Study suggests common painkillers inhibit effectiveness of antidepressants, but do antidepressants work at all?

(NaturalNews) A new report put forth by researchers from The Rockefeller University (RU) in New York City suggests that combining selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Zoloft, with popular over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen, can effectively weaken or negate the alleged benefits of SSRIs on patients. However, based on numerous studies involving antidepressants, there really is no solid evidence that SSRIs do anything at all for many patients other than induce harmful side effects.

Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the RU study tested the effects of SSRIs on rats, both with and without the co-administration of OTC painkillers. Lead author Jennifer Warner-Schmidt and her colleagues noted that 54 percent of rats given only SSRIs responded to the treatment, while only 40 percent of those given both SSRIs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) responded to treatment.

"In one study, we found that anyone who reported use of an anti-inflammatory or analgesic agent had a much poorer treatment outcome compared to people who didn't report any use of NSAIDs," said Warner-Schmidt to US News & World Report.

But the real question is whether or not the "responses" observed actually indicate any sort of real improvement in patients. Last summer, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that for most people with depression, SSRIs are virtually useless. That particular study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (http://www.naturalnews.com/028498_a...).

Additionally, many of the earliest studies that have been used as proof that SSRIs work were later exposed as having been manipulated by drug companies. Studies that showed SSRIs to be not-so-useful, in other words, were largely buried and covered up by Big Pharma in order to create the illusion that SSRIs are beneficial, when they actually are not (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...).

Be sure to check out the NaturalNews.com archive of articles on SSRIs, and the many severe side effects caused by their use: http://www.naturalnews.com/SSRI.html

Editor's Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and well-being of all living creatures.

Sources for this story include:

http://health.usnews.com/

Medicare Insurance

Medicare is the health insurance program administrated by the United States government. With the primary goal of providing health insurance to the senior segment of the population, this health insurance is specially designed to cover individuals over the age of 65. Other eligible persons include those that are permanently disabled or suffering from End Stage Renal Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Medicare Insurance Benefits

Medicare insurance is provided to all eligible recipients and the benefits of having Medicare is clear – it provides health insurance coverage to a segment of the population that otherwise might have difficulty acquiring it elsewhere.

Medicare has four different parts that each have their own purpose, three of which require additional premium payments to obtain. Medicare Part A is the basic part of Medicare that is available to all eligible persons at no additional cost. This is the coverage that you have been paying for via payroll deductions while employed. Depending on your needs and eligibility you can choose to pay for extra Medicare insurance benefits through Medicare Part B, Medicare Part C or Medicare Part D.

Part A - Hospital insurance:

Part A is the original Medicare. When you enter into Medicare insurance you automatically receive the services of part A and there is no monthly cost for this service. Covered benefits include inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing, home health, and hospice services. Skilled nursing is covered only after a minimum 3 day hospital stay and limited to 100 days per benefit period. Hospital benefits include a semi-private room, meals, general nursing and in-patient prescription drugs.
Home health services are only covered if deemed medically necessary and care must be arranged by a doctor and provided by a Medicare certified home health care agency. Hospice care is provided for the terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less.

Medicare Part B - Medical Insurance:

This portion of Medicare insurance is optional and requires a monthly premium payment of $96.40 in 2009. The monthly premium will be higher is you had an adjusted gross income in excess of $85,000 in 2007 ($170,000 if married and filing a joint return). There is an annual deductible of $135 that must be met and applies to all covered benefits under Part B.

If you do not accept and enroll in Medicare Part B at the time you become eligible for Part A, there will be a penalty equal to 10% per 12 months of late enrollment. This penalty may be waived if you declined Part B because you are still covered under an employer sponsored group plan, either as an employee or a dependent on a spouse’s group plan.

If you have elected a late enrollment, you may purchase Part B during the general enrollment period of January 1 to March 31 of each year and coverage will become effective on July 1st of that year.

