Most antidepressants prescribed for chronic pain lack reliable evidence of efficacy or safety, scientists warn

Largest ever investigation into antidepressants used for chronic pain shows insufficient evidence to determine how effective or harmful they may be.Study reviewed commonly prescribed medications including amitriptyline, duloxetine, fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline.One third of people globally are living with long-term pain with many prescribed antidepressants to relieve symptoms.Most antidepressants used for chronic pain are being prescribed with “insufficient” evidence of their effectiveness, scientists have warned.A major investigation into medications used to manage long-term pain found that harms of many of the commonly recommended drugs have not been well studied.TheCochrane review, led by scientists from several UK universities including Southampton and Newcastle, examined 176 trials consisting of nearly 30,000 patients involved in assessments which prescribed antidepressants for chronic pain.Among the drugs studied were amitriptyline, fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, and duloxetine – with only the latter showing reliable evidence for pain relief. One third of people globally are living with chronic pain, World Health Organisation data shows, with many prescribed antidepressants for relieving symptoms.Lead author Professor Tamar Pincus from the University of Southampton said: “This is a global public health concern. Chronic pain is a problem for millions who are prescribed antidepressants without sufficient scientific proof they ...
Source: Cochrane News and Events - Category: Information Technology Authors: Source Type: news