Overview of Topics
According to a study by the University of Illinois, over 200 commonly used medications list depression as a possible side effect. The researchers aimed to determine how frequently this side effect actually occurs. They also examined how much the risk of developing depression increases when not just one but several of these medications are taken simultaneously. To this end, they analyzed data from around 26,000 patients over a ten-year period. The study clearly showed that depression occurred more frequently the more “suspect” medications were taken at the same time.
It was far from uncommon for patients to be prescribed two or even three of these medications at the same time. After all, these were mostly very common drugs, such as blood pressure medications, antibiotics, acid reflux treatments, or even birth control pills.
When you also consider how often high blood pressure, stomach issues, and dozens of other physical problems are known to have psychosomatic triggers, it becomes even clearer why so many medical histories stretch on for years or even decades. Treating only the physical symptoms without addressing the psychological triggers not only delays recovery but also risks additional difficulties, as people typically end up with medications they don’t actually need. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common medications—and who knows, maybe you’ll already identify one or two potential “culprits.”
Worsening of Depression Due to antidepressants
It sounds paradoxical, but antidepressants can actually make you depressed. And indeed, this side effect isn’t all that rare. According to a study by Harvard Medical School in Boston, nearly 29 percent of young medical residents in the United States report experiencing depression or at least depressive symptoms. When a group with particularly easy access to psychotropic drugs and a proven high rate of usage suffers from depression at three times the rate of the average American, it may be time to reconsider the prescription practices for antidepressants.
Such facts present a serious problem for doctors. In addition to the mental health issues they themselves struggle with more often than average, they lack alternatives to treat their patients. If antidepressants are taken away, they literally have nothing left to offer depressed individuals to help them, even just a little. This is because only a few are currently aware of the Bernhardt Method, which has been shown to successfully treat depression as well as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders within a matter of weeks. More and more studies now show that antidepressants, while having a range of side effects, are, in most cases, no more effective than placebos—substances with no active ingredients.
Depression and anxiety disorders Caused by Thyroxine
Worldwide, the synthetic thyroid hormone thyroxine is among the five most commonly used medications. Yet, people often go years without realizing that their thyroid isn’t functioning as needed for a calm and balanced life. And even if an endocrinologist has diagnosed you with a thyroid issue and prescribed medication, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re receiving the correct dosage. How can this be? Typically, a thyroid specialist will review your dosage once a year and determine how it should be distributed throughout the day. However, the amount you actually require can vary significantly, depending in part on how stressful your daily life is. You can think of it like a car’s fuel consumption: if you’re driving at a steady 55 miles per hour on a country road, your car might only use seven liters. But if you’re speeding at 110 on the highway, your consumption can quickly double. The same applies to thyroid hormones—the more stress you have, the more of these hormones you need (and use up) to maintain emotional balance.
But does the timing of your dosage adjustment always reflect your actual needs? Hardly. For example, if you go to the doctor to determine your thyroxine requirement immediately after a restful vacation, your blood work is likely to show inaccurate values. During vacation, you took more of the medication than you actually used in a relaxed atmosphere. If the doctor doesn’t happen to ask if you’ve just had a particularly stress-free period, they may lower your daily dose, as it seems you’re currently taking too much thyroxine. However, your next vacation may be far off, and as you return to your daily routine, you may find yourself increasingly underdosed from day to day. If this isn’t corrected in time, your mood may drop significantly, potentially leading to depression.
Conversely, if you had an exceptionally stressful week before your current thyroid hormone requirement was assessed, your blood work might indicate an apparent deficiency. This is accurate because, during a high-stress period, you might have benefitted from a slightly higher dose of your medication. However, adjusting the daily dose for an entire year based on this short-term stress surge makes little sense and could even be dangerous. Running constantly at “full throttle” could make it hard to relax, likely impair your sleep, and significantly increase the risk of burnout over time. Additionally, you may experience a variety of symptoms often associated with anxiety disorders: heart palpitations, dizziness, tingling in the arms or legs, and more.
Depression Caused by Blood Pressure Medicines
Both beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure and are among the most widely prescribed medications worldwide. Unfortunately, both types of medication double the likelihood of developing depression. This conclusion was reached by researchers at the University of Glasgow, led by Dr. Sandosh Padmanabhan. In their study, the side effects of various blood pressure medications were documented over five years in more than 140,000 patients.
However, since the negative effect on mental health only became severe enough to require inpatient treatment an average of 2.3 years after starting the medication, it’s not easy for either patients or doctors to immediately see the connection between these medications and the onset of depression.
My advice to you: If you have been taking beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers for an extended period and suspect that your mental health is struggling with this medication, discuss it with your doctor. In some cases, it may be possible to switch to another medication, such as an ACE inhibitor. Immediately turning to antidepressants to address depression, however, should be a last resort. Antidepressants are also known to have potentially serious side effects. So before risking sinking deeper into a mental low due to additional medications, first check if the root cause of your mood issues might simply be an intolerance to your current medication.
Troy A.
Tampa, Florida