Struggling with Chronic Pain? Here's What You Should Know About Antidepressants
Around a third of people globally live with chronic pain. Millions are prescribed antidepressants to help manage their condition. But just how effective and safe are these medications?
(Photo: shutterstock)If you're dealing with ongoing lower back pain, your doctor might prescribe an antidepressant. However, a review of various studies conducted over the years indicates that most antidepressants prescribed for chronic pain relief lack evidence of effectiveness and sufficient research on potential dangers.
A non-profit study by the Cochrane group found that only one antidepressant, duloxetine, showed short-term pain relief based on existing evidence. Cochrane is an international collaboration of researchers focused on key health topics.
"We are deeply concerned about public health and the potential long-term harm," says Tamar Pincus, a professor and chronic pain researcher at the University of Southampton, UK. "Chronic pain affects millions who are given these antidepressants without scientific proof of their efficacy."
The review included 176 studies with a total of 28,664 participants, examining 25 different antidepressants. The studies primarily focused on three types of chronic pain: fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and musculoskeletal pain.
Dr. Cathy Stannard, the clinical lead for the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on chronic pain, emphasized the importance of the patient-doctor relationship. "Strong evidence suggests that for people with chronic pain, compassionate and consistent relationships with their doctors are fundamental to successful treatment. What people really want is a strong, empathetic connection with their caregiver."
