Systemic hypertension associated with tricyclic antidepressant treatment in patients with panic disorder.

In a sample of 114 patients, 6 patients developed hypertension while taking tricyclic antidepressants. All these patients were diagnosed as having panic disorder, with or without major depression. Half of the 6 patients had a previous diagnosis of hypertension, which had been well controlled by antihypertensive drugs for years. A comparison group of patients with major depression, who had never had panic attacks, had no cases of hypertension induced by these antidepressants. These findings raise the possibility that patients who have panic disorder may experience cardiovascular disregulation that increases their risk for antidepressant-induced hypertension.