Antidepressants can increase stroke risk for middle-aged men

By Staff Writer

Antidepressants are an important tool in treating teen depression, but new research is showing that the medications may have a deadly side effect.

Middle-aged men who use antidepressants can develop an increased risk of stroke or heart attack, according to a study sponsored by the American College of Cardiology.

Researchers studied the arteries of more than 500 sets of twins and found that the twin who was prescribed antidepressants had more plaque and thicker arteries than his brother. The difference was greatest in the carotid artery, which serves the crucial function of carrying oxygen to the brain.

Overall, the twin who took the medicine had up to five percent more plaque in his arteries, making him appear up to four years older physiologically than the twin who did not.

The study follows a recent finding by researchers with the Women's Health Initiative that post-menopausal women taking antidepressants increased their risk of stroke by as much as 45 percent compared to their same-age counterparts that were not using the drugs.

Doctors warned that people should not abandon medications in response, because untreated depression has its own health risks. Psychopharmaceuticals are a useful part of providing individual therapy for depressed teens, along with options like family therapy and therapeutic boarding schools.