Background: Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRi), is widely used to treat major depression. Patients treated with SSRIs suffer more frequently from bleeding disorders caused by the antiplatelet effect of SSRIs.
Methods: To investigate the potential suppressive effect of citalopram treatment on plasma thromboxane B2 levels and its possible correlation with actual plasma concentration of citalopram. Plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 and citalopram were examined in a cohort of 77 aspirin-treated geriatric patients before and in the third week of citalopram therapy.
Results: Citalopram therapy led to a significant decrease of plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 compared to its levels before initiation of the therapy. Furthermore, we have shown negative correlation in thromboxane B2 levels and actual plasma concentration of citalopram. Actual plasma concentrations of citalopram were significantly higher compared to younger adult patients treated with similar dose.
Conclusions: In this study we have shown that even short-term citalopram therapy led to a suppression of thromboxane B2 production in aspirin-treated patients. This suppressive effect correlates with actual plasma concentration of citalopram.
Keywords: Antiplatelet effect; SSRIs; aspirin; cyclooxygenase-1; depression; plasma.