The effect of Prozac on the normal heart is minimal. A study of 312 patients revealed no clinically significant changes in the electrocardiogram. Unlike many older antidepressants, Prozac does not cause the heart to beat more quickly in die vast majority of patients. Indeed, researchers have found exactly the opposite: the pulse rate of patients on Prozac actually slows down by about three beats a minute.
However, general caution should be exercised with patients who have high blood pressure or other heart disorders. The dosage of the drug should be watched carefully on initiation and in many cases decreased to 10 mg per day, where the patient would otherwise begin at 20 mg daily.
How does Prozac compare to other antidepressants for patients with heart disease? For patients with heart disease, Prozac is one of the safest antidepressants on the market. Patients taking tricyclics and MAOI antidepressants are at a higher risk of cardiac complications than patients taking any of the SSRIs such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft, as well as Wellbutrin and Effexor.
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