Doctors less likely to adjust depressed patients' blood pressure drugs

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Doctors less likely to adjust depressed patients' blood pressure drugs

By Shereen Jegtvig NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Doctors may be less likely to make medication changes for patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure who are also depressed, according to a new study. So-called clinical inertia is when doctors don't intensify treatment - upping the dose of current drugs or adding new drugs, for instance - for patients who are not at their goals, in this case for ideal blood pressure. "I'm not saying that physicians are making the wrong decisions, I'm just saying doctors may be less likely to make changes to your blood pressure medications if you're depressed as opposed to if you're not depressed," Dr. Nathalie Moise told Reuters Health. She explained that doctors are often overwhelmed by other medical problems these patients face and optimizing their blood pressure control may drop lower on the list of issues to address during any given visit.

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