Antidepressants May Raise Death Rate…
Depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 50% of those affected by depression are treated by medication. Over the past 15 years, each year the use of antidepressant medication has increased among all age groups.
A team of researchers from McMaster University of Ontario, Canada decided to study the link between antidepressant usage and mortality risk. This team ultimately found that individuals using antidepressants have an increased death risk of 33 percent.
33 percent Death Risk
The team of scientists conducted 16 studies total, estimating to approximately 350,000 participants. The researchers pulled out data to ensure other factors did not impact the mortality rate. The analysis found that individuals taking antidepressants had a 33 percent higher risk of dying prematurely than those who were not taking the medications. They also found that individuals on antidepressant medication are 14 percent more likely to experience cardiovascular problems.
One of the lead researchers, Marta Maslej, stated “antidepressants disrupt the functioning of monoamines (important biochemicals such as serotonin and dopamine), and these monoamines have important functions not only in the brain, but all over the body.” Serotonin affects many things in the body including growth, reproduction, immune function, and diet.
Read more about antidepressant use and death risk on Medical News Today.