Prescription Drugs Associated with Reports of Violence Towards Others

[Guest guest]

news summary:

Study identifies prescription drugs associated with cases of

violence

By C. Cohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication

Practices

The link between violence and prescription drugs has rarely been

studied. However, a study published last week in the journal PLoS ONE

identified 31 drugs that are disproportionally associated with reported

cases of violence...

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20101220_Check_Up.html

Peer-reviewed article:

Prescription Drugs Associated with Reports of Violence Towards

Others

J. et al.

{pdf at url}

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0015337

Conclusions

Acts of violence towards others are a genuine and serious adverse drug

event associated with a relatively small group of drugs. Varenicline,

which increases the availability of dopamine, and antidepressants with

serotonergic effects were the most strongly and consistently implicated

drugs. Prospective studies to evaluate systematically this side effect

are needed to establish the incidence, confirm differences among drugs

and identify additional common features.