Common Depression and Anxiety Drugs Increase Risk for Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Research Shows

"We estimate that roughly 18,000 additional cases of upper GI bleeding occurred in the United States and United Kingdom in 2003 as a result of taking SSRIs," said Singh.

Singh said that older adults, who often suffer from depression and osteoarthritis (requiring the use of pain relievers), were most at risk from the apparent synergy of the two types of drugs. No distinction was made between specific brands of drugs and their likelihood to contribute to bleeding.

"While the risk to an individual may increase by only a small amount, the impact to the general population is likely to be substantial because of the large numbers of people who use these drugs," said Singh.

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Anti-Depressant Drugs Can Double Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Research Show