Antidepressants raise risk of sudden cardiac death

💊 Antidepressants raise risk of sudden cardiac death, study shows. 

A new study presented at the 2025 European Heart Rhythm Association Congress has raised concerns about the long-term cardiac safety of antidepressants.

 

Analyzing death records from Denmark in 2010, researchers found that people who had been on antidepressants for six years or more faced a 2.2 times higher risk of sudden cardiac death—where the heart abruptly stops beating—compared to those who had never taken them. 

In adults aged 30 to 39, the risk surged to five times higher. Even those on antidepressants for just 1 to 5 years saw a 56% increased risk.

While the study didn’t pinpoint specific drugs or causes, it suggests several contributing factors: antidepressants may affect heart rhythm, depression itself raises cardiovascular risks, and long-term mental illness can lead to lifestyle changes that compound the danger. Importantly, the researchers stress that this isn’t a call to abandon antidepressants, which are life-saving for many. Instead, the findings highlight the need for ongoing cardiac monitoring in patients on long-term antidepressant therapy—especially as more people begin treatment at younger ages and remain on medication for years.

Source: EurekAlert, March 30, 2025 – “Use of antidepressant medication linked to substantial increase in risk of sudden cardiac death”