IS THE USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUGS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE

Earlier reports of associations between panic disorder, depression, an d ischemic heart disease have not evaluated the role of the drugs used to treat these conditions. As part of a larger study on reducing card iovascular disease in an entire community, we estimated the associatio n between psychotropic drugs and ischemic heart disease in a large com munity-based population using a cohort study design. We defined exposu re as current use of psychotropic medications at the time of the healt h interview. We determined ischemic heart disease by International Cla ssification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification, codes an d by an epidemiologic algorithm using clinical diagnostic criteria. An elevated risk for clinically significant ischemic cardiac events was moderately associated with benzodiazepine use [relative risk (RR) = 2. 0; 90% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-3.9] and strongly associated wit h antide-pressant use (RR = 5.7; 90% CI = 2.6-12.8), although the latt er estimate was based on only six antidepressant users who had an isch emic event.