Are Antidepressant Side Effects More Common in Patients with Depression and Panic Disorder?

According to a new study, patients who are depressed and have a panic disorder have a higher risk for reporting the side effects of antidepressants.

Researchers studied the effects of antidepressants for 12 weeks in 808 patients with chronic depression, and patients with chronic depression and comorbid panic disorder, social phobia, or generalized anxiety disorder between 2002 through 2006. Depressive symptoms and side effects were assessed every 2 weeks to determine if panic disorders increased the risk for reporting side effects in patients, and to see if the side effects predicted poorer treatment courses for patients.
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The results showed that a lifelong panic disorder was associated with an increased risk for reporting gastrointestinal, cardiac, neurologic, or genitourinary side effects. Social phobia and general anxiety disorder were not associated with increased risk of side effect reporting.

Overall, the study indicates that patients with both chronic depression and comorbid panic disorder have a greater risk for reporting side effects while on antidepressants, and that their depressive symptoms may worsen over time as a result of the side effects.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Shankman SA, Gorka SM, Latz AC et al. Side effects to antidepressant treatment in patients with depression and comorbid panic disorder [published online January 2017]. Journal of Clinical Psychology. doi:10.4088/JCP.15m10370.