The persistence and relentless use of anti depressant and anti psychotic drugs may cause arterioscleroses and blood vascular diseases. Millions of Americans / Indians and larger populations over the world take antidepressant drugs for their anxiety and depression related problems routinely. In the class of anti depressant drugs most commonly used anti depressant is Prozac. Prozac and such related drugs are called by the name selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) Prozac, Sarafem, Fontex are the trade names. It is manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company in collaboration with olanzapine. Fluoxetine has proved money minting machine for the giant
pharmaceutical company ELI LILLY The SSRIs fetch billions to the giant company and manufactures of Prozac. But subsequently it has played havoc with public health. The fluoxetine are promoted and prescribed as safe treatments for depression, anxiety and even premenstrual tension. Fluoxetine is approved for the treatment of major depression including pediatric depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder bulimia nervosa panic disorder and premenstrual dysphonic disorder Fluoxetine has been frequently used for the treatment of major depression, bipolar disorder obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, panic disorder and premenstrual dysphonic disorder It has also been used for cataplexy, obesity, and alcohol dependence as well as binge eating disorder this long list of its usage shows there is hardly any disorder for which Prozac has not been usedEmory findings about Prozac
There is equally long list of its side effects ranging from sexual dysfunction to dizziness vertigo and headaches now a new and more potent side effect has been to the already long list by the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans, Emory University School of Medicine. Scientists have just announced they’ve discovered that the drugs are linked to thicker arteries means giving rise to blood related problems. The findings strongly suggest Prozac and similar anti depressants drugs /medications could raise the risk of heart disease and strokes.
The Emory research team measured the thickness of the lining of the main arteries in the neck ultrasound. This is known by the medical term IMT (carotid intima-media thickness). The results showed that among the 59 pairs of twins where only one brother took antidepressants, the one taking the medication had a significantly higher carotid IMT In fact, the thicker arteries were found in antidepressant users whether or not they had ever had a stroke or heart attack in the past. This finding of scientists is really heart opener for general public. This experiment has aptly demonstrated how anti depressants drugs are proving counter productive and killer of humans by adding to their arteries thickness .arteries thickness is just the beginning of
What in anti depressants drugs caused arterial thickness. How drugs could anti depressants could have such a devastating effect on blood vessels. To these questions The Emory scientists have answered that it may result from changes in serotonin. The SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and they are known to increase the level of serotonin in the brain. Other kinds of antidepressant drugs also impact serotonin levels.
Depression can heighten the risk for heart disease, and in many instances it does, but the effect of antidepressant use revealed by the study is separate and independent from depression itself, says first author Amit Shah, MD, a cardiology fellow at Emory University School of Medicine. The data suggest that antidepressants may combine with depression for a negative effect on blood vessels Amit Shah is a researcher working with Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. The study was based on 513 middle-aged male twins who both served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Among the 59 pairs of twins where only one brother took antidepressants, the one taking the drugs tended to have higher carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), even when standard heart disease risk factors were taken into account The effect was observed both in twins with or without a previous heart attack or stroke. A higher level of depressive symptoms was associated with higher IMT only in those taking antidepressants.
Age and TMT thickness
Amit shah says,” One of the strongest and best-studied factors that thicken someone’s arteries is age, and that happens at around 10 microns per year, In our study, users of antidepressants see an average 40 micron increase in IMT, so their carotid arteries are in effect four years older.” In the study, researchers saw higher carotid IMT in both participants who used SSRIs (60 percent of those who took antidepressants) and those who used other types of antidepressants. This study will have far reaching effects an conclusions in future.
The Emory university research findings show that widely used anti depressants like Prozac may cause arterial thickness and related problems.
http://shared.web.emory.edu/whsc/ne...
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http://shared.web.emory.edu/whsc/news/releases/2011/04/antidepressants-linked-to-
thicker-arteries.html