Use of Common Drugs with Depression as Side Effect Increasing

By Kelly Young

Edited by Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM

Use of common drugs with depression as a possible side effect is increasing — and the more of these drugs patients take, the greater their likelihood for depression — a JAMA study finds.

Researchers used data from 26,000 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2014. Roughly 37% said that within the past 30 days, they had used at least one medication that listed depression as a possible side effect (for example, proton pump inhibitors). That proportion increased over time.

The prevalence of depression was 5% for people who didn't take any of these drugs, 7% for those taking one of these drugs, and 15% for those taking three or more. Strikingly, the depression prevalence was 61% among those co-prescribed gabapentin and cyclobenzaprine.

The authors note: "The results suggest that physicians should consider discussing these associations with their patients who are prescribed medications that have depression as a potential adverse effect."