In new study researchers have found that potent anti depressant taken by thousands of people could considerably increase the chances of heart disease among people. Males and females who take tricyclics are more than thirty-five percent prone to grow wide range of cardiac problems from heart attack to stroke.
Tricyclics are prescribed for depression as well as for treating migraine, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks and nerve pain. People taking these anti-depressants have higher chance of requiring bypass surgery and other heart operation in comparison to those taking other anti-depressants. To verify the effects of the drug researchers from University College London tracked fifteen thousand people for eight years.
It was found that tricyclics have a number of side effects and is associated with increased blood pressure, weight gain and diabetes. All these risk factors are linked to cardiovascular disease, explained Dr Mark Hamer. The connection of tricyclics to heart problems means the effect cannot be elucidated by depression itself being bad for the heart.
Tricyclics are frequently prescribed to patients when Prozac and other Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors do not work. SSRIs have been linked to suicide, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. The doctors are advised to not prescribe most SSRIs as a first line remedy for depression in teenagers. One tricyclic, Lofepramine, is frequently prescribed to elderly patients and is thought to have less side-effect than others.
More research was required for the connection to be confirmed, according to the British Heart Foundation. Anti-depressants are advantageous for several people and so it would be imprudent for anybody taking them to stop on the basis of the results of this study alone, explained the spokesman Amy Thompson.