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Popular antidepressant drugs
known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be associated
with an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a case-controlled
study involving more than 5,000 women, aged 25-74.
A previous study from the same authors, published
earlier this year (May 15 - American Journal of Epidemiology), showed
that women taking paroxetine (Paxil) had a seven-fold increased risk of
breast cancer. Women taking tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were found
to have about twice the risk.
In this most recent study, Paxil was associated with
an increased risk of 70%, much lower than the seven-fold increase previously
found, but still significant enough to cause serious concern. Other SSRIs
were also found to increase risk, although not by as much.
According to researchers, physicians should at least
be aware that there may be some association and prescribe a drug other
than paroxetine. Interestingly, Paxil had only been on the market for
2 to 3 years before the breast cancer cases were diagnosed.
35th
Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, Seattle, June
2000
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