
Yet another risk for kids on antidepressants: Higher chance of developing type-2 diabetes, according to new study
(Natural News) Antidepressants are often prescribed for individuals who exhibit signs of major depressive disorders and various conditions such as anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep disorders. Now, a recent study has proven that children and adolescents who take antidepressants could develop type-2 diabetes.
Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered that the prolonged and current intake of a major class of antidepressant medications called serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI) can cause an estimated two-fold increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes in both children and adolescents. Teenagers that formerly used and eventually discontinued their medication were not at risk. (Related: Study: Antidepressant drugs actually cause many people to have worse depression.)
The study was published on Oct. 16 in JAMA Pediatrics and is the first population-based study that looked into the risks of pediatric patients being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes once they start taking antidepressants. Mehmet Burcu, PhD, led the study for his dissertation. Burcu said, “Antidepressants are one of the most commonly used psychotropic medication classes among youth in the United States, with serotonin reuptake inhibitors representing a majority of total antidepressant use in this population.”
He added, “These findings provide new information on the risk of a rare, but serious adverse outcome that is often difficult to assess in clinical trials due to limited sample size and inadequate follow up.”
Burcu et al.
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