SSRIS

New research shows that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a group of drugs commonly used to treat depression, may double the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues. When the drugs are taken with aspirin and other similar pain medications, the risk is more than 600 percent higher. Painkillers such as ibuprofen are widely used by the public and can be purchased from supermarkets and pharmacies without prescription.

Emerging evidence has shown that SSRIs may be associated with bleeding of the lining of the digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach or upper part of the small intestine, which together are called the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding may be potentially serious and require hospitalization for blood transfusions and other treatments. NSAIDs include prescription medications such as Celebrex® and over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and Aleve®. The researchers pooled data from four studies involving 153,000 patients and they found patients taking SSRIs were nearly twice as likely to develop upper GI bleeding than patients not taking the drugs.

SSRIs Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding after taking SSRIs, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Published on Oct-10-07