Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are associated with a modest increase in the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
OBJECTIVE
The use of the common antidepressant class of serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with an increased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to other risk factors, most notably non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use. The role for PPIs in chronic SSRI users without other risk factors remains uncharacterized.


METHODS
We used the Manitoba Population Health Research Data Repository to perform a population-based matched case-control analysis. All patients admitted to the hospital with a primary diagnosis of UGIB were matched to non-bleeding controls. We used conditional regression analysis to determine the risk of UGIB associated with SSRI use, and the risk reduction associated with concomitant PPI use, both for users and non-users of NSAIDs.


RESULTS
SSRI use was associated with a modest increase in the risk of UGIB (odds ratio (OR), 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.89). The addition of an SSRI to NSAID therapy did not significantly increase the risk of UGIB (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.78-1.92) over use of an NSAID alone. PPI co-therapy significantly reduced the risk of SSRI-related UGIB (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16-0.94).


CONCLUSIONS
SSRI use is associated with a modestly increased risk of UGIB, which may be significantly reduced with PPI co-therapy. SSRI use is not a major risk factor for NSAID-related UGIB.
Targownik
Laura E
LE
Section of Gastroenterology, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, 804E-715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. targowni@cc.umanitoba.ca
Bolton
James M
JM
Metge
Colleen J
CJ
Leung
Stella
S
Sareen
Jitender
J
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D000700:Analgesics; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride