SSRI antidepressants not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular conditions

Antidepressants-pr
22 Mar 2016 23:30:00.000

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Commonly used antidepressants, known as ‘selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors’ (SSRIs), are not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes in people aged below 65, according to new research at The University of Nottingham. 

Depression is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, but whether antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, increase or reduce this risk remains controversial. The results are significant because antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide and cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death and disability. 

The study which was funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research was led by the University’s Division of Primary Care and is published in The BMJ. The researchers examined associations between different antidepressant drugs and rates of three cardiovascular outcomes in people with depression. 

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More information is available from Professor Carol Coupland in the Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, carol.coupland@nottingham.ac.uk 

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