Intracranial Haemorrhage

Intracranial Haemorrhage & Selective
Serotonin Inhibitors

   

• Francisco J
  de Abajo, Hershel Jick, et al (Divison de
  Farmacoepidemiologia y Famacovigilancia Agencia
  Espanola del Medicamento, Madrid, Spain and the
  Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program,
  Boston University Medical Centre, Lexington,
  Massachusetts, USA).

  
  
  
  Intracranial haemorrhage and use of selective
  serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

  
  
  
  
  Br.J.Clin. Pharmacol, 50(1), July 2000, 43-47.
  
  
    
  
  
  An
  increasing number of bleeding disorders have been
  reported with the use of selective serotonin
  reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including serious cases
  of intracranial haemorrhage. This study was performed to test the
  hypothesis of an increased risk of intracranial
  haemorrhage associated with the use of SSRIs.

  
  
  
    
  
  Authors
  carried out a case-control study using a cohort of
  antidepressant users. UK based General Practice Research Database
  (GPRD)
  was the primary source of information. Subjects aged between 18 and 79 years who
  received a prescripiton for any antidepressant from
  January 1990 to October 1997 were included. Patients with any treatment that could be
  associated with an increased risk for intracranial
  haemorrhage were excluded.

  
  
  
    
  
  Authors
  identified 65 cases of idiopathic intracranial
  haemorrhage and 254 matched controls. The results were not compatible with a major
  increased risk of intracranial haemorrhage among
  users of SSRIs or other antidepressants. However, smaller but still relevant increased
  risks cannot be ruled out.