# Beta blockers leading to depression?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-blockers-leading-to-depression/206865>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 11, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-blockers-leading-to-depression/206865 "2003-10-11T17:36:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-blockers-leading-to-depression/206865/21 "2003-10-15T00:37:13Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by j.c. \*  
> \*\ ***Qadgop the Mercotan** - don’t the listed side effects for most drugs include both observed, predicted and merely reported issues?
> 
> That is, if enough people squawk, that complaint will be listed even if no one can find any real evidence that there’s a problem? \*\*

Pretty much. Said side-effects become more important if they occur in a greater frequency than with placebo. Up to ten percent of people report headaches from taking placebos.

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-blockers-leading-to-depression/206865/22 "2003-10-15T04:22:43Z")

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I’d have to agree with **Qadgop**. The perception that beat-blockers cause or aggravate depression is surely there, and we were taught this in medical school too. But several studies have failed to show a correlation, including Wurzelmann (Cardiol Clin 4:689-701, 1987) and Prisant (J Fam Pract 33:481-5,1991). I’ll admit these studies are dated. But if the effect is there, it is small. I’d accept some people do get mild depression from taking beta-blockers. I’d also point out people take these medicines because of headache, heart problems, high blood pressure or glaucoma and many of these diagnoses can be linked to depression as well.

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**Author:** ![thatDDperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@thatDDperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatDDperson)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-blockers-leading-to-depression/206865/23 "2003-10-15T11:32:33Z")

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My optholmologist questions me about depression related to timolol maleate use at every appointment (glaucoma drops for the non-medical/non-glaucoma folks).

Of course, he may just be cautious in a very CYA manner, since i’m a carcinoid cancer patient as well, and all that screwing with serotonin can make us depressed, as if regular carcinoid issues weren’t enough to depress Mary Frickin’ Poppins…

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