If there’s a glut of anything in this country, it’s antidepressants.  With over two dozen of them on the market—and 22 percent of the country suffering from depression—the country is more at risk of running out of food than it is antidepressants.

This is no slam against people who have depression.  Depression is a serious condition and is every bit as devastating as a pernicious disease.

But all too often, people pursue anti-depressants when other treatments may be every bit as effective, if not more so.

I say this because according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this past January, some of the most commonly used antidepressants are no more effective than a placebo in treating mild to moderate cases of depression.

In the study’s abstract, the researchers conclude that the “benefit of antidepressant medication compared with placebo…may be minimal or nonexistent…in patients with mild or moderate symptoms.”

In other words, people who are severely depressed may need the “benefit of medications,” as they put it, but people who are moderately depressed are better off seeking alternative treatment that’s combined with professional counseling.

But there’s another reason why you should avoid antidepressants if you can help it:  They may put you at greater risk for developing cataracts.

Before I get into the brunt of this study, bear in mind that their findings should not be construed as being “causative,” (i.e. taking antidepressants doesn’t necessarily cause cataracts) but their findings are nonetheless illuminating.

For starters, they found that people taking an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) were about 15 percent more likely to develop cataracts than those who never took an antidepressant.

Now, that’s a pretty high percentage all on its own, but that’s nothing compared to the risk specific antidepressants pose to eye health.

For example, among people who took Effexor, they were 34 percent more likely to develop cataracts.  And for people taking Luvox—they were a whopping 51 percent more likely to develop cataracts!

Fluoxetine (the generic name for Luvox) and Effexor are perennially among the most commonly prescribed prescriptions in America.  In 2005, for example, Effexor was #15 in total number of US prescriptions dispensed.

What was #1?  Paxil, another SSRI.

Again, the study did not demonstrate a causal link between antidepressants and cataracts development (a degenerative eye condition that 1.5 million Americans receive surgery for every year), but the link is worrisome enough for me to want to consider alternative treatments if I had a mild case of depression.  That’s for sure.

Of course, the only person that can accurately determine if you have depression is a trained physician or psychiatrist.  If you are suffering from a mild form of depression, then you’re the prime candidate for all-natural treatment.

Unfortunately, there’s no single alternative treatment that’s better than another, so finding the best treatment for you is all about trial and error.

In past pieces, I’ve talked about essential fatty acids’ role in depression relief.  And just as their name entails, they are an essential element to healthy brain function.

So too is zinc.  In fact a 2008 study on zinc found that it activates the production of neurons that help ward off depression, called brain derived neruotrophic factor.    And since several studies confirm that people battling depression tend to be low in zinc, this is no small find.

Zinc is found in many foods, particularly meats, so it’s important to follow recommended dosages so to avoid over-supplementing with zinc.  In general, don’t take any more than 100 milligrams of zinc from a daily supplement.

Nature’s Way produces a great tasting zinc lozenge that you ought to consider if you feel you’re lacking in this essential mineral.

Sources
rxlist.com
jama.ama-assn.org
sciencedaily.com
wellnessresources.com
Balch, Phyllis A. “Prescription for Nutritional Healing.” 4th Edition. 2006. Avery: New York