lonely seniors are much more likely to take opioid painkillers, sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs and other medications.

This puts them at increased risk for drug dependency, attention problems, falls, accidents and...

'Laughing Gas' Shows Promise Against Tough-to-Treat Depression

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• June 10, 2021
• Full Page

When antidepressants fail to rein in hard-to-treat depression, the common anesthetic most know as "laughing gas" might be a safe and effective alternative, new research suggests.

The finding follows work with 28 patients struggling with "treatment-resistant major depress...

Are You Taking a Med That's Raising Your Blood Pressure?

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• May 7, 2021
• Full Page

Nearly one in five Americans with high blood pressure use medications that can cause blood pressure to spike, a preliminary study shows.

The researchers said the findings are concerning, given how many people have difficulty controlling their high blood pressure.

"...

'Magic Mushroom' Hallucinogen as Good as Antidepressants: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• April 15, 2021
• Full Page

The magic ingredient in "magic mushrooms" may be at least as effective as standard medication for depression, an early clinical trial suggests.

The study of 59 patients with major depression tested the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) against psilocybin, which is th...

Nearly All Seniors Take Meds That Raise Their Odds of Falling

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• March 23, 2021
• Full Page

Among older Americans, deaths from falls are up sharply, dovetailing with a surge in use of medications that increase the risk of falling, researchers say.

Two decades ago, about 57% of U.S. seniors took medications that increased their risk of falls. By 2017, that numbe...

Common Antidepressants Won't Raise Risk for Bleeding Strokes: Study

• Robert Preidt
• February 26, 2021
• Full Page

The most widely prescribed antidepressants in the United States don't appear to increase the risk of the deadliest type of stroke, according to a new preliminary study.

It examined the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and intracerebral ...

AHA News: Certain Antidepressants Might Increase Stroke Risk for Young Adults With PTSD

• American Heart Association News
• December 10, 2020
• Full Page

Certain types of antidepressants might be better than others for treating PTSD because they carry a lower risk of stroke, according to a new study.

The research, published Thursday in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, looked at data from 1.1 million U.S. vet...

An Antidepressant Might Help Prevent Severe COVID-19

• Ernie Mundell
• November 12, 2020
• Full Page

The antidepressant drug fluvoxamine -- best known by the brand name Luvox -- may help prevent serious illness in COVID-19 patients who aren't yet hospitalized, a new study finds.

The study included 152 patients infected with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Of those, 80 took f...

Why Are Dementia Patients Getting Risky Psychiatric Drugs?

• Serena Gordon
• August 18, 2020
• Full Page

As many as 3 in 4 older adults with dementia have been prescribed drugs that may pose a risk to them, researchers report.

The drugs in the study included commonly prescribed medications that can affect the brain or nervous system, such as sedatives, painkillers and a...

AI May Help Guide Patients to Most Effective Antidepressant

• Serena Gordon
• February 10, 2020
• Full Page

Choosing the right antidepressant for someone who is depressed can be hit or miss. But a new study shows that artificial intelligence (AI) technology may be able to help.

Researchers input information from electrical signals in the brain into a computer program that...

What Works Best to Treat Depression?

• Amy Norton
• October 28, 2019
• Full Page

"Talk therapy" for depression may cost more than medication initially, but in the long run, both may have a similar payoff, a new study finds.

The study estimated the cost-effectiveness of the two treatments. It found that over one year, antidepressants offered more...

Antidepressant Doesn't Ease Obsessive Behaviors of Autism

• Serena Gordon
• October 22, 2019
• Full Page

The commonly used antidepressant Prozac doesn't appear to help reduce obsessive-compulsive behavior in children and teens with autism, new research suggests.

The study randomly compared use of the drug to a placebo over 16 weeks. In the end, the researchers saw no m...

Could Eating Healthier Be a Natural Antidepressant?

• Elizabeth Heubeck
• October 9, 2019
• Full Page

Kids have long heard the refrain: Eat your vegetables to grow up big and strong. But a healthy diet may make you happier, too, according to Australian researchers.

That was the effect eating healthier had in a small study of young adults with poor diets and moderate...

Aspirin, Antihistamines: Kids Often Use OTC Drugs in Suicide Attempts

• Serena Gordon
• October 7, 2019
• Full Page

More teens are attempting suicide by overdosing on drugs, and new research suggests they are often turning to over-the-counter (OTC) medications like ibuprofen and aspirin in their efforts.

Antidepressants, antipsychotics and antihistamines were also common choices, ...

Antidepressants Might Raise Odds for Serious Pregnancy Complication

• Steven Reinberg
• October 2, 2019
• Full Page

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Treating depression during pregnancy can be vital to the health of both mother and child, but new research suggests that taking antidepressants may make a woman more vulnerable to gestational diabetes.

Specifically, the drug...

Experimental Drug Works Quickly on Major Depression

• Serena Gordon
• September 4, 2019
• Full Page

Antidepressants typically take four to eight weeks to ease the debilitating symptoms of depression, but an early clinical trial found a new type of drug brought relief in just two weeks.

"SAGE-217, once fully developed, has potential to offer relatively quick and cli...

What Treatments Work Best to Prevent Suicide?

• Serena Gordon
• August 27, 2019
• Full Page

If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, a new review points to effective treatments that can reduce suicide risk.

Some involve therapy -- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) -- while others involve medication, such as ...

Easing Depression Can Bring Longer Life to People With Diabetes

• Serena Gordon
• July 3, 2019
• Full Page

Treating depression may have an added benefit for people with diabetes -- longer life.

A large new study from Taiwan found that antidepressants cut the risk of dying during the study period by more than one-third for people with diabetes and depression.

"...

FDA Poised to Approve Ketamine-Like Drug to Ease Depression

• Carole Tanzer Miller and E.J. Mundell
• March 5, 2019
• Full Page

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration could give its approval this week to esketamine -- a relative of the "club drug" and anesthetic ketamine -- against severe depression.

If that approval comes, it could be the first new class of medicines approved for years agains...