Scientists discovered three drugs that can reduce severe mental health symptoms

Three common drugs normally used to treat cardiovascular problems or diabetes could also aid in the treatment of some serious mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, a new study has revealed. The team of researcher from the University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and the University of Hong […]

Three common drugs normally used to treat cardiovascular problems or diabetes could also aid in the treatment of some serious mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, a new study has revealed.

The team of researcher from the University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and the University of Hong Kong who conducted the study focused on three of the most common drugs for physical health issues; hydroxylmethyl glutaryl coenzyme, a reductase inhibitors, or statins, which are helpful in the management of high cholesterol and heart disease. L-type calcium channel antagonists (LTCC), which treat high blood pressure and biguanides, which people use to treat diabetes.

They study was to see how these commonly prescribed drugs for physical health treatments can impact the symptoms of severe mental health conditions.

The researchers stated that serious mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and nonaffective psychoses, are associated with high levels of morbidity and are challenging to treat.

“Many drugs have been identified as having potential for repurposing in these disorders, they add in the introduction to their study paper

The first study author, Joseph Hayes, from UCL said, this study is the first to use large population datasets to compare patient’s exposure to these commonly used drugs and the potential effects on people with serious mental illnesses.

The scientists analyzed the health-related data of 142,691 people from Sweden who had a serious mental health condition and were taking one or more of the three common drugs named above for a period of time.

Hayes and his team looked at records noting instances of self-harm and admittance to the hospital for reasons related to mental health. They compared the rates at which these events occurred while the participants were taking statins, LTCC, or biguanides with periods during which they did not take them.

The researchers found that during periods when they took statins, LTCC, or biguanides, people with a serious mental heath diagnosis registered fewer hospitalizations for psychiatric symptoms than in periods when they did not take this medication.

“Also, people with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia attempted self-harm less often at times when they took any of the three common drugs. The same was true for individuals with non-affective psychosis during periods when they took LTCC, specifically.”

These effects appear to be independent of whether or not the individuals took specialized drugs such as antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers that specifically target the symptoms of a particular mental health issue.

According to Haye, their research provides additional evidence that exposure to (statins), LTCC antagonists, and biguanides might lead to improved outcomes for individuals with (serious mental illnesses).”

Haye said all three studied drugs are globally licensed, commonly used, cheap, and relatively safe medications adding that they are therefore ideal candidates for repurposing. “If substantiated, this study has considerable implications for clinical practice and drug development.”