Caution: Treat with care
As if NSAID's weren't cause enough for concern when it comes to your stomach bleeding, along comes a new and frightening report. If you add an antidepressant to the mix, you're really boosting your risk of a GI bleed.
A team of researchers looked at the results of four studies that involved 153,000 patients. They either took anti-depressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or a combination of the two.
The particular antidepressants that are raising the alarm belong to the class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some of the more- recognizable brand names include Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft.
The findings were disturbing:
Patients taking just SSRIs had 2.4-times the risk of GI bleeding
Patients taking only NSAIDs had 3.2-times the risk of the same
For those taking both meds, the risk was a startling 6.3-times higher
But that wasn't all. The researchers also drew a particularly chilling picture of how soon a patient could potentially experience a serious GI-bleed incident:
And if you have any other risk factors for GI bleeding, that number drops even lower, which means a corresponding bump in your risk.
Doctors who keep up with current research may think twice about what they prescribe to patients who suffer from depression along with, let's say, migraine headaches.
But what about patients who don't have a specific, ongoing reason for taking an NSAID? Maybe they take them when they get sore following physical exercise or when they experience just general aches and pains, but don't think to mention it to their doctor.
Maybe that patient is YOU. I ask you to heed the warning in this study: These two drugs combined are a lethal mix. If I had my druthers—you'd never reach for one of those NSAID bottles again. The risk isn't worth it.
Sure, it may take a bit more work to manage pain through other means, such as learning biofeedback and eating more anti-inflammatory foods, but no one will have to rush you to the ER or plan your funeral after a session of that biofeedback.
And if you require an anti-depressant, fish oil or cod liver oil (1 to 2 grams total DHA plus EPA) is an effective anti-inflammatory and mood support. In addition, there are useful botanical anti-inflammatories (including turmeric, green tea, ginger and rosemary), which also support healthy brain function. I prefer the combination-botanical anti-inflammatory called Zyflamend from New Chapter. It includes these four plus 5 others and in my experience, works well, especially when used in conjunction with fish oil.
