Frontiers in Neurology (Oct 2021)

Serotonergic Antidepressants and Risk for Traumatic Intracranial Bleeding

  • Harri Isokuortti,
  • Grant L. Iverson,
  • Jussi P. Posti,
  • Jori O. Ruuskanen,
  • Jori O. Ruuskanen,
  • Antti Brander,
  • Anneli Kataja,
  • Milaja Nikula,
  • Juha Öhman,
  • Teemu M. Luoto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.758707
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Background: Serotonergic antidepressants may predispose to bleeding but the effect on traumatic intracranial bleeding is unknown.Methods: The rate of intracranial bleeding in patients with antidepressant medication was compared to patients not antidepressants in a cohort of patients with acute head injury. This association was examined by using a consecutive cohort of head trauma patients from a Finnish tertiary center emergency department (Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland). All consecutive (2010–2012) adult patients (n = 2,890; median age = 58; male = 56%, CT-positive = 22%, antithrombotic medication users = 25%, antidepressant users = 10%) who underwent head CT due to head trauma in the emergency department were included.Results: Male gender, GCS <15, older age, and anticoagulation were associated with an increased risk for traumatic intracranial bleeding. There were 17.8% of patients not taking antidepressants and 18.3% of patients on an antidepressant who had traumatic intracranial bleeding (p = 0.830). Among patients who were taking antithrombotic medication, 16.6% of the patients not taking antidepressant medication, and 22.5% of the patients taking antidepressant medication, had bleeding (p = 0.239). In a regression analysis, traumatic intracranial hemorrhage was not associated with antidepressant use.Conclusions: Serotonergic antidepressant use was not associated with an increased risk of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage.

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