Depression Medication and Chronic Pain
Neurotransmitter levels affect both depression and pain. Antidepressants are beneficial for addressing depression and chronic pain. A lesser dose of the antidepressants can help with pain management, while a larger dose treats symptoms of depression.
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Expert Insight
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A 2003 Standford Medical School study--published in the journal Archive of General Psychiatry--conducted by Alan Schatzberg, M.D., et al, discovered that people with depression were twice as likely to suffer from chronic pain as those without signs of depression.
Types
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Antidepressants are typically only used for people suffering from long-term, chronic pain and tend to work best for medical conditions like diabetic neuropathy.
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Benefits
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Depression medication can counter the fatigue and insomnia that sometimes accompanies chronic pain.
Time Frame
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It can take several weeks before antidepressants reach full efficacy, so patients might be advised to continue the medication for a few weeks to see if the drug is beneficial.
Side Effects
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Side effects of antidepressants include constipation, dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, tremors, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, drowsiness and an increased risk of committing suicide.
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