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		</div><p>Common painkillers, statins and fish oils may help curb depression, especially if taken with antidepressants, experts say.</p>
<p>A new review found that anti-inflammatory agents, including painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin, as well as statins and omega-3 fish oils, could curb major symptoms of depression such as low mood.</p>
<p>Experts from the University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, reviewed 26 existing studies for their research in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.</p>
<p>The anti-inflammatories included in the studies were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin; omega 3 fatty acids often found in fish oils; cytokine inhibitors; statins; steroids; antibiotics; a drug used to treat sleep disorders (modafinil); and N-acetyl cysteine, which is used to loosen excess phlegm in people with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).</p>
<p>The results suggested that, overall, these medicines and agents were 52% more effective than placebo at reducing overall symptoms of depression and were 79% more effective in eliminating symptoms than placebo.</p>
<p>The most effective drugs were found to be NSAIDs, omega 3 fatty acids, statins and minocyclines, and the effect was greater if these were added to antidepressants.</p>
<p>However, there was no clear link with improved quality of life, although this may have been due to the small number of studies that examined this, the researchers said.</p>
<p>They concluded:<em> “The results of this systematic review suggest that anti-inflammatory agents play an antidepressant role in patients with major depressive disorder and are reasonably safe.”</em></p>
<p>Prof Ed Bullmore, head of the department of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, welcomed the study, but said: <em>“This should encourage further consideration of ways in which we could use a range of anti-inflammatory interventions to help people with depression, perhaps especially people who are already taking a conventional antidepressant drug with limited benefit.</em></p>
<p><em>“However, as the authors conclude, further trials will be needed to support licensing and medical prescription of these and other anti-inflammatory agents for depression.”</em></p>
<p>Professor David Curtis, honorary professor at University College London, said he was not convinced by the findings.</p>
<p>He added: <em>“It is quite misleading to describe the use of anti-inflammatory agents as safe.</em></p>
<p><em>“The most effective anti-inflammatory agents used were NSAIDs and although problems are rare, every year thousands of people die from the side-effects of these medications, which are usually taken for chronic pain and are especially risky if taken for long periods of time.”</em></p>
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