Depression and Altace

Depression has been documented as a rare side effect of Altace. In clinical studies, less than 1 percent of people taking this drug reported depression. Important symptoms of depression to be aware of include insomnia, persistent sad or anxious mood, and thoughts of death or suicide. If you have a history of depression, and Altace has been prescribed for you, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about whether an ACE inhibitor such as Altace makes sense for your particular situation.

 

Is Depression an Altace Side Effect?

While there are several possible side effects for people taking Altace® (ramipril), depression appears to be a rare complaint. In clinical studies, depression was reported in less than 1 percent of people who took Altace. Given how common depression is in the general population and how rare a complaint it is in people who take Altace, it is difficult to say whether depression is caused by the medicine, other factors, or a combination of things.
 

Altace and Depression: What to Look For

While depression may not be a commonly reported side effect of Altace, it is extremely common in society today.
 In fact, in any given one-year period, 9.5 percent of the population (about 18.8 million American adults) suffers from depression. Therefore, knowing the symptoms of depression can be helpful.
 
Possible depression symptoms may include:
 
  • A persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
  • Fatigue, decreased energy, and feeling "slowed down"
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
  • Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
  • Loss of appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
  • Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
  • Restlessness and irritability
  • Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.
     
Keep in mind that there are other conditions that can share similar symptoms with depression.
 
(Depression and Altace Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;