Some Antidepressants Associated With Gastrointestinal Bleeding

A class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as the antidepressant Effexor (venlafaxine), may be associated with bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, says a new report in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

Since the early 1990s, according to the report, there have been case reports of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in those taking SSRIs. The new study, preformed by Francisco J. de Abajo, of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products, and Luis A. García-Rodríguez, of the Spanish Centre for Pharmacoepidemiologic Research, Madrid, Spain, was an attempt to elucidate what factors increased the risk of bleeding and to determine whether acid-suppressing agents could reduce the risk.

When the researchers examined the data from 1,321 patients who had been referred to a specialist between 2001 and 2005 for upper GI bleeding, they found that those who were taking either an SSRI or Effexor were significantly more likely to have bleeding. The risk of bleeding was further increased if they were also taking drugs known to be harmful to the GI tract, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, includes pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen) and corticosteroids. Acid-suppressing agents, on the other hand, were associated with reduced risk of bleeding.

If you are taking either an SSRI (drugs like Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil and Luvox) or Effexor - especially in combination with either an NSAID or a corticosteroid - it may be wise to discuss with your doctor the possiblity of taking an acid-suppressant along with it.