The question of how best to help babies who have been exposed to drugs in the womb — including prescription pain medications, antidepressants and illicit drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine — can be an emotionally charged issue.
antidepressants
The Perils of ‘Metabolic Chauvinism’
A reporter’s notes from a recent scientific conference
New Research on the Antidepressant-vs.-Placebo Debate
Do antidepressants work or don’t they? A new study sheds light on why the data on drug treatment are so conflicted.
Prozac May Reduce Symptoms of Autism in Adults
The antidepressant Prozac may alleviate repetitive behavior and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adults with autism, reducing these defining symptoms of the disorder, according to new research.
8 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
As the days get shorter and winter closes in, many people feel like hibernating. We start sleeping more, eating more and avoiding social contact. The effects can be particularly oppressive for people with depression, many of whom feel escalating dread as the end of daylight saving time approaches. Here are eight ways to keep the black …
What Does a 400% Increase in Antidepressant Use Really Mean?
Antidepressant prescribing has risen nearly 400% since 1988, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 1 in 10 Americans over age 12 now takes an antidepressant, the study finds, and …
Tracing the Circuits of Self-Loathing in the Depressed Brain
They say there’s a fine line between love and hate, as evidenced by the fact that the same brain circuitry processes both intense love and severe hatred. Now a new study finds that that the key wiring that connects brain regions …
Depression May Boost Risk of Stroke
Depression may go hand in hand with a number of other physical health problems, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Now the latest evidence suggests that depression may also increase the risk of stroke.
The Healthland Podcast: Cervical Cancer, Blood-Donation Rules, and Testosterone
This week we discuss cervical cancer, IUDs and the politicized debate over HPV vaccination. We also talk about whether gay men should be allowed to donate blood and why fathering a child depletes testosterone. Listen to this …
Why Patients Don’t Open Up to Doctors About Depression
Would you feel comfortable confiding in your family doctor about symptoms of depression? For many Americans, the answer is no.
Newer Antidepressants May Not Be as Safe for Seniors
Some widely prescribed antidepressants may not be as safe for elderly patients as other classes of drugs, according to a study recently published in the British Medical Journal.
Heat Spikes Death Risk from Drugs
With relentless heat enveloping much of the nation, no one, it seems is spared. That includes a group at especially high risk of harm from high temperatures: drug users, both therapeutic and recreational, particularly those who …