Some of the covered benefits under part B are:

Ambulance services
Out-patient surgery
The first 3 pints of blood per calendar year
Preventive health care screenings
Influenza and pneumonia vaccinations
Diabetes supplies
Physician visits
Durable medical equipment
Diagnostic tests
Urgent care

Medicare Part C - Medicare Advantage plans:

Medicare Part C allows insurance companies to offer a PPO or an HMO plan to persons that are covered under Medicare Part A and Part B. These plans, although offered through a private health insurance company, are regulated by the federal government, placing specific covered benefit requirements and premium caps. An additional monthly premium, above what you are paying for Medicare Part B, may be required to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.

If you purchase a Medicare Part C plan, your health care expenses become the liability of the insurance company, who must assume the liability of the federal government in both Medicare Part A and Part B covered benefits. Medicare Advantage plans, in an attempt to attract members, will typically offer additional benefits, including prescription drug coverage and reduced deductibles and co-payments.

Medicare Advantage plans, often organized as an HMO plan, contract with a group of physicians, specialists and hospitals and your health care is limited to health care professionals in your selected medical group. This could be a disadvantage if the doctor or hospital you prefer is not within the network.

Medicare Part D - Prescription Drug Plans:

Neither Medicare Part A of Part B provide coverage for prescription drugs. If you have not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan to provide drug benefits, you may want to consider purchasing Medicare Part D coverage through a private health insurance company. If you do not enroll in Part D within 3 months of becoming eligible for Medicare, you will only be able to enroll during the last six weeks of each calendar year, from November 15 thru December 31st.
Any insurance company offering Medicare Prescription Drug coverage must meet federal requirements imposed to protect the consumer against premium caps and affords for minimum coverage and benefit requirements, as well as a specific minimum formulary for both generic and brand name drugs.

The annual deductible maximum allowed by insurance companies is $295 in 2009, with the first $2,700 in prescription drug costs annually available for the set co-payment amount. If your prescription drug costs exceed the $2,700, you may be fully responsible for the costs of medications until the total annual prescription expense reaches $4,350, after which time you will receive 100% coverage for the remainder of the calendar year. This drug cost between $2,700 and $4,350, for which the patient is fully responsible, is commonly referred to as the “donut hole” in Medicare Part D.

For further information on Medicare Insurance do not hesitate to contact 1(800) 633-4227 (MEDICARE) or go to http://www.medicare.gov

Everything you know about the beauty of your eyes-propolis

The beauty of a person is on their face, skin and character. Now the characters can not be changed, but we can change the other two. The beauty of the face and not the texture, color and smoothness of the skin and senses such as eyes, nose, ears and mouth off. The beauty of the eyes is very important to get the perfect beauty itself. The perfect pair of eyes makes the face more attractive. To your eyes always look good, try some home remedies that are good for people of all ages. Flush eyes with cold water two or three times with cold water makes your new look and improved visibility. After reading too dark circles or lack of sleep can around the eyes. This can be treated with fresh cucumbers. Cucumber ice, dark circles caused by stress, lack of sleep or stress. Older people often suffer from wrinkles around the eyes. A mixture of lemon vera, aloe and cucumber noodles can help in this regard.

The eye make-up is a different form, can enhance the beauty of your eyes. You must first decide what to use make-up brands. Always an allergy test before using a cosmetic product makes your skin irritated and many more. Emphasize your eyes is the first step to your eyes must be attractive. For this we need to emphasize the eyelashes and eyelids. The shade should be chosen, of course, the color of his body. Later in the mid-tone paint was applied so that the outer edges look nice and perfect. Should be applied to the surface and should not be at the height of the shadow that had been mixed. The midtone shade works well with the stress shadow, which is then applied to the eyes even more attractive.

The accent is the last shadows are applied to the eyelids. If you have large eyes, eyeliner, have the shadow is difficult. It is therefore advisable to use bright colors for the eyes to smooth out their appearance. If you have small eyes, do the opposite, get a good result there.

The author is a beauty expert and offers tips on skin care, hair and health. Even the best recommendations for the care of older people and for the safety of their products. Pigmentation in Manhattan and Brooklyn home care are their concerns, which advises on issues of aging, health and beauty.