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Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low, study finds

Date:
October 17, 2012
Source:
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
Summary:
Research shows that use of popular antidepressants is linked to an increased risk of some strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, but that the risk is low, according to a multi-study analysis.
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Research shows that use of popular antidepressants is linked to an increased risk of some strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, but that the risk is low, according to a multi-study analysis published in the October 17, 2012, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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.

An estimated 24.6 of these strokes occur per 100,000 people per year. 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."


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Academy of Neurology (AAN). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Daniel G. Hackam, Marko Mrkobrada. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and brain hemorrhage: A meta-analysis. Neurology, 2012; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318271f848

Cite This Page:

American Academy of Neurology (AAN). "Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low, study finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 October 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121017160827.htm>.
American Academy of Neurology (AAN). (2012, October 17). Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 3, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121017160827.htm
American Academy of Neurology (AAN). "Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low, study finds." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121017160827.htm (accessed December 3, 2024).

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