Antidepressants and Diabetes Linked in University Study

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Antidepressants and Diabetes Linked in University Study

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Researchers at the University of Southampton have warned that some antidepressants may pose a risk of type 2 diabetes. A systematic review carried out by the University showed a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in people taking antibiotics; however it is not certain whether the medication is responsible.

In recent years, the use of antidepressant medication has risen sharply. While numerous studies have been carried out to determine whether antidepressants are linked with diabetes, the results have been varied based on variables, such as type of medication and the number of participants.

The results of the University’s research showed that overall, people taking antidepressants were more likely to have diabetes. However, the researchers warned that different types of antidepressants may carry different risks and long-term prospective randomized control trials are needed to look at the effects of individual tablets.

Published in Diabetes Care, the team said that there are “several plausible” reasons why antidepressants are associated with an increased risk of diabetes. For example, several antidepressants are associated with significant weight gain which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, they also say that several studies which explored this association still observed an increased risk of diabetes after adjustment for changes in body weight, implying other factors could be involved.

Dr Katharine Barnard, Health Psychologist from the University of Southampton, comments: “Antidepressants are used widely in the UK, with a significant increase in their use recently. Our research shows that when you take away all the classic risk factors of type 2 diabetes; weight gain, lifestyle etc, there is something about antidepressants that appears to be an independent risk factor. With 46 million prescriptions a year, this potential increased risk is worrying. Heightened alertness to the possibility of diabetes in people taking antidepressants is necessary until further research is conducted.”

Richard Holt, Professor in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University of Southampton, adds: “While depression is an important clinical problem and antidepressants are effective treatments for this debilitating condition, clinicians need to be aware of the potential risk of diabetes, particularly when using antidepressants in higher doses or for longer duration. When prescribing antidepressants, doctors should be aware of this risk and take steps to monitor for diabetes and reduce that risk of diabetes through lifestyle modification.”

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