2016 issue 1

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Volume 32, issue 1

Review article

The relationship between statin use and depression

Maria Rutkowska1, Wojciech Słupski1
1. Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Katedra i Zakład Farmakologii
Farmakoterapia w Psychiatrii i Neurologii 2016, 32 (1), 17–26
Date of publication: 18-04-2016
DOI: http://dx.medra.org/10.17393/fpn.2016.04.004
Keywords: depression, statins, cholesterol

Abstract

For almost 30 years, statins have been widely used in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to the lipid lowering effect, they also exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neurotrophic activities, which may be important in the treatment and prevention of depression. Reports on the relationship between the use of statins and depression are contradictory. Many clinical trials have showed no effect of statins on mood and some of them have revealed the antidepressant effect of these drugs, especially in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The increased risk of depression was rarely observed in patients taking statins.

Address for correspondence:
Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu
Katedra i Zakład Farmakologii
ul. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wrocław, Polska
email: maria.rutkowska@umed.wroc.pl
phone: +48 71 784 14 48