Antidepressant Paxil may Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer: Study

A recent study shows that the antidepressant Paxil may increase the risk of breast cancer in some women.

For the study, researchers from the City of Hope in Durate, Ca., analyzed hundreds of chemicals and 446 drugs that are currently in use to see how they affected the development of various diseases, including breast cancer.  Based on the team's trial drug screening, they believe there is a possible connection between Paxil and an increased risk of breast cancer in some women. Also known as paraoxetine, the drug Paxil carries a very weak estrogenic effect on females who are using the product, which may encourage a progression of breast cancer.

Researchers find this news particularly troubling as many breast cancer recipients often struggle with depression. For those going through this health problem and suffering from symptoms of stress, many doctors often prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)-a group that Paxil falls into. This drug that has been on the market since 1992 could create more harm in the battle against the disease.

A previous study from 2010 also showed how some breast cancer patients in Canada who took Paxil had a greater mortality risk when compared to those who were not on the drug or on other depressants.

Researchers also found that two antifungal medications had an anti-estrogenic effect that's somewhat similar to the effect of breast cancer medications. These drugs, biconazole and oxyconazole, work to inhibit enzyme activity that helps convert androgens to estrogen.

The findings were published in the journal Toxicological Sciences.