Sleep, anxiety and depression medications linked to serious nerve disorder risk, says study

Sleep, anxiety and depression medicines: Experts say the medications may not directly cause ALS, but it is possible that psychiatric symptoms such as sleep issues or anxiety are early warning signs of ALS itself (Image: Canva)

It’s easy to pop a pill for anxiety, low moods or sleep troubles. From antidepressants to sedatives, many rely on them to feel better and manage their mental health. But now, a study suggests these very medicines could have unexpected links with a rare, serious nerve disease called ALS.

A Swedish study found a possible link between long-term use of common psychiatric medicines, like antidepressants, anxiety drugs and sleeping pills, and a higher risk of developing ALS. ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It’s a rare, serious disease that affects the nerves controlling muscles.

Says Dr Praveen Gupta, Chairman Neuroscience, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, “Over time, these nerves stop working properly, causing the muscles to weaken and waste away. This can lead to difficulty walking, speaking, swallowing and even breathing.”

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ALS gets worse as time passes, and there’s currently no cure. “Most people with ALS live for only 2 to 5 years after diagnosis,” warns Dr Gupta. Stephen Hawking, a world-famous British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author, along with baseball legend Lou Gehrig, Roberta Flack, Dennis Day, and others, are among the well-known figures who have been diagnosed with ALS.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Neurology (JAMA, Neurology),  tracked over 1,000 people with ALS and thousands without it. Findings revealed those who had used psychiatric drugs - such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills or sleeping medications - were more likely to be diagnosed with ALS later.

Surprisingly, those who took these medications before their ALS diagnosis also had shorter survival spans after the diagnosis. The risk seemed stronger in younger people and those with long-term medication use.

Additionally, some people who used these medicines before their ALS diagnosis also experienced faster disease progression and shorter survival.

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However, Dr Aditya Gupta, Director Neurosurgery, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon, says, “The medications may not directly cause ALS. It’s possible that psychiatric symptoms such as sleep issues or anxiety are early warning signs of ALS itself.”

10 things you need to know about the link between psychiatric medicines and ALS risk

• Medicines and ALS link: People who regularly took medicines for anxiety, depression, or sleep problems had a slightly higher chance of developing ALS later in life.

• Sleep and anxiety drugs: The biggest risk appeared among people who had taken sleeping pills or anxiety medications, especially in the years leading up to their ALS diagnosis.

• Symptoms and diagnosis: Many people start experiencing sleep issues, depression, or anxiety before ALS is officially diagnosed, which could explain why they were taking these medicines in the first place.

• Risk higher in younger adults: The connection was strongest in people under age 65. This might be because younger people are more likely to seek mental health treatment, or because their ALS shows up earlier.

• Faster disease progression: Among those with ALS, people who’d taken antidepressants or anxiety meds before their diagnosis often had faster disease progression and shorter survival.

• Medicines or symptoms: Researchers say it’s hard to tell whether the medicines are to blame, or if the psychiatric symptoms themselves are early warning signs of ALS.

• Long-term use: Taking these medications for several years before diagnosis seemed to carry a slightly higher risk than short-term use, though the reasons remain unclear.

• Sleep troubles and ALS: Sleep problems are common in ALS, even before diagnosis. Issues like muscle cramps, breathing trouble or disrupted sleep cycles may show up long before more obvious symptoms.

• Family and genetics: The study suggests that shared family factors, like genetics or similar lifestyles, could also influence the link between mental health, medication use and ALS risk.

• More research required: This study, however, doesn't prove that these medicines cause ALS, it simply spotted patterns. More research is needed to untangle whether it’s the meds, the mental health conditions themselves, or something else entirely.