Fluoxetine linked to small rise in blood pressure

This meta-analysis looked at how fluoxetine, an antidepressant, affects blood pressure. It combined data from several small trials involving 538 participants. The review found that fluoxetine was linked to a small but statistically significant increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to a placebo. The average rise was about 7.5 mmHg for systolic and 4.2 mmHg for diastolic pressure. A subgroup analysis suggested the increase might be larger with longer treatment duration. Safety data, such as adverse events or discontinuations, were not reported in the included studies. The main reason to be careful is that the evidence comes from a limited number of studies with substantial differences between them, which makes the findings uncertain. Readers should know this is an early signal from a small body of research. It does not prove fluoxetine causes high blood pressure, and it should not change anyone's treatment without a doctor's guidance.