SSRI Antidepressants Increase Risk Of Stroke. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, have been linked to an increased risk of bleeding in the brain. According to a study published in the journal Neurology, people who take SSRI antidepressants may be more likely develop intracerebral hemorrhages or intracranial hemorrhages. If you look an SSRI such as Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyban, Effexor or Luvox and suffered from a stroke, our attorneys would like to speak to you. Contact one of our SSRI drug injury lawyers today at 1(800)-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529)
SSRI Stroke Risk: Study
According to a study published in Neurology in October 2012, patients who take SSRI antidepressants may be 40 to 50 percent more likely to suffer from intracranial hemorrhages or intracerebral hemorrhages. These conditions are both strokes, but an intracranial hemorrhage describes bleeding that occurs within the skull while an intracerebral hemorrhage occurs within the actual tissue of the brain.
The researchers analyzed the risk of stroke by pooling data from 16 different studies involving over half a million people.
The study found a higher risk of stroke among patients who took various SSRIs, including Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Viibryd (vilazodone), and Zoloft (sertraline).
Previous research has already linked SSRI Antidepressants to bleeding side effects such as gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, or bleeding in the digestive tract, to SSRIs. Researchers believe that SSRIs may increase the risk of stroke because they cause the blood to clot slower. Researchers say that the stroke seems especially high in patients who have other stroke risk factors. For instance, the patients who were also taking an anticoagulant, or blood thinning, medication appeared to have the highest risk. The authors advised that, “If you are already taking blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, you should talk to your doctor about which is the most appropriate class of antidepressants you should take.”
Need Legal Help Regarding SSRI Antidepressants?
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
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