Study: Patients taking antidepressants less likely to die from COVID-19

STEVE: A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT OPPELE TAKING ANTI-DEPRESSANTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID-19. NEW AT 6:00, KCCI’S SCOTT CARPENTER TALKED WITH A DOCTOR TO FIND OUT WHY. SCOTT: DR. YOGESH SHAH AT BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CENTER SAYS THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY ANTI-DEPRESSANTS WOULD CAUSE FEWER COVID DEATHS. HE SAYS ANTI DEPRESSANTS ACT AS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS. AND THEY INCREASE MELANITO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO STUDY GATHERED HEALTH RERDCOS FROM 87 HEALTH CARE CENTERS AROSS THE COUNTRY. IT FOUND THAT PEOPLE TAKING ANTI DEPRESSAS NTWERE 8 TO 28% LESS LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID-19. DR. SHAH SAYS IT IS A GOOD SIGN BECAUSE THE EFFECTIVE DRUGS IN ANTI DEPRESSANTS COULD BE USED TO TRE CATOVID-19. BUT HE WOULD NOT WIDELY PRESCRIBE ANTI DEPRESSAN.TS >> IT LOOKS PROMISING. AS I MENTIONED I WOULD NOTO G OUT AND GIVE PRESCRIPTION TO PATIENTS BUT IT LOOKS PROMINISG. SCOTT: DR. SHAH SAYS IF YOU TAKE ANTI DEPRESSANTS IT DOESN’T REPLACE THE NEED FOR THE VACCINE. MERCK AND PFIZER HAVE ASKED THE FDA FOR APPROVAL FOR EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION OF THEIR COVID-19 PILLS. PFIZER SAYS THEIR ANTIVIRAL PILL REDUCES HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH BY

A new study shows that people taking antidepressants are significantly less likely to die from COVID-19. Dr. Yogesh Shah at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, said there are two reasons why antidepressants could cause fewer COVID-19 deaths. He said antidepressants act as anti-inflammatory agents and they increase melatonin. The University of California, San Francisco's study gathered health records from 87 health care centers across the country. It found that people taking antidepressants were 8% to 28% less likely to die from COVID-19.Shah said it's a good sign because the effective drugs in antidepressants could be used to treat COVID-19. However, he would not widely prescribe antidepressants. "It looks promising. As I mentioned, I would not go out and give prescription to patients, but it looks promising," Shah said. He said if you take antidepressants, it doesn't replace the need for the vaccine. Merck and Pfizer have asked the Food and Drug Administration for approval for emergency use authorization of their COVID-19 pills. Pfizer said their antiviral pill reduces hospitalization and death by 89%.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

A new study shows that people taking antidepressants are significantly less likely to die from COVID-19.

Dr. Yogesh Shah at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, said there are two reasons why antidepressants could cause fewer COVID-19 deaths.

He said antidepressants act as anti-inflammatory agents and they increase melatonin.

The University of California, San Francisco's study gathered health records from 87 health care centers across the country. It found that people taking antidepressants were 8% to 28% less likely to die from COVID-19.

Shah said it's a good sign because the effective drugs in antidepressants could be used to treat COVID-19. However, he would not widely prescribe antidepressants.

"It looks promising. As I mentioned, I would not go out and give prescription to patients, but it looks promising," Shah said.

He said if you take antidepressants, it doesn't replace the need for the vaccine.

Merck and Pfizer have asked the Food and Drug Administration for approval for emergency use authorization of their COVID-19 pills. Pfizer said their antiviral pill reduces hospitalization and death by 89%.

Study: Patients taking antidepressants less likely to die from COVID-19

GET NATIONAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Top Picks