Celexa and Heart Disease – Part 1

Are Celexa and heart disease related? Turns out they are but not in the way that you might think.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in January 2007, researchers found in a three month study of 284 people who had already suffered a heart attack, treatment with Celexa was more effective than weekly psychotherapy sessions at decreasing symptoms of depression.

Celexa is an antidepressant medication in the category of drugs called serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications include Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft. Many clinical trials have found that the SSRI medications have a very low side effect profile for adults who are not taking other medications. SSRI drugs work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, allowing more to be floating around in the blood stream and affect the mood of the patient through the action of the hypothalamus.

In other studies, researchers found that for patients with heart disease psychotherapy alone is not a superior option. The study from January 2007, gives hope to patients who have suffered heart attacks for treatment of their depression. So although Celexa and heart disease are related it isn’t in the negative way that most people have come to associate with drug treatments.

Resources:

US Food and Drug Administration: Abnormal heart rhythms associated with high doses of Celexa

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/ucm269086.htm

US Food and Drug Administration: Revised Recommendations Celexa RElated to a Potential Abnormal Heart Rhythms with High Doses

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/ucm297391.htm

Mercola: Best-Selling Drug Attacks your Heart, Brain and Bones

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/14/antidepressants-cause-heart-disease.aspx

American Academy of Family Practitioners: FDA Clarifies Citalopram Warning Linked to Heart Rhythm Abnormalities

http://www.aafp.org/news-now/health-of-the-public/20120329citalopramupdate.html

NHS: Antidepressants Citalopram Heart Safety Warning

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/07July/Pages/antidepressant-citalopram-qt-heart-rhythm-safety-warning.aspx

PsychCentral: Celexa Linked to Heart Damage at High Doses