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from TIME Europe Magazine: New Prozac Blues-
Dutch study raises new concerns for some users by Sora Song
Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005
"Adding to the concerns about antidepressant use, a Dutch report in the Archives of Internal Medicine highlighted another problem with the pills: abnormal bleeding.

Patients taking drugs that strongly inhibit reuptake of serotonin — a neurotransmitter that aids both mood and blood clotting — were at least twice as likely to be hospitalized for bleeding in the brain, uterus and other sites than patients taking weaker drugs. So-called SSRIs, including Prozac and Paxil, were among the strongest drugs.

The risk is small, however, and most serious for patients already at elevated risk for bleeding."
TIME Europe magazine How do you know if you're already at risk for abnormal bleeding??? I think I'm going to puke. confused

Side effects of SSRIs --The most common side effects include gastric disturbance, such as nausea, headaches, restlessness, anxiety, and sleep problems. It may also cause a variety of sexual difficulties. The most commonly reported in men are reduced sexual desire, prolonged erection, failed erection, delayed ejaculation and lack of orgasm. In women, the effects are more varied and may include spontaneous orgasm, delayed or lack of orgasm (associated with the drug fluoxetine) or increased libido (with fluvoxamine). Such problems may be treatable by lowering the dose, changing to an alternative drug or stopping the drug for a while. (These drugs are sometimes used to treat sexual difficulties, such as premature ejaculation). For more details about side effects, refer to the list of individual drugs.

In addition to the side effects, the BNF also lists effects that have been reported in association with SSRIs, but where a causal link has not been proved. These include abnormal bleeding, blood disorders, stroke, raised levels of the hormone prolactin (leading to breast tenderness and possibly milk production), pancreatitis (a disorder of the pancreas), suicidal thoughts, vaginal bleeding on withdrawal, violent behaviour, and hair loss.

There have also been reports in the press associating suicides and incidents when people have become uncharacteristically violent with their use of SSRIs. It has been suggested that suicidal and violent thoughts associated with SSRIs may be preceded by akathisia - a feeling of mental restlessness and agitation that causes great unease, and is more commonly associated with antipsychotic medication. Anyone who experiences such a sensation while taking an SSRI should discuss this with their doctor, promptly, and be aware of the feelings that may be associated with it. The Committee on the Safety of Medicines has largely discounted this as far as fluoxetine, at least, is concerned