Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Risk of Upper GI Bleeding: Confusion or Confounding?

BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) represent a relatively new class of antidepressants. Several studies have reported bleeding disorders associated with the use of SSRIs, which are considered the result of a decrease in platelet serotonin leading to a defect in platelet aggregation. To what extent the use of SSRIs increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is unclear. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search for …