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I have read with great respect the research titled “Polypharmacy and antidepressant acceptability in comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes: a cohort study using UK primary care data.”1. The outstanding point of this study is the clarification of the specific number of medications, with seven strongly associated with no discontinuation of antidepressants in the short term.
The focus on discontinuation can move from the number of medications to withdrawal symptoms of antidepressants in the following study. The previous study of this journal shows that discontinuing antidepressants demands consciousness about withdrawal symptoms.2 Patients with diabetes and polypharmacy may experience various side effects and symptoms related to medications. They may be more conscious about starting and discontinuing medications than those without polypharmacy.
The starting process and discussion about antidepressants between physicians and patients can be different regarding duration and discussion contents, dependent on patients’ experiences of diseases. Clarifying the processes of starting antidepressants and the frequency of withdrawal symptoms among patients with polypharmacy can thus benefit family physicians beginning treatment for depression.
References
1. Jeffery A, Bhanu C, Walters K, Wong IC, Osborn D, Hayes JF. Polypharmacy and antidepressant acceptability in comorbid depression and type...Competing Interests: None declared.