Patients taking a combination of warfarin and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have a significantly higher risk of bleeds and may require more vigilant monitoring, new research suggests.
The US study published in Therapeutics Drug Monitoring, found concomitant use of warfarin and SSRIs in 46 patients led to a 2.6-fold increased risk of bleeding events, after six months compared with controls taking warfarin alone.
The use of SSRIs remained a significant predictor of bleeding after accounting for other factors associated with bleeding risk including hematocrit and serum creatinine levels, sex and history of gastrointestinal bleeding and stroke.
“Patients requiring treatment with this medication combination may require more vigilant hematologic monitoring,” the authors said.
“For those treated with concomitant SSRIs and warfarin, clinicians should...
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