Hunting for the Prozac Gene
Prozac works wonders for some depressed people, but not for others. In some cases, patients derive little benefit and at worst, it can lead to bizarre hallucinations and fits of rage. view more (2009-10-28)
Study reveals an increase in long-term antidepressant drug use
A dramatic rise in antidepressant prescriptions issued by GPs has been caused by a year on year increase in the number of people taking antidepressant drugs on a long-term basis, according to researchers from the University of Southampton. view more (2009-10-23)
New mouse model of depression/anxiety enhances understanding of antidepressant drugs
A recent study finds that the antidepressant effects of drugs like Prozac involve both neurogenesis-dependent and -independent mechanisms, a finding that may lead to development of better treatments for depression and anxiety. view more (2009-05-28)
Not Just for Depression Anymore
Prozac is regularly prescribed to ease the emotional pain of patients who are being treated for cancer. But can this common anti-depressant help to fight cancer itself? view more (2008-12-19)
Potential new targets for antidepressant medications
The news about antidepressant medications over the past several years has been mixed. The bad news from large multicenter studies such as STAR*D is that current antidepressant medications are effective, but not as effective as one might hope. Thus, there is a significant need for new treatment mechanisms for depression. view more (2008-08-27)
Antidepressants may impair driving ability, new research finds
People taking prescription antidepressants appear to drive worse than people who aren't taking such drugs, and depressed people on antidepressants have even more trouble concentrating and reacting behind the wheel. view more (2008-08-18)
Antidepressants enhance neuronal plasticity in the visual system
In the April 18 issue of Science, scientists from the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy and the Neuroscience Centre at the University of Helsinki, Finland, provide new information about the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. view more (2008-04-18)
Treating SSRI-Resistant Depression
When your antidepressant medication does not work, should you switch to a different medication from the same class or should you try an antidepressant medication that has a different mechanism of action? This is the question asked by researchers in a new report scheduled for publication in Biological Psychiatry on April 1st. view more (2008-03-26)
Comparison of venlafaxine and SSRIs in the treatment of depression
There are numerous antidepressant medications currently on the market, but sadly, many patients still experience the debilitating symptoms of depression even with treatment. view more (2008-02-22)
As depression symptoms improve with antidepressants, hopelessness can linger
People taking medication for depression typically see a lot of improvements in their symptoms during the first few months, but lagging behind other areas is a sense of hopefulness, according to new research from the University of Michigan Health System. view more (2008-02-19)
Europe to tackle brain disorder research by linking industry, academia
Attempts to cure brain-related disorders have proved less successful than therapies for other major conditions such as heart cancer, even though just as many people suffer from them. view more (2007-11-28)
Study: cannabis a double-edged sword
A new neurobiological study has found that a synthetic form of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, is an effective anti-depressant at low doses. However, at higher doses, the effect reverses itself and can actually worsen depression and other psychiatric conditions like psychosis. view more (2007-10-24)
Anti-depressant drugs can double risk of gastrointestinal bleeding
New research shows that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a group of drugs commonly used to treat depression, may double the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. view more (2007-10-09)
Antidepressants improve post-stroke 'thinking outside the box'
Antidepressant treatment appears to help stroke survivors with the kind of complex mental abilities often referred to as "thinking outside the box," according to a University of Iowa study. view more (2007-03-05)
Gene linked with mental illness shapes brain region, researchers find
A gene variant associated with mental illness goes hand-in-hand with enlargement of a brain region that handles negative emotions, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System have found. view more (2006-11-08)
Adolescent but not adult hamsters are more aggressive on low dose of fluoxetine
New research offers tantalizing clues as to why some teenagers taking common anti-depressants may become more aggressive or kill themselves. view more (2006-10-16)
Forsyth scientists find linkages between serotonin reuptake inhibitors and bone mass
Scientists at The Forsyth Institute have found that fluoxetine (Prozac), a drug used in the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders, increases bone mass. view more (2006-10-13)
Use of anti-depressant does not decrease risk of relapse for patients with anorexia nervosa
Use of the anti-depressant fluoxetine did not help patients with anorexia nervosa who had restored their body weight maintain that weight or reduce their risk of relapse, according to a study in the June 14 issue of JAMA. view more (2006-06-14)
US suicide rates fell as fluoxetine prescriptions increased
Suicide rates in the US fluctuated from the early 1960s until 1988, after which they showed a gradual decline that might have been linked to the introduction of the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), according to a new study in PLoS Medicine. view more (2006-06-13)
New study suggests antidepressants save lives
A just published UCLA study suggests that the use of antidepressants to treat depression has saved thousands of lives, despite the concern about a possible link between suicide risk and the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). view more (2006-06-13)
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