acetaminophen- for- mental- health- relief

[mdmc]

A provocative new research study investigates the possibility that over-the-counter pain relief drugs may be helpful for treatment of depression and anxiety.

Use of OTC medications for physical aches and pain has been commonplace for decades.

A research team led by psychologist C. Nathan DeWall of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology has uncovered evidence indicating that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) may blunt social pain.

“The idea that a drug designed to alleviate physical pain should reduce the pain of social rejection seemed simple and straightforward based on what we know about neural overlap between social and physical pain systems. To my surprise, I couldn’t find anyone who had ever tested this idea,” DeWall said.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/12/22/acetaminophen-for-mental-health-relief/10357.html
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it makes sense to me.. Pain can be caused by lack of sleep, anxiety, depression. If the symptoms of depression and anxiety (physical pain) can be reduced, then it should help the MH symptoms by robbing them of some of their strongest power - the power to hurt.

[Cetacea]

1. Big link between pain and mental health

The most successful period of psychiatry was allegedly during the period when the drugs of choice were primarily opioids. Many anti-depressants have some pain killing effects and are often used in place of opioids.

BTW, Thanks for responding to my thread on related matter.

[hunter]

2. The "War on Drugs" has hindered legitimate research...

... especially in the case of opiates and marijuana.

And it's grotesquely unethical that drugs like acetaminophen are comingled with opiates or that chemical changes are made to opiates that increase harmful side effects simply to make them less desirable as street drugs. Drug addicts don't somehow "deserve" to have their livers destroyed.

There are positive synergetic effects of mixing opiates and acetaminophen in drugs like Vicodin but it's quite clear we ought to be coming up with similar drugs having fewer harmful side effects even when they are abused. People who find the combination of hyrocodone and acetaminophen helpful can always take to separate pills, but doctors won't prescribe that for fear of scrutiny by the DEA.

Our puritanical society worries too damned much that someone might be getting "high," and we are too damned busy punishing addicts instead of helping them deal with their addictions in positive ways. Just as bad, many avenues of very promising medical research are thwarted by our legal system.