Anti-depressants may help grow new brain cells.

[Kerrie]

http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/72/81660.htm

i found this quite interesting that anti-depressants help the activity of increasing brain cells...

[Ivan Seeking]

Originally posted by Kerrie
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/72/81660.htm

i found this quite interesting that anti-depressants help the activity of increasing brain cells...

Interesting! Perhaps this could lead to a smart pill.

[Abnaki]

From the MSN article ..." it takes weeks for the drugs to have an effect on depression. "

There are many studies that say just the opposite . Some conclude that these medications are effective as or are similar to placebos , such as :

http://journals.apa.org/prevention/volume1/pre0010002a.html

http://www.journals.apa.org/prevention/volume5/pre0050023a.html

http://journals.apa.org/prevention/volume5/pre0050025c.html

Whom to believe ?

" Antidepressant drugs help people with depression and anxiety "

Many of the SSRI's have "anxiety" listed as a "frequent adverse effect " . Also listed as "frequently" occuring for some SSRI's are " psychosis and mania "

Checking Yale's web site this report is almost three years old .

http://www.yale.edu/opa/newsr/00-12-15-01.all.html

Why the sudden repeat by major media ? According to the Yale news release , the drugs used were " ...amonoamineoxidase inhibitor (tranlcypromine), a serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine), and a norepinephrine-selective reuptake inhibitor (reboxetine). "

Eli Lilly and Co. ( manufacturer of Prozac ) has the side effects listed for Fluoxetine :

Frequent - Prozac (Fluoxetine) Side Effects :

Allergic or Toxic:
Rash, Pruritus (skin inflammation).

Neurological:
Headache, Tremor, Dizziness, Asthenia.

Behavioral:
Insomnia, Anxiety, Nervousness, Agitation, Abnormal dreams, Drowsiness and fatigue.

Autonomic:
Excessive sweating

Gastrointestinal:
Nausea, Disturbances of appetite, Diarrhea.

Respiratory:
Bronchitis, Rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes), Yawning.

Endocrine:
Weight loss.

Musculoskeletal:
Muscle pain, Back pain, Joint pain.

Urogenital:
Painful menstruation, Sexual dysfunction, Urinary tract infection, Frequent micturition.

Miscellaneous:
Chills

Infrequent - Prozac (Fluoxetine) Side Effects:

Allergic or Toxic: Chills and fever, Urticaria, Maculopapular rash.
Neurological: Abnormal gait, Ataxia, Akathisia, Buccoglossal syndrome, Hyperkinesia, Hypertonia, incoordination, Neck rigity, extrapyramidal syndrome, Convulsions, Photophobia, Myoclonus, Vertigo, Migraine, Tinnitus, Hypesthesia, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Acute brain syndrome.
Behavioral: Confusion, Delusions, Hallucinations, manic reaction, Paranoid reaction, Psychosis, Depersonalization, Apathy, Emotional Lability, Euphoria, Hostility, Amnesia, Increased libido.
Autonomic: Dry mouth, Constipation, Urinary retention, Vision disturbance, Diplopia, Mydriasis, Hot flushes.
Cardiovascular: Chest pain, Hypertension, Syncope, Hypotension, Angina pectoris, Arrhythmia, Tachycardia. Gastrointestinal: Vomiting, Stomatitis, Dysphagia, Eructation, Esophagitis, Gastritis, Gingivitis, Glossitis, Melena, Thirst, Abnormal liver function test.
Respiratory: Asthma, Dyspnea, Hyperventilation, Pneumonia, Hiccups, Epistaxis.
Endocrine: Generalized edema, Peripheral edema, Face edema, Tongue edema, Hypoglycemia, Hyperprolactinemia, Weight gain. Hematoligic: Anemia, Lymphadenopathy, Hemorrhage. Dermatologic: Acne, Alopecia, Dry skin, Herpes simplex,
Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, Bone pain, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis, Twitching.
Urogenital: Abnormal ejactulation, Impotance, Menopause, Amenorrhea, Menorrhagia, Ovarian disorder, Vaginitis, Leukorrhea, Fibrocystic breast, Breast pain, Cystitus, Dysuria, Urinary urgency, Urinary incontinence.
Miscellaneous: Amblyopia, Conjunctivitis, Cyst, Ear pain, Eye pain, Jaw pain, Neck pain, Pelvic pain, Hangover effect and Malaise.

