A large Canadian study is prompting renewed attention to the mental health effects of common blood pressure medications. Researchers found that adults aged 66 and older who were prescribed angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) had a significantly higher risk of suicide compared with those taking ACE inhibitors, another widely used treatment for the same conditions.

Patients should never stop or change medications without medical guidance. However, the findings raise important questions about how medications that act on the body—especially those affecting neurochemical systems—may also influence mood, agitation, impulsivity, or despair, particularly in older adults. At MISSD, we emphasize that:

• Mental and behavioral changes can be medication-induced
• These effects are often missed or misattributed
• Suicide prevention must include careful monitoring after medication changes

Read the full article at https://www.bolnews.com/health/popular-blood-pressure-drug-linked-to-higher-suicide-risk-in-older-adults-study-finds/