In contrast, a shorter QT interval was seen for the drug bupropion, even at higher doses.
FORBES: Popular Antidepressants May Put Patients At Risk For Serious Arrhythmias
The FDA gets very concerned about drugs that could elevate this QT interval into a worrisome zone.
In theory, the longer the QT interval is above normal, the more the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Both citalopram and escitalopram, as well as methadone, was linked with a small but significantly longer QT interval.
Other standard antidepressants were not associated with a longer QT interval and further analyses did not significantly alter the results.
FORBES: Popular Antidepressants May Put Patients At Risk For Serious Arrhythmias
For men the correct QT interval is normally less than 420 milliseconds and for women it is normally less than 440 milliseconds.
FORBES: Popular Antidepressants May Put Patients At Risk For Serious Arrhythmias
Lengthening the QT interval can raise the risk of sudden cardiac death, especially in people who have a genetic condition called long QT syndrome.
They found a small but significantly longer QT interval for SSRIs citalopram and escitalopram as well as for methadone and the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline.
FORBES: Popular Antidepressants May Put Patients At Risk For Serious Arrhythmias
The researchers included the methadone patients for comparison because this drug (used for pain relief and to wean addicts off heroin) is known to prolong QT interval.
According to reports from analyst Mark Schoenebaum of ISI, the FDA wants to ensure that a drug does not increase the QT interval by more than 10 milliseconds even in extreme cases.
But the researchers say that while longer QT interval is a risk factor for abnormal heart rhythms, these abnormal rhythms are still extremely rare, and the actual increase in QT observed was modest - so for the vast majority of patients, the potential benefits in treating depression or anxiety would far exceed the risk.
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