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Thursday, September 10, 2009 A Worried Mom asks

Q: What is the best depression medicine with the least risk of raising a woman's blood pressure?

What depression medication has the least effect on a woman's blood pressure? My daughter has had high blood pressure since she was 18 and has taken medication since then. She currently is 33 and takes medication for depression.  Every medication she has been prescribed causes her blood pressure to increase along with side effects of being tired, nervous/stressed, lack of appetite, and having anxiety.  The last medication she took was Prestiq ( sp) which caused many negative side effects. She has taken Effexor, Serazone and Cymbalta which all seem to quit working over a period of time. As her mother, I can see this issue with medications that aren't compatable are affecting the quality of her life. She has a two year old and an eleven year old which also can add stress to a mother's life. PLEASE give me any reliable medical suggestions I might forward on to my daughter. Thank you in advance for replying to my question. Very Worried Mom

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Answers (1)
Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
9/12/09 10:59am

Thank you for your question and welcome to AnxietyConnection.com.

 

Antidepressants can sometimes cause an increase in blood pressure. The antidepressants most at risk for causing problems in blood pressure are

 

* Buproprion (Wellbutrin, Zyban)
* Venlafaxine (Effexor)
* Phenelzine (Nardil)

 

Some people find adjusting high blood pressure medication allow them to take antidepressant medication. Sometimes it is a matter of trial and error to find the right combination of medications. I know your daughter has tried several different types of medications already. It is important for doctors to work together to find something that works best for her.

 

Eileen

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By A Worried Mom— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 09/10/09