Antidepressants That Cause High Blood Sugar

Causes of High Blood Sugar

• Most people associate high blood sugar with diabetes, the most common cause of hyperglycemia. However, certain drugs can also contribute to symptoms of high blood sugar; they are diuretics, estrogens, beta-blockers, salicilates, phenytoin, lithium and corticosteroids. Since many antidepressants cause, or contribute to, high blood sugar, if you are diabetic and receive a prescription for any antidepressants, you should remind your medical provider of your diabetes.
  
  

Olanzapine and Fluoxetine

• Under the brand name of Symbyax, fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug, are combined to treat bipolar disorder and manic depression. Olanzapine is the part of this drug cocktail that can cause hyperglycemia. If you have diabetes and take Symbyax, or any drug with olanzapine, you should closely monitor your blood sugar levels. Zyprexa is just one of the other antidepressant drugs that contain olanzapine.
  
  

Abilify

• Abilify, by the generic name of aripiprazole, is another antidepressant that can have a negative effect on blood-sugar levels. Those who already have diabetes or who could be in danger of diabetes will need to have their blood sugar levels monitored. Abilify is an antipsychotic used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar mania and adolescent schizophrenia.
  
  

Seroquel

• Seroquel is an antidepressant and antipsychotic used to treat those patients with bipolar disorder with depressive episodes. Under the generic name of quetiapine fumarate, it treats schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. Health-care providers should closely monitor patients taking Seroquel who have diabetes or those who are obese, have a family history of diabetes or other risk factors. The manufacturer, AstraZeneca, advises that at-risk patients should have a fasting blood sugar test before starting a regimen of Seroquel treatment and at set intervals during treatment.
  
  

Other Antidepressants

• Several other antidepressants can contribute to hyperglycemia or high blood sugar, and patients using them should have their glucose levels monitored on a regular basis. The antidepressants to be aware of are Risperdal Consta, Paroxetine, Paxil, Pexeva and Cymbalta, just to name a few. If you already have diabetes, you should notify your physician of that fact should you be given a prescription for any antidepressants, including Marplan, Parnate, Nardil and Wellbutrin.