Are antidepressants effective for treating back pain?

A recent Australian medical study has reported that antiepileptic drugs (Gabapentinoids) – which can be used to treat low back pain – are ineffective and can cause adverse effects on the body.

Researchers from the School of Medicine of the University of Sydney

The study revealed the high description of antidepressants as drugs for the treatment of 535% low back pain during over the last ten years, according to recent studies to monitor trends in back pain treatments. In the lower back, the team conducted nine trials on a range of diseases

Results revealed that these drugs were ineffective and could have adverse effects on the body as a result of drug interactions .

"Our study has shown strong evidence that common antidepressants are ineffective in relieving chronic low back pain and is associated with an increased risk of drug interactions."

These results support recent US and UK guidelines that do not recommend antidepressants as a treatment for low back pain