What should SSRIs generally be avoided with?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants commonly used to treat anxiety and depressive disorders. When considering drug interactions, SSRIs can increase the risk of bleeding, particularly when used in conjunction with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Aspirin, or anticoagulants like Warfarin. This is because SSRIs can inhibit platelet function and impact the blood clotting process.

Using SSRIs with these medications necessitates cautious monitoring and potentially adjusting dosages because the combination can significantly elevate the likelihood of experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding or other bleeding risks. Therefore, it’s crucial for healthcare providers to evaluate the risks versus benefits when prescribing SSRIs alongside these specific medications to ensure patient safety.

The other options have less significant interaction concerns with SSRIs, making them less of a priority in terms of avoidance. For example, calcium supplements, narcotics, and antacids generally do not interact directly with SSRIs to the same degree as the combination of SSRIs with NSAIDs, Aspirin, and Warfarin does.