Selected Anticoagulants (Vitamin K antagonists)/SSRIs; SNRIs Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

Your antidepressant may affect how blood cells called platelets work to stop bleeding. For some antidepressant and anticoagulant combinations, when the two medicines are taken together, your body may process your anticoagulant more slowly.

What might happen:

You may experience an increased chance for bleeding including bleeding from your gums, nosebleeds, unusual bruising, or dark stools.

What you should do about this interaction:

Contact your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) as soon as possible about taking these two medicines together. If your doctor prescribes these medicines together, you may need to check your bleeding times more often. Let your doctor know right away if you have any signs of bleeding such as bleeding from your gums, nosebleeds, unusual bruising, or dark stools.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

View Reference
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  • 2.Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) US prescribing information. Forest Laboratories Inc. August, 2023.
  • 3.Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate) US prescribing information. Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. September, 2021.
  • 4.Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) US prescribing information. Apotex Technologies January, 2017.
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  • 6.Zoloft (sertraline) US prescribing information. Pfizer Inc. August, 2023.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.