Does the long-term use of antidepressants take a toll on your health? New research suggests that 5+ years on antidepressants may increase the risk of several health conditions.

Study Summary

This research, relying on data from 222,121 adults, drew an association between:

• Long-term (non SSRI and SSRI) antidepressant use (5-10+ years) and an increased risk of heart disease, as well as dying from heart disease and all causes.

While the researchers tried to control for factors related to depression that could increase risk for these outcomes, it is difficult to fully differentiate whether this increased risk was due to depression, antidepressants or several other factors.

The Hearty Take

More research is necessary to help differentiate. In any case, long-term antidepressant use likely carries risk. Talk to your general practitioner and medical team if you are worried about your drug use.