Antidepressants
are widely used for the treatment of back pain, sciatica, and hip and knee
osteoarthritis. A study out this week in the prestigious British Medical
Journal showed that this isn’t a good idea.
Antidepressants
are the 4th largest prescription medicine in the United States. Common
brands include Pristiq, Cymbalta, Fetzima, Effexor, Elavil, Pamelor, Zoloft,
Welbutrin, and Prozac. Used primarily for mood and sleep disorders, they are
often prescribed for relief of back pain symptoms. About 1 in 4 Americans
suffer from low back pain in any 3 month period, making it the most common type
of pain.
The
investigators looked at 33 studies of over 5000 patients to see how well
antidepressants lowered pain levels and disability for several conditions after
3 months of use. They found that there was no benefit for back pain. There may
be a slight benefit for those suffering from osteoarthritis or sciatica (pain
going down the leg). These medications did show few serious side or adverse
effects.
The safest and most effective solutions for chronic back pain, sciatica, and many
forms of osteoarthritis are non-drug ones. Chiropractic care, exercise, and deflame nutrition programs that we offer in
our office help many people suffering from these conditions.
Reference: Ferreira Giovanni E, McLachlan Andrew J, Lin Chung-Wei Christine, Zadro Joshua R, Abdel-Shaheed Christina, O’Keeffe Mary et al. Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for the treatment of back pain and osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis
Disclaimer
Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual, and is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical care or advice.
Reading this blog should not be construed to mean that you and I have a patient-physician relationship.
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