Racial differences, too

Research also shows that there are significant variations in the ways medications are absorbed by people of different races and cultures.Research also shows that there are significant variations in the ways medications are absorbed by people of different races and cultures.

At the symposium "Overprescribing of psychoactive medication--evidence and remedies," Wendy Stock, PhD, of the California School of Professional psychology Alameda­Alliant University, offered examples of the discrepancies. For one, she presented data showing that African-Americans and Asians tend to metabolize SSRIs differently than whites, and may be getting too much of the medications as a result.

In addition, said Stock, foods commonly eaten by certain ethnic groups may also undermine a medication's effectiveness. For example, corn and charbroiled beef, popular among Hispanic cultures, interfere with how a drug affects the body.

When it comes to prescribing medications, said Stock, the rule is "start low and go slow."

--S. MARTIN