Medications and Depression: Unveiling the Link

Author: Chris Shugart

A staggering number of over 200 legal drugs have the potential to trigger depressive symptoms, and it's highly likely that you're using at least a couple of them. Here is an in - depth exploration of this concerning issue.

The Case of Sadie

Sadie finds herself in the throes of depression, yet she remains clueless about the root cause. Her doctor has even recommended an antidepressant. What Sadie fails to realize is that her seemingly "safe" prescription and over - the - counter (OTC) medications could be the very culprits behind her depression. Sadie is on birth control, uses a prescription sleep aid, and takes a medication for her allergies. Additionally, like many others, she resorts to the occasional ibuprofen for headaches.

This may seem like a common scenario, but a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has revealed that numerous common drugs, even those you might not suspect, can potentially cause depression. Moreover, the more of these drugs you combine, the greater the risk of experiencing severe depressive episodes.

The Study

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago painstakingly compiled an extensive list of all drugs (both prescription and OTC) that could potentially lead to depression. In some cases, "depression" or "suicide" were listed as potential side effects, but this was not always the case. Approximately 200 drugs made it onto this comprehensive list.

Subsequently, the researchers analyzed the usage patterns of 26,000 adults. In summary, around one - third of them were unaware that their medications could cause or exacerbate depressive symptoms. While a single drug may not necessarily lead to depression, taking two or more appears to significantly increase the likelihood.

Dima Qato, the lead author, remarks: "Many individuals may be astonished to discover that their medications, despite having no direct relation to mood, anxiety, or any other conditions typically associated with depression, can heighten their risk of experiencing depressive symptoms and may even result in a depression diagnosis."

Utilizing This Information

Carefully peruse the list of common drugs provided below. Now, consider which ones are truly essential for you to be using. Some may be necessary, but perhaps not all.

• Heartburn: Instead of relying on medications, consider cleaning up your diet. Do you really need to consume chili dogs and Flamin Hot Doritos?

• Birth control: If you're married and already have a large family, perhaps discuss with your husband the option of getting a vasectomy.

• Insomnia: Explore natural sleep inducers such as Elitepro (available for purchase on Amazon) and avoid using sleep drugs with questionable side effects.

• Minor pain: Investigate curcumin (available on Amazon), which has also been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms.

• Frequent headaches: Before popping more painkillers, ensure that it's not a vitamin D deficiency (more information available at - nation.com/t/a - vitamin - for - headaches - a - drug - for - sociopaths/286384).

Bear in mind that concurrent use of more than one of the drugs listed below could potentially lead to depression.

The Drugs

• Antihypertensives (blood pressure meds)

• Metoprolol

• Atenolol

• Enalapril

• Quinapril

• Antidepressants

• Sertraline

• Citalopram

• Bupropion

• Fluoxetine

• Trazodone

• Venlafaxine

• Escitalopram

• Duloxetine

• Paroxetine

• Amitriptyline

• Hormones/hormone modifiers

• Ethinyl Estradiol (Birth Control)

• Estradiol (Estrogen)

• Finasteride (Propecia For Hair Loss)

• Anxiolytics (anti - anxiety meds), hypnotics, and sedatives

• Alprazolam

• Zolpidem (Sleep Aid)

• Clonazepam

• Lorazepam

• Analgesics (pain relievers)

• Hydrocodone

• Tramadol

• Ibuprofen

• Cyclobenzarine

• Gastrointestinal agents (acid reflux, heartburn)

• Omeprazole (Prilosec)

• Ranitidine (Zantac)

• Esomeprazole (Nexium)

• Famotidine (Pepcid Ac)

• Respiratory agents (asthma and allergy meds)

• Montelukast (Singulair)

• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)

• Anticonvulsants (seizure meds)

• Gabapentin

• Diazepam

• Lamotrigine

• Topiramate

• Corticosteroids (anti - inflammatory meds)

Reference

• Qato DM et al. "Prevalence of Prescription Medications With Depression as a Potential Adverse Effect Among Adults in the United States." JAMA. 2018 Jun 12;319(22):2289 - 2298. PubMed: 29896627.