"A potential link": people who take these drugs would have a higher risk of developing Lou Gehrig's disease
Lou Gehrig's disease is one of the most devastating diseases. Also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is associated with an average life expectancy of only 3 to 5 years, with progressive paralysis of voluntary muscles. Today, the causes and risk factors of the disease are still poorly understood, although some have been identified or are suspected.
This is particularly the case with certain widely prescribed medications. Several studies, including one recently conducted by the renowned Karolinska Institute, have highlighted an increased risk of Lou Gehrig's disease in people who had taken certain medications in the years prior to diagnosis. To reach this conclusion, the researchers compared the health data of nearly 9,000 Swedes, some of whom had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease between 2015 and 2023, and others, including relatives of those affected, who were in good health.
Swedish researchers observed that people who had taken anxiolytics, antidepressants, hypnotics, or sedatives had up to a 34% higher risk of developing Lou Gehrig's disease. The risk was highest among those prescribed anxiolytics, followed by a 26% increase for antidepressants and a 21% increase for hypnotics and sedatives.
The study authors also reported that "use of these medications before diagnosis was also associated with a poor prognosis after ALS diagnosis." Patients prescribed antidepressants before diagnosis had a 72% increased risk of death or invasive ventilation. Anxiolytics were associated with a 52% increased risk, and hypnotics and sedatives with a 23% increased risk.
The researchers believe these findings "suggest a potential link between psychiatric medications, or their indications (i.e., psychiatric disorders), and the risk and progression of ALS." Psychiatric illnesses, such as depression or anxiety, could thus be risk factors, or warning signs, of Lou Gehrig's disease.
Previous studies have also suggested a link between psychiatric illnesses and ALS, but until now, "the evidence of an association between the use of common psychiatric medications and ALS has been sparse and inconclusive," according to the study authors. Further studies are needed to confirm a causal link between medications and psychiatric illnesses with Lou Gehrig's disease.
L'Internaute
