RU-486 Used to Treat Depression

Source: http://www.msnbc.com/news/798763.asp
(Also in Newsweek 9/2/02 page 8)

RU-486 Used to Treat Depression

Medicine: Hidden Healer?

Abortion drug may be beneficial for reproductive health

NEWSWEEK

Sept. 2 issue The abortion pill mifepristone (formerly called RU-486) has long been a target of the religious right and anti-abortion forces. Last week three conservative groups petitioned the FDA to ban it, saying it is dangerous. They cited two deaths, one heart attack and two serious infections—cases that may or may not be directly related to the drug.

MEANWHILE, researchers with no stake in the abortion debate say mifepristone, with its hormone-blocking activities, could possibly have a wide range of other uses. In a small study coming out Sept. 1 in the journal Biological Psychiatry, researchers gave the drug to 30 patients with psychotic depression. After just one week, those receiving the higher doses showed decreases of as much as 30 to 50 percent in depression and psychosis. “This is an ugly disorder with a high suicide rate,” says Dr. Joseph Belanoff, CEO of Corcept Therapeutics and lead author of the study. “There is no FDA-approved drug for it.” Preliminary studies also suggest that mifepristone may help treat uterine fibroids, endometriosis, certain breast and ovarian cancers and even one type of brain tumor—not to mention its potential as a standard daily contraceptive. Says Dr. Lois Ramondetta of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, who is studying mifepristone for recurrent endometrial cancer, “Its potential benefits could make it an important drug for reproductive health.” How’s that for irony?

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations. We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.