Depression Drugs May Increase Diabetes Risk

Filed in archive Research on August 29, 2006

Links have been established between diabetes and depression, and certain drugs, such as Zyprexa, have been targeted for causing diabetes to develop in patients.

Now, researchers feel that depression drugs as a whole may cause diabetes to develop in 'susceptible' patients, increasing this risk two- or three-fold.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the US examined whether depression or antidepressant use predicted progression to type 2 diabetes.

They found depression symptoms themselves were not a risk for developing diabetes but using antidepressants was.

Now, it's important to note that this same study also found that diet and exercise have a tremendous effect on lowering diabetes risks, often 'getting rid of it' even if the patient takes antidepressants. Be sure to carefully consider all options, and speak with your doctor before going off any medications.