Sertraline Is Safe for Treating Patients with Major Depression After ACS

Many patients who suffer an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event also have major depression, which greatly increases their risk for subsequent morbidity and mortality. Should . . .

Many patients who suffer an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event also have major depression, which greatly increases their risk for subsequent morbidity and mortality. Should depressed patients have concerns about the safety of taking antidepressants shortly after hospitalization for an ACS event (i.e., MI or unstable angina)?

In the double-blind, industry-funded, multicenter SADHART trial, researchers randomized 369 recently hospitalized ACS patients who had major depression and met all of the study's eligibility criteria to receive 24 weeks of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline (dose range, 50 to 200 mg/day) or placebo. Randomized treatment began after a 2-week run-in placebo period for all subjects.

By 16 weeks (or…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD