Antidepressants – also sometimes known as SSRI – are commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. One in 8 Americans are now taking this class called SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs. There have been studies to indicate this class has a high rate of suicide, but recent studies indicate a 33 % increase in death from other causes such as heart disease, stroke, and organ failure.
Do we need antidepressants? There are some that have different pathways that can lead to depression and there are studies indicating a genetic predisposition. Should we be more careful in who prescribe these drugs to?
Paradoxically speaking, for those that already have heart disease, these drugs are not so harmful.
More needs to be studied with the SSRI class.
Until tomorrow...