Common pills linked to depression

COMMON prescription and over-the-counter drugs may be putting millions of people at risk of depression and even suicide.

Blood pressure pills, hormone-based birth control and indigestion tablets can all raise the chance of a patient suffering depression. Scientists found that the risk rose significantly when three or more medicines were taken together. Many doctors believe patients are being ‘over-medicalised’, with little regard for the potentially dangerous side-effects. University of Illinois researchers examined the health records of 26,000 people. They found that 200 commonly-used medicines – including heart pills and acid reflux tablets – have depression or suicide listed as possible side-effects.