Anti-inflammatory drugs may help alleviate symptoms of depression
There are many types of factors that are known to produce triggers of depression symptoms, ranging from environmental to personal experiences.
There are many types of triggers of depression symptoms, ranging from environmental factors to physical issues in addition to personal experiences. While using popular medications to treat depression is a recommended way to combat against feelings of despair and sorrow, using various drugs to treat other conditions could produce unforeseen side effects that either contribute to depressive behavior or help alleviate it. One study has detailed how certain anti-inflammatory drugs might actually possess certain treating qualities when it comes to reducing episodes of depression.
Researchers from Aarhus University engaged in the largest ever meta-analysis conducted about how some ordinary over the counter medications may be able to treat certain symptoms of depression. In summation, the collaboration featured 14 international studies that analyzed a total of 6,262 patients who had at least some variation of depression, and the results were published in JAMA Psychiatry.
One of the more overlooked side effects of depression is dealing with pain, and for people who have to cope with characteristics of inflammation, using common medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen is sometimes the easiest way to experience relief. The researchers monitored any indications that these anti-inflammatory drugs provided therapeutic benefits for depressive patients, and eventually found that when inflammation was discovered in depressed subjects, popular medications tended to produce temporary alleviation.
Dr. Ole Köhler, a researcher at Aarhus University and co-author of the study, elaborated on how combining these over the counter medications with anti-depressants could provide better treatment options for those who suffer from both depression and inflammatory symptoms.
"The meta-analysis supports this correlation and also demonstrates that anti-inflammatory medication in combination with antidepressants can have an effect on the treatment of depression," Köhler said in a statement. "When combined they give an important result which, in the long term, strengthens the possibility of being able to provide the individual patient with more personalized treatment options."
Safely using anti-inflammatory drugs
While the overall use of these common types of medication will not typically produce severe side effects, safely using anti-inflammatory drugs is still crucial for avoiding the potential risks that arise from not taking them per standard recommendations. People who have any of the following conditions should never abuse over the counter medications:
- High blood pressure
- Respiratory complications
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Immune system problems
As for depression, using prescription medications such as Paxil are proven to help alleviate symptoms and better manage the condition.
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