Common Heart Attack Drug May Make Patients Depressed

Patients who have had a heart attack are typically treated with beta-blockers. However, a recent study has found that for heart attack patients who do not have heart failure, these drugs are unnecessary. Instead, beta blockers can make the patients depressed.

That this drug is given to virtually all heart attack patients is deeply concerning.

"We found that beta blockers led to slightly higher levels of depression symptoms in patients who had had a heart attack but were not suffering from heart failure," said Philip Leissner, one of the study authors. "At the same time, beta blockers have no life-sustaining function for this group of patients."

What are beta blockers?

Beta-blockers are a group of drugs that block the effect of adrenaline on the heart, thereby reducing cardiac agitation and the risk of cardiac arrest.

They have been the gold standard for decades, but thanks to advancement, more effective drugs are available now.

So, do we still need beta blockers?

Not every heart attack patient does. Especially those whose hearts continue to pump normally after the attack—that is, people who do not suffer from heart failure.

What's more, older studies and clinical experience point to the possibility of side effects such as depression and insomnia.

Additionally, a national study in Sweden found that patients who were given beta blockers are not protected from relapse or death any more than patients who didn't use the drug.

To confirm the findings, Philip Leissner and other professionals conducted their own study.

Their findings were no different.

The bottom line

If beta blockers offer no benefit to a certain group of patients, it's only fair to be careful who these drugs are administered to. Medical doctors will need to be aware of these findings as they are the ones basically involved with cardiac patients.

Thankfully, there are modern and more effective alternatives to beta blockers for heart attack patients. So there's less need for them now.

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.