Antidepressants and NSAIDs Could Increase Chance of Brain Hemorrhage
With the amount of medications people now take and the frequency with which they take it, studies showing the possible dangers of mixing certain medications together are desperately needed to make sure we can take them safely. And now, a new study in BMJ is warning people of the potential risks of an antidepressant painkiller combo. The specific painkillers? NSAIDS, also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include pain relievers you can purchase over the counter, such as aspirin, Aleve, or brands of ibuprofen like Advil and Motrin. Those on antidepressants who use NSAIDs are encouraged to be careful now, as the antidepressant painkiller combo could lead to a larger risk of a brain hemorrhage.
Korean Health Information Used to Link Combo to Bleeding in Brain
To find more information, those investigating in the study took information from a nationwide Korean health information database. Within the database, they took the information of 4,145,226 people who had all received a first-time prescription for antidepressants between 2009 and 2013. From there, they also gained access to NSAID prescriptions, as well as hospital records. Through these hospital records, they found admissions for intracranial hemorrhages and specified those within a month of a new prescription. From all of this, the researchers put together that those who had taken the antidepressant painkiller combo within 30 days had a higher risk of the intracranial hemorrhage than the patients who were only taking antidepressants. The NSAIDs were the key of the antidepressant painkiller combo; there was no discernible differences across the board for specific types of antidepressants. There was also no age factor. Gender, however, was a factor: men who took the antidepressant painkiller combo found themselves with a high risk of bleeding in the brain than women.
The Hemorrhage Odds Are Higher With the Antidepressant Painkiller Combo, But Not That Much
Troubling though it may be to hear about this antidepressant painkiller combo, the risk still isn’t substantially high. Still, researchers want users to err on the side of caution. With two-thirds of people suffering from major depression claiming to have pain issues, NSAIDs are given out via prescription and over-the-counter medications frequently. It doesn’t have to be a high risk to effect somebody.
