Big Pharma’s chronic pain “cure” is a failure

Big Pharma knows that their antidepressant drugs don’t work for most people with depression... [Click here](1770d7/ct0_0/1/ms?sid=TV2%3AAKhwtrdnA) to view this message in your browser | [Click here](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3AAKhwtrdnA) to stop receiving our messages [] [] Al Sears, MD 11905 Southern Blvd. Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 [] June 21, 2023 [] Reader, Big Pharma knows that their antidepressant drugs don’t work for most people with depression... And that the “chemical imbalance” theory related to low levels of brain serotonin has been thoroughly debunked. So they need a new use for the dozens of antidepressants currently on the market. It’s known as off-labeling – and it's common practice for drug makers and the doctors they influence. The latest example is prescribing depression medication as a “cure” for chronic pain... It’s an idea supported by some of the biggest names in mainstream medicine – including Harvard, the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and the National Institutes of Health. The theory is that antidepressant drugs work by modulating chemicals in the brain, like serotonin and norepinephrine, which play a role in reducing pain perception. Increasing levels of these neurotransmitters disrupts pain signals sent by nerves. And that, says the drug makers, turns antidepressant medications into a powerful “weapon” that can block pain signaling pathways in the nervous system. So now, Big Pharma is pushing these potentially damaging drugs as an alternative to opioids. While I agree that it’s vital to offer patients alternatives to potentially addictive drugs, there’s a major problem with using antidepressants to cure chronic pain... They don’t work...and can cause more harm than good. A two-year review of more than 175 clinical trials analyzed the effects of various antidepressants on almost 30,000 participants who had three kinds of chronic pain: nerve pain, musculoskeletal pain, and fibromyalgia.1 As the lead study author put it, the review found “no reliable evidence for the long-term efficacy of any antidepressant and no reliable evidence for their safety for chronic pain at any point.” Of the 25 different depression drugs the study reviewed, only one – duloxetine – showed modest pain-relieving ability. But keep in mind... This review was a meta-analysis. It didn’t do any independent tests of the depression drugs. It simply used statistical methods to summarize the outcome of 30 previous studies. Which brings me to the one antidepressant that did show pain-relieving “promise.” That drug is duloxetine, sold under the brand name Cymbalta. Earlier research found that it provided a “small to moderate effect” on pain. But even those results are tainted because the study was sponsored by the pharmaceutical company that makes the drug! As a regular reader, you know that clinical trials sponsored by Big Pharma are more likely to have outcomes favoring the sponsor than were studies with other sponsors. But pain isn’t the only off-label use drug makers are trying to convince doctors to prescribe antidepressants for. Big Pharma wants you to take their antidepressants for hot flashes and night sweats... peripheral neuropathy... urinary incontinence... migraines... attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)... obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)... and anxiety disorders. I don’t recommend antidepressants for pain or depression. They won’t improve your condition, and they come with a long list of nasty side effects. In addition to headaches, dry mouth, nausea, and stomach upset, these drugs lead to: - Insomnia. Almost 25% of people on antidepressants have a hard time falling asleep. Others report sleep disturbances like nightmares and sleepwalking. - Difficulty staying away. Some patients also experience a sedation-like effect during the day. In fact, taking an antidepressant significantly increases your chances of being in a car crash due to sleepiness. - Weight gain. About 25% of users gain 10 pounds or more with certain antidepressants.2 - Sexual dysfunction. This is the most common side effect — and also the one that bothers patients the most. Up to 70% of patients suffer from a severe decrease in desire or difficulty having an orgasm.3 - Confusion and dizziness. In some cases, antidepressants can interfere with your blood sodium level, which can cause headaches or confusion. This condition, known as hyponatremia, is more common in older patients. - Stroke and death: A major study shows women taking antidepressants are 45% more likely to have a stroke. And they are 32% more likely to die from any cause.4 Try my 2-pronged natural pain prescription Treating your pain with any of Big Pharma’s drugs should be a last resort. Fortunately, there are safe, natural, and side-effect-free alternative ways to relieve pain. Here’s what I suggest you use instead: - Use the herbal pain reliever with no nasty side effects. The medicinal properties of CBD have been known since at least the ancient Egyptians. Today, studies prove that it’s a highly effective, drug-free, and affordable treatment for a wide variety of disorders, including depression and chronic pain. It not only works against pain, but it also attacks the inflammation at the source. Dozens of scientific studies prove it.5,6 One study examined more than 2,700 patients living with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. After using CBD, around 40% of participants reported “much” or “very much” pain relief improvement.7 Another study by researchers at NYU Langone Health gave either CBD or a placebo to patients recovering from surgery. On the first few days after surgery, patients receiving CBD experienced, on average, 25% less pain compared to patients receiving a placebo. No major side effects were reported.8 You can buy CBD drops that are placed under the tongue or as a lotion made for local pain relief. For chronic pain, I recommend 20 mg of oral CBD twice daily. Increase the amount every three or four weeks until you get the necessary relief. - Try Ashwagandha (especially for chronic arthritis pain): This “smart plant” is also called Indian ginseng and winter cherry. In a recent study, researchers gave 60 arthritis patients ashwagandha or a placebo. After 12 weeks, those taking the herb had significantly less pain, according to three different pain-score tests.9 I recommend 300 mg to 500 mg twice a day. Or you can buy dried ashwagandha root powder. Look for a product that’s 100% organic with no artificial flavors or colors. I like to add one teaspoon to a cup of boiling organic milk. I let it simmer for five minutes. Then I add a little honey to sweeten it. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS --------------------------------------------------------------- References: 1. Birkinshaw H, et al. “Antidepressants for pain management in adults with chronic pain: a network meta‐analysis.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 May 10;5(5):CD014682. 2. Deshmukh R, Franco K. “Managing weight gain as a side effect of antidepressant therapy.” Cleve Clin J Med. 2003 Jul;70(7):614. 3. Higgins A, Nash M, Lynch AM. “Antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction: impact, effects, and treatment.” Drug Health Patient Saf. 2010;2:141-150. 4. Smoller J, et al. “Antidepressant use and risk of incident cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative Study.” Arch Intern Med, 2009; 169 (22): 2128-2139. 5. Canabo Medical Clinic. “5 health benefits of CBD.” Accessed on June 10, 2023. 6. Project CBD: Inflammation. Available at: . Accessed on June 10, 2023 7. Boehnke K, et al. “Cannabidiol use for fibromyalgia: prevalence of use and perceptions of effectiveness in a large online survey.” J Pain. 2021 May;22(5):556-566. 8. Press Release. “Tablet containing cannabidiol shows promise in reducing postoperative pain.” Accessed on June 10, 2023. 9. Chopra A, et al. “Ayurveda–modern medicine interface: A critical appraisal of studies of Ayurvedic medicines to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.” J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2010;1(3):190-198. alsearsmd@send.alsearsmd.com [Preferences | Unsubscribe](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3AAKhwtrdnA) 11905 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, United States