SSRI Use May Worsen Hemorrhagic Strokes

According to a Danish study discussed in MedPageToday.com, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) before a stroke may worsen the event for some patients. The use of an SSRI in the three months leading up to symptom onset in patients with hemorrhagic stroke was associated with an increased likelihood of stroke severity and of death within a month. The same was not true of patients with ischemic strokes. The authors speculate that perhaps SSRI use is associated with worse outcomes for hemorrhagic stroke patients because platelet inhibition may encourage growth of hematomas. To learn more about the study, click here.