![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI268071634-252f.jpg\")
\n\t\tRoughly 8.7 million Brits take antidepressants and around 50 million beta blocker prescriptions are handed out annually (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tRoughly 8.7 million Brits take antidepressants and around 50 million beta blocker prescriptions are handed out annually (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
People taking two widely used drugs could be at greater risk of potentially fatal heart conditions, new research has found.<\/p>\n
Roughly 8.7 million Brits take antidepressants and around 50 million beta blocker prescriptions are handed out annually, often for anxiety<\/a> and heart conditions.<\/p>\n But taken together, the drugs could increase the risk of dangerously low\u00a0blood pressure<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and abnormally slow heart rates, data shows. <\/p>\n However, the study included a small sample of just 65 participants and scientists say more research is needed.<\/p>\n The findings were announced at the American Heart Association\u2019s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a><\/strong> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> <\/strong>alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Study lead Dr Inshal Jawed told Medscape Medical News that researchers had expected the drugs to interact but not to the \u2018striking magnitude\u2019 they found.<\/p>\n The research found that combining the two types of drugs could lower blood pressure by up to 20% and raise the risk of a slow heart rate by 25%.<\/p>\n \t\t Dr Jawed, of Dow Medical College in Pakistan<\/a>, said clinicians should be \u2018cautious\u2019 when prescribing CYP2D6-metabolised beta blockers with SSRIs or other CYP2D6 inhibitors.<\/p>\n CYP2D6 is an enzyme that helps break down beta blockers but SSRIs could hinder that process, the research found. Common SSRIs include fluoxetine and sertraline.<\/p>\n Signs to watch out for include dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, fainting, confusion, chest pain, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath and difficulty concentrating.<\/p>\n Dr Jawed said dose adjustment and close monitoring were key, while beta blockers less reliant on liver metabolism could be safer alternatives.<\/p>\n \u2018Larger, prospective clinical studies are needed to confirm these pharmacokinetic changes and assess their impact on real-world patient outcomes,\u2019 Dr Jawed added.<\/p>\n Low blood pressure can cause everything from dizziness to organ failure, and a low heart rate can cause cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI268070354-4909.jpg\")
\n\t\tResearchers had expected the drugs to interact but not to the \u2018striking magnitude\u2019 they found (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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