Antidepressants Linked to Diabetes

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http://panicdisorder.about.com/b/2009/06/08/antidepressants-linked-to-diabetes.htm

Antidepressants Linked to Diabetes?

Monday June 8, 2009

Researchers recently conducted a study to determine the risk of diabetes

mellitus

associated with antidepressant use. The researchers also assessed

whether the risk is influenced by antidepressant treatment duration or

daily dose. The study found that:

Moderate to high daily antidepressant use in excess of 2 years is

associated with an increased risk of diabetes.

The risk was evident in long-term use of selective serotonin

reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

However, the SSRI paroxetine (Paxil)

and the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline

appeared to be linked with the greatest potential for the development

of diabetes among the study participants.

Shorter periods of antidepressant treatment or lower daily doses

were not associated with an increased risk of diabetes.

Like many studies of its kind, the conclusions the researchers

present are not definitive. The exact reason for the increase in

diabetes in the study group was not determined. Further research is

needed to clarify what association, if any, exists between long-term

antidepressant use and diabetes.

Source:

Andersohn, , M.D.; Schade, Rene, M.D.; Suissa, Samy,

Ph.D.; and Garbe, Edeltraut, M.D., Ph.D. (2009). Long-Term

Use of Antidepressants for Depressive Disorders and the Risk of

Diabetes Mellitus. Am J Psychiatry Online. 2009 Apr 1.