Nonpsychiatric indications for antidepressants and antipsychotics

Ms. A, age 45, is hospitalized for abdominal pain. She is noted to have hiccups, the onset of which she reports was >1 month ago and did not have a clear precipitant. Abdominal and head imaging return no acute findings, and data from a serum electrolyte test, hepatic function test, and thyroid function test are within normal limits. The medical team notices that Ms. A’s speech is pressured, she hardly sleeps, and she appears animated, full of ideas and energy.

Ms. A has a history of bipolar I disorder, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hypothyroidism. Her present medications include hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg/d; levothyroxine 25 mcg/d; omeprazole 20 mg/d; and lovastatin 20 mg/d. She states that she was remotely treated for bipolar disorder, but she was cured by a shamanic healer, and therefore no longer needs treatment.

Approximately 35% of adults in the United States age 60 to 79 reported taking ≥5 prescription medications in 2016, compared to 15% of adults age 40 to 59.¹ In a study of 372 patients with advanced, life-limiting illness, Schenker et al² found that those who took multiple medications (mean: 11.6 medications) had a lower quality of life and worse symptoms. Optimizing medications to patients’ specific needs and diagnoses in order to reduce pill burden can be a favorable intervention. In addition, some patients—approximately 30% of those with schizophrenia and 20% of those with bipolar disorder—may not have insight into their mental illness as they do with their medical conditions, and may be more accepting of treatment for the latter.³ Dual-indication prescribing may be a useful way to decrease polypharmacy, reduce potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs), increase patient acceptance and adherence, and improve a patient’s overall health.

Continue on for: Multiple uses for antidepressants and antipsychotics...