Health

Common painkillers and statins could ease depression symptoms for millions, docs find


COMMON painkillers and statins taken by millions help treat depression, research suggests.

Both drugs work by dampening down inflammation, which has been linked to mental health problems.

 Common painkillers such as aspirin help treat depression, research suggests

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Common painkillers such as aspirin help treat depression, research suggestsCredit: Corbis – Getty

More than seven million Brits are on antidepressants, but the pills fail to work for around one in three.

Experts analysed the impact of anti-inflammatories — aspirin, ibuprofen, statins and fish oil — on major depressive symptoms.

The research, in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, pooled results from 26 studies involving more than 1,600 patients. It found those on anti-inflammatories were 79 per cent more likely to overcome depression.

Lead researcher Prof Zhouping Tang, from Huazhong University in China, said: “Anti-inflammatory agents play an antidepressant role in patients with major depressive disorder.”

Prof Ed Bullmore, of Cambridge University, said: “This should encourage further consideration of ways we could use anti-inflammatory interventions to help people with depression.”

But Prof David Curtis, of University College London, said: “Overall, the evidence is patchy and anti-inflammatory meds are not regarded as helpful.”

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