Can SSRI anti-depressants have side effects and what conditions are the drugs used to treat?
THERE were more than 60million prescriptions of SSRI antidepressants in England in 2016 — double the rate of ten years earlier.
But new investigations and research suggest that new and unexpected side effects of the drugs are being found.
What are SSRI antidepressants?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs are a widely used antidepressant, particularly prescribed to treat persistent or severe cases of depression and anxiety.
The drug increases levels of serotonin in the brain, which is believed to improve mood, emotions and sleep.
There are seven SSRIs prescribed in the UK including fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram (Cipramil).
Over 40 million prescriptions for SSRI antidepressants were handed out by doctors last year in the UK.
What are SSRI antidepressants used to treat?
Although predominantly used in cases of depression, SSRIs can also be prescribed for anxiety, OCD, panic disorders, severe phobias, bulimia and PTSD.
The drug can also be used to treat premature ejaculation and premenstrual syndrome.
Fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome can also be treated as well as pain problems.
Do the drugs have side effects?
SSRIs are usually the first choice antidepressant because they generally have few side effects, according to the NHS Choices website.
The NHS warns the drug can cause anxiety, sickness, dizziness, blurred vision, low sex drive, difficulty achieving orgasm and erectile dysfunction, but says these side effects normally wear off after a few weeks.
If you are suffering side effects it is important to discuss them with your doctor before stopping treatment.
But a Panorama documentary that aired in July 2017 investigated reports of devastating side effects suffered by a tiny minority.
SSRI use has been linked to psychosis, violence and even murderous behaviour, according to sources cited by the BBC show.
Was Aurora shooter James Holmes on SSRI anti-depressants?
Aurora shooter James Holmes was a key case study in the Panorama report as he had been prescribed SSRI antidepressants before he went on a murderous rampage.
Holmes killed 12 people and injured 70 others at a Century movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20 2012.
He walked into a midnight screening of Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises and threw two gas canisters into the audience.
Many in the audience thought it was a publicity stunt until he began spraying the crowd with a shotgun, then an assault rifle and finally a pistol.
Cops apprehended Holmes in his car behind the cinema within minutes of the shooting. He told them that he was “The Joker”.
On August 7 2015 Holmes was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
He had no previous record of violence or mass murder.
Can SSRI antidepressents worsen the symptoms of tinnitus?
Research published in health journal Cell has also suggested that SSRI antidepressants can worsen tinnitus symptoms.
Tinnitus sufferers hear a buzzing or humming noise in their ears or head, and the condition affects around one in ten Brits.
Scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University found that the serotonin boost from SSRIs could worsen these symptoms.
"If you're a physician treating a patient for depression who also has hearing loss or tinnitus, you may want to be careful about prescribing a drug that compounds their feelings of anxiety," said report author Professor Laurence Trussell.
"The SSRI may be enhancing the thing you're trying to fix", he added.
