Study: Anti-depressants can cause internal bleeding

Some popular anti-depressant drugs can cause internal bleeding similar to that triggered by aspirin and related painkillers, researchers said on Monday.
The anti-depressants involved are Prozac-type selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, the report from the Northwestern University Medical School said.

A review of the medical records of 549 patients admitted to hospitals for acute gastrointestinal bleeding found that ongoing use of such anti-depressants caused a risk of bleeding similar to that caused by the regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.

“While more research needs to be conducted … physicians must closely monitor for this serious adverse event, especially in patients who are taking both SSRIs and NSAIDs,” said Michael Jones, a physician who was the report’s chief author.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 16 May 2005
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