Risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding and the Degree of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition by Antidepressants

Background and objective: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants can inhibit uptake of serotonin by platelets, and their use may predispose patients to bleeding. Case reports and observational studies from databases have suggested an association between the use of SSRIs and gastrointestinal bleeding. Their risk appears to be increased if they are concurrently used with aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or with other NSAIDs. With the aim of establishing the risk of major upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with various groups of drugs, we performed a multicentre case-control study. We present the results related to the use of antidepressants by the degree of serotonin reuptake inhibition they induce, the selectivity at monoamine transporters and the dose.