Exercise plus medication to reduce antidepressant doses in heart patients

This study looks at whether moderate-intensity exercise, combined with antidepressant medications like sertraline, escitalopram, or fluoxetine, can help people with both heart disease and depression or anxiety symptoms. The goal is to see if exercise allows patients to gradually take lower doses of their medication while maintaining symptom relief. This is important because antidepressants work well but can have side effects, and exercise offers a complementary treatment with its own mental and physical health benefits.

Many people with heart disease also struggle with depression or anxiety, which can worsen their heart condition. While antidepressant medications help quickly, they don't work perfectly for everyone and can cause side effects. Recent research shows that exercise is a safe, effective way to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. This trial wants to find out whether combining exercise with the medication allows patients to safely reduce their doses over time.