Risk of antidepressant‐associated mortality

It is not unusual for patients to exhibit depressive symptoms after suffering a stroke. Although effective in managing depression, some antidepressants are believed to carry a risk of additional adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects, as well as the potential for drug‐drug interaction. Such adverse effects include conduction abnormalities and sudden death from the use of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drugs, and the possibility of sudden cardiac death associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).1, 2 In addition, there are conflicting data in the literature regarding the association between antidepressant use and stroke. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, thicker arteries related to antidepressant use have been suggested as a plausible explanation.3

Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - May 24, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Y. W. Francis Lam Tags: Drug ‐Drug Interactions Source Type: research