Caution: Popular painkillers may interfere with antidepressants, from the Harvard Mental Health Letter

Popular pain relievers may reduce the benefits of commonly prescribed antidepressants, reports the August 2011 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. New research suggests that both acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin) may make selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, less effective.

Researchers analyzed the results of the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, a large "real-world" examination of depression treatment. Only 45% of STAR*D participants who took an SSRI along with a pain medication achieved complete relief of depression symptoms, while 55% of people who were taking an SSRI alone (without a pain medication) did so.

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