The extract from St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), a bushy, wild-growing plant with yellow flowers, has been used for centuries in many folk and herbal remedies. The National Institutes of Health conducted a clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of the herb in treating adults who have major depression. Involving 340 patients diag-nosed with major depression, the trial found that St. John's wort was no more effective than a "sugar pill" (placebo) in treating major depression. Another study is looking at whether St. John's wort is effective for treating mild or minor depression.
Other research has shown that St. John's wort may inter¬fere with other medications, including those used to con¬trol HIV infection. On February 10, 2000, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory letter stating that the herb may interfere with certain medications used to treat heart dis¬ease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and organ trans¬plant rejection. The herb also may interfere with the effec¬tiveness of oral contraceptives. Because of these potential interactions, patients should always consult with their doc-tors before taking any herbal supplement.
Electroconvulsive therapy
For cases in which medication and/or psychotherapy does not help treat depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be useful. ECT, once known as "shock therapy," for-merly had a bad reputation. But in recent years, it has greatly improved and can provide relief for people with severe depression who have not been able to feel better with other treatments.
ECT may cause short-term side effects, including confu¬sion, disorientation and memory loss. But these side effects typically clear soon after treatment. Research has indicated that after one year of ECT treatments, patients show no adverse cognitive effects.
FDA warning on antidepressants
Despite the fact that SSRIs and other antidepressants are generally safe and reliable, some studies have shown that they may have unintentional effects on some people, especially young people. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed data from studies of anti-depressants that involved nearly 4,400 children and teen¬agers being treated for depression. The review showed that 4% of those who took antidepressants thought about or attempted suicide (although no suicides occurred), com-pared to 2% of those who took sugar pills (placebo).
This information prompted the FDA, in 2005, to adopt a "black box" warning label on all antidepressant medica¬tions to alert the public about the potential increased risk of suicidal thinking or attempts in children and teenag¬ers taking antidepressants. In 2007, the FDA proposed that makers of all antidepressant medications extend the black box warning on their labels to include young patients up through age 24 who are taking these medications for depression treatment. A "black box" warning is the most serious type of warning on prescription drug labeling.
The warning also emphasizes that children, teenagers and young adults taking antidepressants should be closely mon-itored, especially during the initial weeks of treatment, for any worsening depression, suicidal thinking or behavior. These include any unusual changes in behavior such as sleeplessness, agitation, or withdrawal from normal social situations.
Results of a review of pediatric trials between 1988 and 2006 suggested that the benefits of antidepressant medica¬tions likely outweigh their risks to children and adolescents with major depression and anxiety disorders. The study was funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Other research has shown that St. John's wort may inter¬fere with other medications, including those used to con¬trol HIV infection. On February 10, 2000, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory letter stating that the herb may interfere with certain medications used to treat heart dis¬ease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and organ trans¬plant rejection. The herb also may interfere with the effec¬tiveness of oral contraceptives. Because of these potential interactions, patients should always consult with their doc-tors before taking any herbal supplement.
Electroconvulsive therapy
For cases in which medication and/or psychotherapy does not help treat depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be useful. ECT, once known as "shock therapy," for-merly had a bad reputation. But in recent years, it has greatly improved and can provide relief for people with severe depression who have not been able to feel better with other treatments.
ECT may cause short-term side effects, including confu¬sion, disorientation and memory loss. But these side effects typically clear soon after treatment. Research has indicated that after one year of ECT treatments, patients show no adverse cognitive effects.
FDA warning on antidepressants
Despite the fact that SSRIs and other antidepressants are generally safe and reliable, some studies have shown that they may have unintentional effects on some people, especially young people. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed data from studies of anti-depressants that involved nearly 4,400 children and teen¬agers being treated for depression. The review showed that 4% of those who took antidepressants thought about or attempted suicide (although no suicides occurred), com-pared to 2% of those who took sugar pills (placebo).
This information prompted the FDA, in 2005, to adopt a "black box" warning label on all antidepressant medica¬tions to alert the public about the potential increased risk of suicidal thinking or attempts in children and teenag¬ers taking antidepressants. In 2007, the FDA proposed that makers of all antidepressant medications extend the black box warning on their labels to include young patients up through age 24 who are taking these medications for depression treatment. A "black box" warning is the most serious type of warning on prescription drug labeling.
The warning also emphasizes that children, teenagers and young adults taking antidepressants should be closely mon-itored, especially during the initial weeks of treatment, for any worsening depression, suicidal thinking or behavior. These include any unusual changes in behavior such as sleeplessness, agitation, or withdrawal from normal social situations.
Results of a review of pediatric trials between 1988 and 2006 suggested that the benefits of antidepressant medica¬tions likely outweigh their risks to children and adolescents with major depression and anxiety disorders. The study was funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий