Side effect depression
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.Medicines can have not only physical but also emotional side effects - for example depression or even suicidal thoughts. And that affects many patients: every third person takes drugs that have the potential to darken the mind. The risk is particularly high if someone takes several of these drugs at the same time - and this is not infrequently the case.
"Many will be surprised that their drugs can affect their moods and promote depression," says study author Dima Qato of the University of Chicago. These include many common drugs such as proton pump inhibitors for heartburn, beta blockers for high blood pressure, corticosteroids for rheumatism or asthma and even the pain reliever ibuprofen, for which no prescription is required.
With 200 preparations related to depression
In total, the list of drugs associated with depression includes around 200 active ingredients. "It was both surprising and worrying how many drugs have depression as a possible side effect," explains Qato.
Depression rate doubled
The researcher and her team had analyzed the medications of 26,000 adults and compared them with the mental health of the people. In those who took one of these drugs, the rate of depression rose from 7 percent to 10 percent. Anyone who took two of these drugs had a nine percent risk. Of those who swallowed three or more such preparations, even 15 percent developed depression.
The researchers excluded the influence of other factors that favor depression. These include poverty and unemployment, but also health factors such as chronic pain.
"It is important that patients, doctors and pharmacists are aware of the possibility that some medications are associated with a higher risk of depression," says Qato.
Open questions
The researchers emphasize that there are still many unanswered questions on the subject and that further research is needed. The study only shows a connection between the use of the drugs and depression - but it does not provide definitive evidence that they actually promote depression.
Mixing drugs is always problematic
When people take more than one medication at the same time, it can be problematic. A combination can increase unfavorable side effects, or the different preparations can block each other's effects. In Germany, every third person between the ages of 65 and 79 takes five or more drugs prescribed by a doctor.
