Fibromyalgia is a painful syndrome that is associated with many other symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disturbances and depressed mood. This condition which could affect up to 6% of the population in Europe, greatly deteriorating the quality of life, hence the importance of being able to offer treatment. In this area, antidepressants are effective.

1. Fibromyalgia, pain to depression …

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on two criteria (defined by the American College of Rheumatology): 1) the presence of widespread pain for more than three months, and 2) a sensation of pain to touch on at least 11 of 18 points disease characteristics (some are located in the neck, others inside the elbows, knees, shoulders, etc.)..

This pain syndrome is associated with a host of other symptoms including severe fatigue and non-restorative sleep. Most people with fibromyalgia also report psychological symptoms, including mood disorders.

This typical picture of fibromyalgia affects strongly on the quality of life. Yet there is currently no specific treatment for fibromyalgia. However, it is essential to take care of such patients.

2. New evidence of the effectiveness of antidepressants

A new study confirms the effectiveness of antidepressants. It brought together the results of 18 trials involving a total of 1,400 people affected by fibromyalgia. The establishment of an antidepressant treatment has significantly reduced the sensation of pain, but also alleviate fatigue, depression and sleep disorders. Knowing that there are different classes of antidepressants, some were more effective than others, including tricyclic antidepressants: Anafranil ®, Tofranil ®, Surmontil ®, Laroxyl ®, Prothiaden ®, Kinupril ®, Defanyl ®.

We note that antidepressants are effective in improving pain syndrome, fatigue, sleep disturbance, mood and overall quality of life of fibromyalgia.

The fact remains that the management of fibromyalgia should be multidisciplinary and include seek alternatives such as cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, etc..

Depression is a very common disease that must be treated immediately. The treatment most classic and most effective based on the use of antidepressants. Now, supplementation with omega-3 could be considered under certain conditions.

1. Omega-3 and depression

Long, omega-3 are thought to represent an alternative to antidepressants. But in the absence of direct evidence, supplementation with omega-3 was more reserved than the real depression depressions.

Data changes with this new clinical study focused on 430 patients who were diagnosed with depression (68% women, mean age 46 years).

Divided into two groups, one received a placebo while the others take 3 capsules of fish oil daily for 8 weeks.

2. Fish oil: EPA + DHA

Namely: 3 capsules represented a contribution of 1,050 mg of EPA and 150 mg DHA. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are derived from omega-3 primary, ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Fish oils are direct sources of EPA and DHA. Indeed, the fish themselves have consumed directly or indirectly from phytoplankton, rich in ALA, which they converted into EPA and DHA.

3. Omega-3: effective antidepressants

Treatment with fish oil capsules had no effect in patients with depression who also suffered from anxiety disorders. However, only in people with depression, omega-3 proved highly effective, with an action similar to antidepressant drugs.

In conclusion, supplementation with omega-3 represents an interesting alternative to antidepressant drugs. One course of fish oil capsules can be attempted as first-line over a period of two months or in case of reluctance to take antidepressant medication.

Caution, however, supplementation appears unnecessary in cases of anxiety associated with depression!
Talk to your doctor, only he can advise the best solution for you.

Anxiolytics are very effective against stress, anxiety, insomnia … The little (or big) problem is that the cause anxiolytic addiction and therefore tend to be taken long term by people who use them.

1. Your risk of death increases if you use antianxiety

It is now demonstrated in a Canadian study: people who use anti-anxiety had a significantly increased risk of mortality. Fortunately, this increase is still modest. The survey studied between 1994 and 2007, more than 14,000 people aged 18 to 102 years.

If you take tranquilizers, your mortality over 13 years (duration of the investigation) could spend (on average) from 11% to 16%.

2. What are the reasons for this increase in mortality anxiolytics?

Accidents may be more common, anxiolytics increasing reaction time, impair psychomotor coordination. Serious falls may also become more common in the elderly.

These drugs are respiratory depressants and might tend to aggravate heart or lung disease.

3. Anxiolytics are they really involved?

It could be that the highly anxious or sleep poorly are in worse health than others, causing an anti-anxiety medication more frequently than in healthy people. In other words, even if these drugs sedatives, tranquilizers are involved, it could be they are a consequence of a severe disease that can lead to death rather than a direct cause of death.

Anyway, it is strongly advised not to take long-term anxiolytics. Better a natural psychological health and a healthy life rather than a chemical carrier to decrease your anxiety!

The relationship between depression and certain other diseases is not clear. Several studies have shown that depression may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction. Is it the same for cancer?

Depression can represent a trigger or aggravate cancer? Some studies have shown a relationship between depression and certain diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, for example, it was natural to ask this question about cancer.

In France is estimated that depression affects 15% of the population. This mood disorder often leads to slower cognitive and motor activities, with a feeling of fatigue, sadness and sometimes irritability.
To determine whether this condition may be a risk factor for development of cancer, Danish researchers followed more than 8,000 people aged 20-94 years. After analyzing the data collected, they found no association between the severity of depressive symptoms and the risk of developing cancer.

In contrast, depression may indirectly influence the risk of cancer, such as through the tobacco.In fact, being depressed to a smoker increases the risk of developing cancer because depression increases the carcinogenic potential of toxic substances in cigarette smoke increases or intensity of smoking. Here, depression thus produces a behavior that increases the risk of cancer.

1. What he once said cancer?

Studies to answer this question are more numerous and show actually being depression negatively influences the prognosis of cancer.
Ultimately, the depressive symptoms should be detected and supported in cancer patients.There is no question to trivialize depression, on the pretext that it is normal for a patient with cancer is depressed. On the contrary, any depression treatment helps fight against the cancer.