The increase risk of breast cancer can also be caused with the use of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) according to several studies. However , researchers discovered a gene that helps people cope with stress and depression, a welcome development for patients prescribed with antidepressants.
Women who used newer-generation SSRIs such as Zoloft is believed to be at risk of developing breast cancer according to a research conducted by the Cancer Care Ontario.
Probably, the reason behind this, according to the researchers is that the metabolism of carcinogens and estrogen is associated to breast cancer while the antidepressants affects the enzymes (the proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body).
Case-control study was conducted by researchers in identifying the 700 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer from 1995 to 1996 and compared them with a random sample of 700 women who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer during that period.
SSRI use and breast cancer are still very controversial because according to the wellness resources website, big pharmaceutical companies is allegedly funding “scientist for hire” to make-up studies that denies the association of antidepressant and breast cancer, which is obviously a misrepresentation of SSRI risks and benefits.
61 studies was reviewed associating the use of antidepressant can cause breast cancer as stated in an issue in the April 2011 open-access article published in Plos One21.
Breast cancer associated with all types of antidepressant increased to 11 % according to the overall date shown. There is an increased risk of cancer among women with the use of SSRI antidepressants.
An evaluation about the financial ties of authors to the makers of antidepressant was the subject of the April 2011 study.
Shockingly, none of the 15 researchers with financial ties to the industry found any risk of breast cancer in the studies they conducted, whereas 43 % of the researchers without industry ties found clear evidence of cancer risk. 43% of the researchers without industry ties found clear indication of cancer risk while surprisingly, none of the 15 researchers funded by the industry found any risk of breast cancer in their studies.
Zoloft which can cause Zoloft birth defects is an SSRI antidepressant drug linked with breast cancer is still the subject of several debates and thorough research. Several lawsuits and billions of dollars will be lost if the allegation is proven against pharmaceutical companies.
Antidepressant medication use and breast cancer risk
Purpose
Most epidemiologic studies have detected no association between prior use of antidepressants medications and breast cancer risk. Despite the uniform conclusion, there is a continuous rise in the proportion of women using antidepressants lending support to further monitoring of disease effects.
Methods
We conducted a population-based case-control study among 2,908 incident breast cancer cases diagnosed from 2003 to 2006, and 2,927 control women from Wisconsin. Associations between antidepressant use and breast cancer risk were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.
Results
The association between use of antidepressant medications and breast cancer risk was null (OR=0.89, 95% CI 0.78–1.01). When stratified by type of antidepressant, use of selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) resulted in a similar risk overall (OR=0.85, 95% CI 0.72–1.00) and among former and currents users. There were no associations between other types of antidepressant classes and breast cancer risk. In assessing risks among the five most commonly used antidepressants, we detected no association with fluoxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine or buproprion hydrochloride. There was a reduction in risk of 36% (OR=0.64, 95% CI 0.45–0.92) among paroxetine hydrochloride. When stratified by body mass index, there was a reduction in risk associated with antidepressant users who were not overweight (OR=0.73, 95% CI 0.60–0.90), but this association was null in overweight women (p-interaction=0.04).
Conclusions
Surveillance of health risks associated with antidepressant medications continues to be of public health importance, though these medications are not likely to be associated with breast cancer risk.
Key Points
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Overall use of antidepressants is not associated with breast cancer risk.
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Use of paroxetine hydrochloride may be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.
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Women who are normal weight have a reduced risk of breast cancer associated with use of antidepressant medications.
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Women who are overweight have no reduction in risk of breast cancer with use of antidepressant medications.
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Surveillance of health risks associated with antidepressant medications continues to be of public health importance.
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Antidepressant Can Cause Breast Cancer, Why ?
There is no strong or consistent scientific evidence that antidepressants cause breast cancer. However, some studies have raised questions about certain types of antidepressants—mainly Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)—and a potential link, especially when used long-term. Here’s a clear breakdown:
What’s the Concern?
Some early studies suggested that certain antidepressants, particularly paroxetine (an SSRI), might:
- Interfere with estrogen metabolism, a hormone involved in some types of breast cancer.
- Inhibit the CYP2D6 enzyme, which helps convert tamoxifen (a breast cancer drug) into its active form, potentially reducing its effectiveness in breast cancer survivors.
Key Scientific Findings
- Most large-scale studies and reviews have not found a clear causal link between antidepressants and breast cancer.
- A few older or limited studies hinted at a slightly increased risk with long-term use of tricyclics or SSRIs, but these findings were inconsistent and often confounded by other factors (e.g., obesity, alcohol, family history).
- Recent reviews from major cancer research bodies (like the American Cancer Society and WHO) do not list antidepressants as carcinogens.
Possible Explanations for Concern
- Estrogen disruption: Some antidepressants might mildly affect estrogen pathways, but not enough to definitively increase cancer risk.
- Prolonged hormonal imbalance: Chronic use could, in theory, affect hormonal cycles, but no strong data confirms this leads to cancer.
Bottom Line
- There is no proven causal link between antidepressants and breast cancer.
- Benefits usually outweigh the risks, especially in people with moderate to severe depression.
- Paroxetine and tamoxifen interaction is a known issue; alternatives are available.