A study conducted on patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, found that study patients were at a moderate risk for stomach and intestinal bleeding. These patients were four times more likely to be hospitalized with stomach or intestinal bleeding than those not taking these antidepressants.

These risks are increased five times when SSRIs are paired with aspirin or other anti-inflammatory pain relievers. The risk can be twelve times as high when taken with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

SSRIs are thought to increase bleeding by decreasing the ability of platelets to clot the blood. Research has shown that all SSRIs increase the risk of bleeding as well as other drugs affecting serotonin levels, including Tofranil and Elavil. People who are already at a high risk for bleeding - the elderly and those with a prior history of bleeding- should be especially cautious when taking SSRIs.

Source: Salynn Boyles, “Antidepressants Tied to Stomach Bleeding,” http://www.webmd.com, January 17, 2003.