A Combinatorial Antihypertensive Drug (Reserpine and Hydrazine) Does Not Cause Severe Depression

Abstract

Background and objectives: Reserpine, a traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, is approved by the FDA to treat hypertension and for treatment resistant psychosis. The major reported side effect of reserpine is depression. Hence, hypertensive patients on prolonged reserpine treatment were evaluated for occurrence of depression.Methods: One-time cross-sectional evaluation was done in 104 subjects on reserpine and 105 controls, who were matched for age (majority being between 50-70 years old), sex, education, and social background. The Control group had no chronic disease and the treatment group comprised of hypertensive patients who had received reserpine as Adelphane (0.1mg reserpine and 10mg of hydralazine) or Adelphane Esidrex [Novaritis (Basel, Switzerland)] for more than 1 year. Both the groups were asked to answer (and were rated by) Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17-items version). The results were scored, statistically analyzed and plotted with Sigma Plot.Results: Results obtained by the HDRS were classified into normal, and different levels of depression by score-based categorization. Of the 105 control and 104 treated patients, 38% (both control and treated) were normal, 38% control and 48% treated had mild depression while 23.8% control and 13.4% treated had moderate depression. No severe or very severe depression in control or treated group was found.Interpretation and Conclusion: Reserpine does not cause depression even when taken for years. The study is small with ~100 subjects per group. As a proven antihypertensive drug, our results should pave the way to bring reserpine into the mainstream..