Contents:
- Medical Video: How do Antidepressants Work?
- What is an antidepressant?
- Beware of antidepressant side effects on blood pressure
- How do you take safe antidepressants if you have blood pressure problems?
Medical Video: How do Antidepressants Work?
Antidepressant drugs are usually used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. Although fairly safe, you must be aware of the side effects of antidepressants. Because the antidepressant is classified as a hard drug that requires doctor's supervision. If taken carelessly, this drug can cause dangerous side effects, including increased blood pressure. How come? See the explanation in this article.
What is an antidepressant?
Antidepressants are drugs to treat depression. This drug works by balancing some natural chemicals in the brain.
Under normal conditions, the brain's nerve cells will send impulses through various compounds and substances in the brain. However, when you experience depression, certain compounds in the brain become unbalanced and block the nerves from sending impulses. Well, the use of antidepressants will help balance the substances that the brain needs to function normally.
It is important to keep taking these drugs even if you feel better. Don't stop taking medication without consulting a doctor. Because the dismissal of taking antidepressants must be done gradually.
In general, this type of drug is actually safe for consumption as long as you follow the advice and dosage given by the doctor. That is why, consult a doctor first before you decide to take this medicine.
Beware of antidepressant side effects on blood pressure
Antidepressants change your body's response to brain chemicals, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which can also increase your blood pressure.
Based on research conducted by VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, depression does not increase blood pressure. However, drugs used to treat depressions can actually cause blood pressure to rise.
The results showed that depression was actuallyrelated to low blood pressure. However, when someone consumes certain antidepressants, especially tricyclic antidepressants, the side effects tend to increase blood pressure and increase the risk of hypertension.
Therefore, if you experience depression and hypertension, this may be caused by several antidepressant drugs such as tricyclic or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These side effects of antidepressants are more susceptible to patients who have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or people at risk for hypertension.
Some other antidepressant drugs that can increase blood pressure include:
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Desipramine (Norpramin)
Always consult a doctor first before you decide to take antidepressants. This is done to reduce the side effects of antidepressants as described above.
How do you take safe antidepressants if you have blood pressure problems?
It's too early to say that the use of tricyclic antidepressants and SNRI antidepressants definitely causes high blood pressure. Even so, if you take antidepressants, it's a good idea to always check your blood pressure regularly. But if you have taken tricyclic or SNRI, there is no need to switch to other types of treatment, unless you have problems controlling blood pressure. So, make sure the doctor monitors your blood pressure at every check.
In general, when you will prescribe an antidepressant, the doctor will usually monitor the patient's blood pressure first. If after your examination it is known that your blood pressure tends to be high, doctors will usually consider prescribing other safer antidepressant drugs. In addition, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or additional medications to control your high blood pressure.
