Common drug could worsen depression risk

Investigators have examined the risk of depression among patients receiving treatment with gabapentin.

In a study published in Medicine, the investigators used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System to determine the depression risks with or without gabapentin use.

Compared with those who didn’t receive the drug, the investigators identified an 80% higher risk of depression in the patients who received gabapentin — particularly among female patients and those who reported sleeping less than seven hours per night. Further, the investigators uncovered a high rate of adverse psychiatric events such as suicidal ideation in those using gabapentin.

The findings indicated that gabapentin could worsen the symptoms of depression with long-term use.

Read more: Medicine

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