Risk for Upper GI Bleeding with SSRIs and NSAIDs

A meta-analysis showed a modest increase in risk for bleeding with SSRI use, which increased further with concomitant NSAID use.

Findings of multiple case-control studies suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), although the magnitude of the effect is unclear. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also increase the risk for UGIB; yet the potential interaction of these two drug types on risk for UGIB has not been evaluated.

Investigators performed a meta-analysis of data from 15 case-control studies with 393,268 participants. Significant heterogeneity was observed among the 15 case-control studies because of different definitions of an SSRI.

Risk for UGIB was elevated in patients taking SSRIs (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.44–1.92) but lower than previous studies hav…

Reviewing Author

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Risk for Upper GI Bleeding with SSRIs and NSAIDs

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Reviewing Author