Rare - Prozac (Fluoxetine) Side Effects

Allergic or Toxic: Allergic reaction, Erythema multiforme, Vesiculobullous, Rash, Serum sickness, Contact dermatitis, Erthema nodosum, Purpuric rash, Leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Leukopenia, Thrombocythemia, Arthralgia, Angioedema, Bronchospasm, Lung fibrosis, Allergic alveolitis, Larynx edema and Respiratory distress.
Neurological: Dysarthria, Dystonia, torticollis, Decreased reflexes, Nystagmus, Paralysis, Paresthesia, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Stupor, Coma, Abnormal EEG, Chronic brain syndrome, Dyskinesia and movement disorders (including worsening of preexisting conditions or appearance in patients with risk factors {e.g., Parkinson's disease, treatment with neuroleptics or other drugs known to be associated with movement disorders})
Behavioral: Antisocial reaction, Hysteria, Suicidal ideation and violent behaviors. Cardiovascular: Bradycardia, Ventricular arrhythmia, First degree A V block, Bundle branch block, Myocardial infarct, Cerebral ischemia, Cerebral vascular accident, Thrombophlebitis.
Gastrointestinal: Bloody diarrhea, Hematemesis, Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, Duodenal ulcer, Stomach ulcer, Mouth ulceration, Hyperchlorhydria, Colitis, Enteritis, Cholecystitis, Hepatitis, Hepatomegaly, Liver tenderness, Jaundice, Increased salivation, Salivary gland enlargement, Tongue discoloration, Fecal incontinence, Pancreatitis. Respiratory: Apnea, Lung edmea Hypoxia, Pleural effusion, Hemoptysis.
Endocrine: Dehydration, Gout, Goitre, Hyperthyrodism, Hypercholesteremia, Hyperglycemia, Hypothyroidism, Weight gain.
Hematologic: Bleeding time increased, Leukocytosis, Lymphocytosis, Thrombocytopenia, Thrombocytopenic purpura, Thrombocythemia, Retinal hemorrhage, Petechia, Purpura, Sedimentation rate increased, Aplastic anemia, Pancytopenia, Immune-related hemolytic anemia.
Dermatologic: Eczema, Psoriasis, Seborrhea, Skin hypertrophy, Skin discoloration, Herpes zoster, Fungal dermatitis, Hirsutism, Ecchymoses. Musculoskeletal: Bone necrosis, Osteoporosis, Pathological fracture, Chrondrodystrophy, Myositis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Muscle hemorrhage.
Urogenital: Breast enlargement, Galactorrhea, Abortion, Dyspareunia, Uterine spasm, Vaginal hemorrhage, Metrorrhagia, Hematuria, Albuminuria, Polyuria, Pyuria, Epididymitis, Orchitis, Pyelonephritis, Salpingitis, Urethritis, Kidney calculus, Urethral pain, Urolithiasis. Miscellaneous: Abdomen enlarged, Blepharitis, Cataract, Corneal lesion, Glaucoma, Iritis, Ptosis, Strabismus, Deafness, Taste loss, moniliasis, Hydrocephalus, LE syndrome.

---------------------------------

Note : Eli Lilly is a major contributor to Yale !

[Sting]

Yes, I read that article a while back and thought it was interesting.

Interesting! Perhaps this could lead to a smart pill.

That would be great (because I would buy the entire stock of it) but that goes into that question on whether "smartness" is biological or environmental.