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Depression Medication and Chronic Pain

Neurotransmitter levels affect both depression and pain. Antidepressants are beneficial for addressing depression and chronic pain. A lesser dose of the antidepressants can help with pain management, while a larger dose treats symptoms of depression.

  1. Expert Insight

    • A 2003 Standford Medical School study--published in the journal Archive of General Psychiatry--conducted by Alan Schatzberg, M.D., et al, discovered that people with depression were twice as likely to suffer from chronic pain as those without signs of depression.

    Types

    • Antidepressants are typically only used for people suffering from long-term, chronic pain and tend to work best for medical conditions like diabetic neuropathy.

    Benefits

    • Depression medication can counter the fatigue and insomnia that sometimes accompanies chronic pain.

    Time Frame

    • It can take several weeks before antidepressants reach full efficacy, so patients might be advised to continue the medication for a few weeks to see if the drug is beneficial.

    Side Effects

    • Side effects of antidepressants include constipation, dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, tremors, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, drowsiness and an increased risk of committing suicide.

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