Can medications be used safely in people with heart or blood pressure problems?
The newer antidepressants are better tolerated by people with heart disease. These include bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin XL), citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac and Prozac Weekly), fluvoxamine (Luvox), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone, paroxetine (Paxil and Paxil CR), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone (Desyrel) and venlafaxine (Effexor and Effexor XR). Nefazodone and trazodone can cause hypotension (low blood pressure) and bupropion, duloxetine and venlafaxine can occasionnally cause hypertension (high blood pressure) as side effects. Overall, the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can be more problematic in people with heart disease or high blood pressure. Antianxiety medications (anxiolytics) are usually well tolerated by individuals with heart disease. Anticonvulsant mood stabilizers and newer (atypical) antipsychotics are also usually well tolerated by individuals with hea
