Antidepressants: Are you worried about the ramifications of mixing medications?

NSAID painkillers may prevent a class of antidepressants from working effectively. (iStock)

People taking a widely used class of antidepressants known as SSRIs may find the benefits of the medication cancelled out when they also take painkillers such as ibuprofen, scientists say.

"Analysis of our clinical data strongly suggests that remission rates among depressed individuals may be improved by avoiding certain common over-the-counter medications," Paul Greengard of Rockefeller University in New York and his co-authors wrote.

Mice treated with an SSRI antidepressant behaved differently when they were also given the anti-inflammatory painkillers, scientists found.

The researchers then analyzed data on a previous study of 1,546 Americans treated with citalopram for 12 weeks, comparing remission rates for depressive symptoms among those taking just the antidepressant with those taking both an antidepressant and an NSAID.

People taking antidepressants are advised to discuss their individual circumstances with their doctor.

Are you concerned about painkillers' possible interference with the benefits of antidepressants? Why or why not? Do you feel well informed about the consequences of mixing medications? Please share your comments below.

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(This survey is not scientific. The results are based on the readers' responses.)