Washington: People using a common class of antidepressants may have slightly increased odds of some strokes that are caused by bleeding in the brain - though the risk is still very low, according to a new study.
For the research, scientists analyzed all of the studies that have looked at antidepressant use and stroke, which included 16 studies with more than 500,000 total participants.
They found that people taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are the most commonly used antidepressants, were 50 percent more likely to have an intracranial hemorrhage than those not taking the antidepressants and about 40 percent more likely to have an intracerebral hemorrhage.
But study author Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, FRCPC, of Western University in London, Ontario, said the findings should be viewed with caution.
"Because these types of strokes are very rare, the actual increased risk for the average person is very low," he said.
According to the research, the use of SSRIs would increase the risk by one additional stroke per 10,000 people per year.
"Overall, these results should not deter anyone from taking an SSRI when it is needed," Hackam said.
"In general these drugs are safe, and obviously there are risks to having depression go untreated. But doctors might consider other types of antidepressants for people who already have risk factors for these types of strokes, such as those taking blood thinners, people who have had similar strokes already or those with severe alcohol abuse,” he added.
The study was recently published in the online issue of Neurology.
ANI
