CAD diagnosis and antidepressants

[Athena1969]

Hi everyone I have just been diagnosed with CAD and have been taking antidepressants for years after going through some serious life events. I have been told you can’t take them with a heart condition is that correct can anyone give any advice thank you.

[mjames1]

Just because you have CAD doesn’t mean you can’t take antidepressants. A lot of people with heart issues take them safely — it really depends on the type. Check with your doctor and not stop anything without talking to them first.

Jim

[Athena1969 in reply to mjames1]

Thank you mjames1

[Happyrosie]

the best person to help you is the pharmacist employed by your doctor’s group of surgeries - they’ve access to your medical records. Your doctor is a generalist by definition, the pharmacist has years of training in medicine and can advise your doctor.

[Athena1969 in reply to Happyrosie]

Great advice thank you Happyrosie

[PadThaiNoodles]

I've been on two (an SSRI and lamotrigine) for over 10 years, and I've had valve issues for over 20. In fact, before my repair & replacement my surgeon said treating my depression was important because depression is a predictor of poorer surgery outcomes. (My surgery was fortunately completely successful.)

[Athena1969 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Thanks so much PadThaiNoodles good advice and a great comfort

[Ewloe]

I’m on sertraline for anxiety. I started this a number of months after my heart stuff as it left me with generalised anxiety. I saw an electrophysiologist and as anxiety and/or depression can aggravate heart issues already present we decided to try meditation. He went away and looked into the safest one with my heart issues and then wrote to gp asking him to prescribe sertraline. ( others were best avoided) Nothing is 100% risk free in life but benefits vs risks have to be considered and balanced.

[Athena1969 in reply to Ewloe]

Thanks so much for sharing @Ewloe great advice I’ve been really struggling since stopping them just feel so overwhelmed with it all.

[Alfie33]

You can take sertraline I take 150mg of sertraline per day, the heart meds im on are, nicorandil, atorvastatin, asprin, amlodipine and furosemide

[Athena1969 in reply to Alfie33]

Thanks for sharing Alfie33 really appreciate it.

[Goonerboy6661]

if it helps, I was prescribed antidepressants after my heart event to cope with the anxiety I was suffering due to the event.

[Athena1969 in reply to Goonerboy6661]

Thank you Goonerboy6661 thag really does help, I appreciate you sharing.

[Arty56]

Hi,I have cad and angina and afew other things, I also take citalopram 40mg and have done for many years. My consultant or doctor has never said I can't take them and they are fully aware of all my meds. It must be fine to take them.

Best Regards

[Athena1969 in reply to Arty56]

Thank you @Arty56 I appreciate your message.

[Puzzled8]

I have been on sertraline for a number of years. I have CAD and permanent AFIB among other things. I was initially on 200mg but over the years have reduced to 100mg. I have just had a medication review with the pharmacist at my gp surgery and am now going to try to reduce to 50mg. This is simply to check if I still need to be on it after so many years, nothing to do with having heart issues. She has assured me I can go back up to my 100mg if necessary.

[Athena1969 in reply to Puzzled8]

Hi Puzzled8 it certainly seems that Sertraline seems to be the best one, thanks so much for sharing brings a lot of comfort.