Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3785 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
If you’re a postmenopausal woman and are taking selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), research shows you seem to be at an increased risk for all-cause mortality. The SSRI women are also at risk for hemorrhagic and fatal strokes according to the Women’s Health Initiative Study.
This is not good considering the millions of women on a SSRI or TCA medication.
To be more specific, women using SSRI’s had a 45% increased risk of stroke and 32% risk of death. Those who use TCA’s had a 67% higher relative risk for death but not significantly increased stroke risk.
The analysis is quick to point out that depression itself is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and women should not suddenly stop their antidepressant medication but instead, talk with their healthcare provider about possible alternatives.
As a naturopathic doctor, I recommend reducing your cardiovascular risk factors in other areas such as keeping cholesterol healthy, lower blood sugar, increase exercise, stop smoking, increase fruit/vegetables/fiber, reduce alcohol and take enough fish oil.
Additionally, there are other options that impact depression. The study recommends cognitive behavioral therapies to help women, who have yet to start medication, avoid it all together. I commonly check hormones levels including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid and adrenal function. Additionally I utilize neurotransmitter testing to give me an idea of the serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the body.
There are several natural treatments that some women find effective with depression. Vitamin D greatly helps seasonal affective disorder. Options such as St. John’s wort, SAMe, 5-HTP, B-complex vitamins, folic acid and light therapy (using a light box) have been shown beneficial. Helpful herbs include lavender, chamomile, passionflower, skullcap and lemonbalm.
Naturally, before starting any supplements or herbal supplements, talk with a healthcare provider that knows how to manage your treatment.
Reference:
Smoller J. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:2128-2139; 2140-2141.
Add a Comment2 Comments
I see mood changes occur quite a bit in peri-menopause and menopause. Once even tempered women are suddenly alternating between crying and anger and depression. Hormone imbalance and worn-out adrenals are commonly involved.
January 10, 2010 - 10:30pmThis Comment
This is a frightening study. I went and read some more about it. The size of the study (5,500 women who started taking anti-depressants 1 to 3 years into menopause, out of a total group of 136,000 women), the fact that they followed the women for 15 years and the fact that it was funded by the National Institutes of Health (which has no financial interest in the outcome) are all attention-getting.
I am very interested in the fact that you regularly check hormonal levels. Do you find that many women suffering depression in perimenopause or menopause in fact can be treated naturally, even if that depression seems to be caused by hormonal changes?
January 6, 2010 - 8:49amThis Comment