antidepressant news stories on Newser

1 in 10 Americans on Antidepressants

John Johnson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:39:30 CDT

The CDC rounds up some depressing stats about antidepressant use: More than one in 10 Americans (11%) older than 12 take the drugs, the majority of them for depression. That marks a 400% increase since 1988 and makes antidepressants the most commonly used drug for people ages 18 to 44,...

Without Mental Illness, More People on Antidepressants

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:34:46 CDT

Last year in the US, antidepressants were the second-most widely prescribed drug—and they are increasingly being used by patients who haven't been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition. A new study finds that in 2007, non-psychiatrists prescribed nearly 75% of antidepressants in the US, up from 60% 10 years prior....

Millions on Antidepressants ... Without Right Diagnosis

Matt Cantor — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 07:55:28 CST

More than a quarter of Americans on antidepressants haven’t been diagnosed with depression, anxiety order, or any other condition that the drugs are intended to treat, a study finds. That means millions could face side effects without getting the drugs’ benefits, a researcher tells Reuters . In surveys of more than...

Antidepressants, Miscarriage Linked

Kate Schwartz — Mon, 31 May 2010 13:45:00 CDT

Women who take antidepressants while pregnant run an increased risk of suffering a miscarriage, according to a new study. Canadian scientists looked at the records of 70,000 women and found that of the 5,000 who had a clinically recorded miscarriage, 5.5% had filled at least one prescription...

FAA Lifts Ban on Antidepressants for Pilots

M. Morris — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:45:00 CDT

The FAA will change a 70-year-old rule that bars pilots taking medication for depression from operating planes. The new policy, which takes effect Monday, allows pilots who have been successfully treated for a year with the patented or generic versions of Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, or Zoloft to request a waiver...

$75M in Prescription Drugs Snatched in Warehouse Heist

Rob Quinn — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:45:48 CDT

Thieves made off with an estimated $75 million in prescription drugs after a well-planned heist at Eli Lilly's Connecticut warehouse. The thieves cut a hole in the huge building's roof and lowered themselves down on ropes before loading multiple pallets of drugs onto at least one tractor-trailer truck, police tell...

Antidepressants Don't Work for 70% of Patients

Kevin Spak — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:43:30 CST

Antidepressants are little better than a placebo for all but the most severe cases of depression, according to a new analysis of recent studies. “For patients with very severe depression, the medication did have a potent effect,” the study’s lead author tells WebMD . But the effects “were pretty small or...

Number of US Antidepressant Users Doubles

Kevin Spak — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:00:00 CDT

The number of Americans on antidepressants doubled from 1996 to 2005, a new study finds, but fewer are seeing psychiatrists, and most aren’t using the drugs to affect their mood. As of 2005, the last year for which data were available, 27 million Americans—roughly 10% of the population—were...

Depression Screening for All Teens Worries Parents

Rob Quinn — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:24:46 CDT

A federal task force recommendation that all adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 be screened for depression is causing controversy among parents and pediatricians, the Washington Post reports. Critics fear the amount of antidepressant drugs prescribed to teens will rise massively, although the Preventive Services Task Force stressed...