Does Antidepressant Use Increase the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death?

A newly published large-scale study has shown that long-term antidepressant use may be associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. In the study conducted in Denmark, researchers analyzed the health data of more than 4 million adults and examined in detail all cases of sudden cardiac death that occurred during 2010. Approximately 32% of a total of 6,002 sudden cardiac deaths were found to have occurred in people using antidepressants.

The analyses showed that the risk increased as the duration of antidepressant use grew longer. In people who used antidepressants for one to five years, the risk of sudden cardiac death increased by 41%, while with use of six years or more this increase reached 74%. The highest risk was reported in people actively using antidepressants, while the risk was relatively lower in those who had stopped the medication.

The findings showed similar trends for both SSRI-class drugs and tricyclic antidepressants.

In conclusion, although antidepressant treatment is vitally important for many patients, it is thought that closer monitoring and cardiovascular risk assessment may be needed, especially with long-term use.

Source: Mujkanovic J, et al. "Antidepressant treatment duration and risk of sudden cardiac death: A nationwide cohort study." Heart Rhythm. Published: March 11, 2026. Reported in Cardiovascular Business by: Michael Walter, April 15, 2026.