The combined use of antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage, according to a study published last week in BMJ.
Serotonin is involved in platelet aggregation, part of the process which allows blood to clot. Previous studies have linked serotonin reuptake inhibitors with abnormal bleeding, especially when used with anticoagulants.
This latest study, led by Byung-Joo Park from Seoul National University College of Medicine in Korea, examined Korea’s nationwide health insurance records from 2009 to 2013 and found an increased risk of hospitalization for intracranial hemorrhage within 30 days for patients receiving an NSAID and antidepressant compared to those receiving antidepressants alone. They did not find a significant difference in the risk of intracranial hemorrhage between different antidepressant drug classes.
The researchers concluded: “This result adds to evidence confirming the increase of risk with combination use of antidepressants and NSAIDs. Special attention is needed when patients use both of these drugs together.”
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Mercer, S. W., Payne, R. A., Nicholl, B. I., & Morrison, J. (2015). Risk of intracranial haemorrhage linked to co-treatment with antidepressants and NSAIDs. (Abstract)
Both classes of drugs have separately been found to be lacking in efficacy and safety and so why would combining them NOT lead to even worse outcomes and/or unpredictable events?
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Not really. Aspirin happens to be a NSAID and it’s a pretty good drug with relatively few side effects (although it should not be prescribed to kids). But I’d not advocate to take it on a daily basis as a preventive measure. There’s been a lot of hype about it but little actual proof.
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It should be pointed out that the doctors (and psychiatric practitioners who eventually get involved due to such inappropriate poly pharmacy) do claim the adverse effects of NSAIs, in conjunction with the “safe smoking cessation meds” / antidepressants, are “bipolar,” “paranoid schizophrenia,” “schizoeffective,” and “depression caused by self.”
In other words, according to many within the medical community, the adverse effects of these drug classes combined cause all the so called serious “life long, incurable, genetic mental illnesses.”
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Or just don’t take “anti-depressants”. They don’t really do much anyway except for screwing up your brain and body for good.
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True, and I wouldn’t have taken one, had I not been lied to by a doctor who wanted to cover up her husband’s prior “bad fix” on my broken bone, to proactively try to prevent a non-existent potential malpractice suit. Combining an “antidepressant” with a NSAI, then railroading a person into the psychiatric system, is apparently a known way the mainstream medical community covers up their easily recognized orthopedic medical errors.
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