A recent study from Rutgers University and Columbia University has raised serious concerns about the safety of some medications used to treat depression.
The study found that people with depression who take newer antipsychotic drugs may have a higher chance of dying compared to those who simply switch to a different antidepressant.
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses around the world. Many people take antidepressants to feel better, but these medicines don’t work for everyone. When the first antidepressant doesn’t help, doctors sometimes try other methods.
One common way is to add a second antidepressant. Another option is to add an antipsychotic drug, like aripiprazole, quetiapine, or olanzapine.
These antipsychotic drugs were originally made to treat conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but they are sometimes added to depression treatment plans.
Although they can help some people, they are known to have serious side effects. In older adults with dementia, they are linked to a higher chance of death. The big question is: do these risks also apply to younger adults with depression?
To answer this, the researchers looked at data from nearly 40,000 people aged 25 to 64. These patients were all on Medicaid and received treatment between 2001 and 2010. The researchers checked the national death records to see how many people had died during the study period.
They divided the patients into two groups. One group added a second antidepressant when the first didn’t work. The other group added a newer antipsychotic drug.
The results showed that people who took an antipsychotic had a 45% higher risk of dying than those who took a second antidepressant. In other words, for every 265 people who took an antipsychotic for one year, there was one extra death that might not have happened otherwise.
This finding is worrying because it shows that using antipsychotics for depression might be more dangerous than doctors thought. What’s even more concerning is that many patients are given these drugs before they have tried a second antidepressant, which goes against the usual treatment rules.
Antidepressants often take four to six weeks to start working, but some doctors may switch patients to antipsychotics too early.
The researchers say that doctors need to be very careful. Antipsychotics should not be used as a first or second step. They should only be used when other, safer options have already been tried and didn’t work.
The study’s authors also say more research is needed to be sure about these findings. A controlled trial, where patients are randomly given different treatments, would help confirm the results.
For people living with depression, this study is a strong reminder to talk openly with their doctor about all available treatments. There may be safer options that can help before turning to riskier drugs.
Doctors are encouraged to follow expert guidelines, take their time, and try safer treatments first. This careful approach can help reduce the chance of harm while still helping patients get better.
In short, treating depression safely means thinking about both what works and what could go wrong. This study helps show how important it is to balance the two.
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
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