Nr. Dunn et al., Cohort study on calcium channel blockers, other cardiovascular agents, andthe prevalence of depression, BR J CL PH, 48(2), 1999, pp. 230-233
Aims Some reports have suggested that calcium channel blockers may be assoc
iated with an increased incidence of depression or suicide. There is a pauc
ity of evidence fi-om large scale studies. The aim of this study was to ass
ess rates of depression with calcium channel antagonists using data from pr
escription event monitoring studies.
Methods Observational studies on large cohorts of patients using lisinopril
, enalapril (ACE inhibitors), nicardipine (type 2 calcium channel blocker)
and diltiazem (type 3 calcium channel blocker) were conducted, using prescr
iption-event monitoring. Rates of depression in the different drugs and;are
ratios (95% CI) were computed.
Results The crude overall rates of depression during treatment were 1.89, 1
.92 and 1.62 per 1000 patient months for the ACE inhibitors, diltiazem and
nicardipine, respectively. Using the ACE inhibitors as the reference group,
the rate ratios for depression were 1.07 (0.82-1.40) and 0.86 (0.69-1.08)
for diltiazem and nicardipine, respectively.
Conclusions This study does not support the hypothesis that calcium channel
blockers are associated with depression, when considering patients treated
in general practice in the UK.