According to the findings of a new study, popular antidepressant drugs like Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac may double the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients. In a study published this month in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers found a nearly two-times increased risk of upper GI bleeding in patients who took antidepressants belonging to a popular class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). If you took an SSRI antidepressant like Paxil or Zoloft, and you have since experienced gastrointestinal bleeding side effects, contact a reputable drug injury lawyer today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a product liability lawsuit against the drug maker, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
Researchers involved in the antidepressant medication research analyzed 22 studies involving more than one million subjects, and found that those who took SSRI antidepressants like Paxil, Prozac, Celexa and Zoloft had a 55% increased risk of suffering from upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), compared to those who did not take an SSRI. The researchers also found that the risk of GI bleeding was highest among patients who took an SSRI antidepressant in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil or Motrin, or with anticoagulant medications like Xarelto or Plavix.
SSRIs are a popular class of antidepressant drugs commonly prescribed to treat major depressive disorder and other mental health conditions, like panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. SSRI antidepressants are among the most widely used medications in the United States, but a growing body of research has identified a host of serious side effects potentially associated with SSRIs, including an increased risk of surgical complications, life-threatening brain bleeds, abnormal heart rhythms and death. Of particular concern is the risk for SSRI antidepressants to cause devastating birth defects in babies when taken during pregnancy.
The makers of SSRI antidepressants like Paxil and Zoloft face a growing number of lawsuits filed by parents of children born with serious birth defects like heart malformations, spina bifida, neural tube birth defects and more, and could face even more complaints over the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding from SSRI drugs highlighted in this new study. If you believe you have been adversely affected by side effects of Paxil or another SSRI antidepressant, our consumer advocates at the Consumer Justice Foundation can help. We are committed to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by allegedly dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, and can help put you in touch with a reputable SSRI antidepressant attorney today.
