Often antidepressants are prescribed with medications to lessen the impact of Alzheimer's disease. My brother Scott is prescribed both. Common practice. A UK study published in The Lancet reveals that two antidepressant medications; sertraline (Zoloft), and mirtazapine (Remeron, Avanza, Zispin) have no better outcome than placebos, and increase the adverse side effects possible for dementia patients. The study suggests "because of the absence of benefit compared with placebo and increased risk of adverse events, the present practice of use of these antidepressants, with usual care, for first-line treatment of depression in Alzheimer's disease should be reconsidered."
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
UK Study: Antidepressants and Alzheimer's Disease
Often antidepressants are prescribed with medications to lessen the impact of Alzheimer's disease. My brother Scott is prescribed both. Common practice. A UK study published in The Lancet reveals that two antidepressant medications; sertraline (Zoloft), and mirtazapine (Remeron, Avanza, Zispin) have no better outcome than placebos, and increase the adverse side effects possible for dementia patients. The study suggests "because of the absence of benefit compared with placebo and increased risk of adverse events, the present practice of use of these antidepressants, with usual care, for first-line treatment of depression in Alzheimer's disease should be reconsidered."
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Yikes. This is almost as unsettling as finding out that the medications for osteoporosis tend to cause bone breakage.
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