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Antidepressants

All articles tagged with #antidepressants

UK teens increasingly prescribed antidepressants as specialist access lags
health16 days ago

UK teens increasingly prescribed antidepressants as specialist access lags

BBC analysis shows about 70,000 under-18s in England are prescribed antidepressants each year, with guidelines urging psychiatrist assessment first. But long waits for specialist help have some GPs prescribing or starting treatment outside guidelines to avoid leaving patients untreated, while others refuse. Antidepressants are used for depression, anxiety, bedwetting and pain and can have side effects; the NHS notes workforce growth but record demand remains, prompting calls for more accompanying mental health support and timely CAMHS access.

via BBC|
#antidepressants#camhs#gps
Long-term antidepressants: how to decide if you should stay, taper, or stop
health1 month ago

Long-term antidepressants: how to decide if you should stay, taper, or stop

Vox’s Future Perfect explainer argues that long-term SSRI use raises questions about ongoing need, with withdrawal and dependence being real but distinct from addiction. It emphasizes careful, individualized tapering when stopping, notes that best tapering protocols are not yet established, and urges empathetic clinician guidance and more deprescribing research to help people decide whether to stay on meds or discontinue.

via Vox|
#antidepressants#deprescribing#health
Do antidepressants define your true self? A measured look at staying on or stopping
mental-health1 month ago

Do antidepressants define your true self? A measured look at staying on or stopping

A Vox Future Perfect column explores whether long‑term antidepressants change who we are, noting that the science shows antidepressants help some people more than placebo but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. It introduces a framework of ‘medication career’ and ‘moral career’ to frame decisions alongside a clinician, argues there isn’t a single fixed ‘true self,’ and emphasizes weighing benefits against costs. If stopping is pursued, the piece urges gradual tapering with professional guidance and awareness of withdrawal and dependence versus addiction.

via vox.com|
#antidepressants#dependence#mental-health
War's hidden toll: antidepressants surge in Russia as conflict drags on
world1 month ago

War's hidden toll: antidepressants surge in Russia as conflict drags on

Russia is experiencing a sharp rise in antidepressant use amid the ongoing war with Ukraine and economic strain, with 2025 sales totaling about 22.3–23.5 million packages—roughly a 36% rise from 2024 and well above pre-pandemic levels—as the pharmaceutical market grows to around $273 million; experts warn antidepressants are sometimes overused and advocate psychotherapy as a first line of treatment, highlighting the war’s broad emotional toll on daily life.

via EL PAÍS English|
#antidepressants#mental-health#russia
The Elusive Fit: Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Everyone
health2 months ago

The Elusive Fit: Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Everyone

Antidepressants have helped some people for decades, but research shows they often provide only modest relief overall, with no reliable way to predict who will benefit. The history traces from iproniazid and imipramine to SSRIs and beyond, while meta-analyses indicate small improvements over placebo and low remission rates for many drugs. Ketamine offers rapid relief for some with treatment-resistant depression, challenging the idea that depression is a simple chemical imbalance. Precision psychiatry aims to tailor treatments via blood tests and genetic or neural markers, but this approach is still years away from routine practice. The field continues to wrestle with what depression actually is and how to best help the millions affected.

via The Dispatch|
#antidepressants#depression#health
Vitamin D and Omega-3 Might Outperform Antidepressants in Depression Research
health2 months ago

Vitamin D and Omega-3 Might Outperform Antidepressants in Depression Research

Meta-analyses cited by a researcher suggest vitamin D and omega-3 supplements may reduce depressive symptoms more than common antidepressants: amitriptyline shows an effect size of about 0.417 vs placebo, omega-3 around 0.558 (1500 mg/day with at least 60% EPA), and vitamin D about 1.82 (5000 IU/day). These findings come from Cipriani 2018 (antidepressants), Sublette 2011+ (omega-3), and Ghaemi 2024 (vitamin D), but all estimates carry large uncertainty and official doses are blamed as “too low.” While supplements are cheap and generally safe, some caveats apply (kidney stones or blood thinners require medical advice). More research is needed, but the article argues trying these might be reasonable for some people under supervision.

via boingboing.net|
#antidepressants#depression#health
Brain Chemical Found to Link with Depression and Suicidal Ideation
health5 months ago

Brain Chemical Found to Link with Depression and Suicidal Ideation

Scientists have identified the brain chemical SGK1 as a key factor linking childhood trauma to adult depression and suicidal thoughts. Elevated SGK1 levels are associated with increased risk, and inhibiting this chemical could lead to new, more effective antidepressants, especially for those with early life adversity. Studies in animals and genetic data support targeting SGK1 for future treatments.

via SciTechDaily|
#antidepressants#brain-chemical#childhood-trauma