A new study from St. Michael’s Hospital has raised concerns about a possible link between a commonly used blood pressure medicine and a higher risk of suicide.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that people taking a type of drug called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may be more likely to die by suicide compared to those taking a different kind of medication called ACE inhibitors.
Both ARBs and ACE inhibitors are used to treat high blood pressure and other health conditions like heart failure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. These drugs help lower blood pressure by targeting a hormone called angiotensin II, which makes blood vessels tighten and raises blood pressure.
ARBs work by blocking this hormone from attaching to blood vessels, while ACE inhibitors reduce the amount of the hormone in the body.
In the study, researchers looked at data from health records in Canada. They focused on 964 people who died by suicide within 100 days of being prescribed either an ARB or an ACE inhibitor. They compared this group to more than 3,000 people who were also taking one of these medications but did not die by suicide.
The results showed that people taking ARBs had a 63% higher risk of suicide compared to those taking ACE inhibitors. One possible reason for this is that ARBs might lead to higher levels of angiotensin II in the brain. The researchers believe that this increase could be linked to mood problems, which might cause suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
However, the study also noted that other factors could have played a role. For example, some of the patients were also taking antidepressants or medications for anxiety, which could have affected their mental health.
Because of these findings, the researchers advise doctors to be cautious when prescribing ARBs, especially to people who may already have mental health issues. They suggest that using ACE inhibitors instead might be a safer choice for some patients.
At the same time, the researchers say that more studies are needed to fully understand the connection between ARBs and suicide. This study is an important step, but it does not prove that ARBs directly cause the increased risk.
Muhammad Mamdani, the lead author of the study, stressed the importance of doing more research to confirm the results. In the meantime, patients and doctors should talk about the risks and benefits of ARBs, especially if the patient is at risk for depression or suicide.
It’s important for people to have open conversations with their healthcare providers about any concerns. While both ARBs and ACE inhibitors are effective in treating high blood pressure, doctors and patients should consider all possible effects on overall health—including mental health—before choosing a treatment.
This research highlights how physical and mental health are closely connected. It also shows why it’s important to treat each patient as an individual and to choose treatments that are best suited to their specific needs.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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