Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a subtype of IBS characterized primarily by frequent, loose, or watery stools, abdominal pain, and abdominal discomfort. Therapeutic approaches to managing IBS-D include dietary changes, stress management techniques, and pharmaceutical interventions.
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Pharmacological therapies for IBS-C are designed to alleviate abdominal discomfort and enhance bowel function. In patients with IBS-C, fiber supplements may help soften stools and decrease straining, but may also lead to increased gas production and bloating. Osmotic laxatives like milk of magnesia are frequently used to soften stools and increase stool frequency in IBS-C patients. In addition, two drugs approved for use in severe IBS-C adult cases are linaclotide (Linzess) and lubiprostone...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Patient-Specific Adaptation of a Mechano-Regulatory Bone-Healing Model Using Longitudinal Loading Data.

Annals of biomedical engineering·2026

Same author

Survey to assess the feasibility of establishing an international network for evidence synthesis in occupational safety and health.

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2024

Same author

Cost-effectiveness of a stepped care program to prevent depression among primary care patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and/or coronary heart disease and subthreshold depression in comparison with usual care.

BMC psychiatry·2021

Same author

The Dutch Multidisciplinary Occupational Health Guideline to Enhance Work Participation Among Low Back Pain and Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome Patients.

Journal of occupational rehabilitation·2021

Same author

Cryoneurolysis' outcome on pain experience (COPE) in patients with low-back pain: study protocol for a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

BMC musculoskeletal disorders·2021

Same author

Reduction of routine use of radiography in patients with ankle fractures leads to lower costs and has no impact on clinical outcome: an economic evaluation.

BMC health services research·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation

Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation

Published on: December 13, 2024

Antidepressants for non-specific low back pain.

D M Urquhart¹, J L Hoving, W W J J Assendelft

¹Monash University - Central and Eastern Clinical School Alfred, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Hospital Commercial Rd Melbourne 3004, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3004. Donna.Urquhart@med.monash.edu.au

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

|February 7, 2008

Summary

Antidepressants do not show clear benefits over placebo for chronic low-back pain relief or depression. Further research is needed, but they may be useful for other chronic pain conditions.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation

Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation

Published on: December 13, 2024

Area of Science:

Pain Management
Pharmacology

Background:

Antidepressants are frequently prescribed for low-back pain, despite controversy surrounding their efficacy.
The effectiveness of antidepressants for non-specific low-back pain remains a subject of debate.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review randomized controlled trials comparing antidepressants with placebo for non-specific low-back pain.
To assess the efficacy of antidepressants in improving pain, depression, and function in low-back pain patients.

Main Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register).
Included studies were randomized controlled trials with clinically relevant outcome measures.
Meta-analyses and qualitative analyses were performed to synthesize data on pain, depression, and function.

Main Results:

Ten trials comparing antidepressants to placebo were analyzed.
Pooled analyses revealed no significant difference in pain relief or depression scores between antidepressant and placebo groups.
Qualitative analyses indicated conflicting evidence for pain reduction and no clear evidence for depression improvement in chronic low-back pain.

Conclusions:

Current evidence does not support the routine use of antidepressants over placebo for chronic low-back pain.
The findings do not exclude the use of antidepressants in severely depressed patients with back pain.
Antidepressants may have a role in managing other forms of chronic pain.