Title:Bleeding Complications in the Course of Treatment with Antidepressants in Elderly Patients
VOLUME: 11 ISSUE: 4
Author(s):Adam Wysokiński, Aleksandra Margulska and Tomasz Sobów
Affiliation:Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, Czechosłowacka 8/10, 92-216 Łódź, Poland.
Keywords:Antidepressants, bleeding complications, platelets.
Abstract:Literature review on bleeding complications in the course of treatment with antidepressants
is presented. We have focused on elderly patients since they are in the high-risk group. Incidence of
bleeding complications, causal relation with antidepressants, possible risk factors and methods of
prevention are discussed. Presented data indicate that treatment with antidepressants of serotonergic
mechanism of action is associated with an increased risk of bleeding complications, which are the
most frequent in patients treated with SSRIs, venlafaxine, trazodone and tricyclic antidepressants. The
lowest risk is associated with agomelatine, bupropion, reboxetine and mirtazapine. Due to possible
serious consequences of bleeding complications, clinicians should consider individual risk factors when choosing
antidepressive treatment, particularly in elderly patients.
