ISSN:
1432-1041
Keywords:
Key words Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors
;
Adverse drug reactions
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Objective: The present study was performed both to investigate whether there might be a difference between the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, (SSRIs) with regard to the incidence of withdrawal reactions, and to describe the associated symptoms. From the WHO database, therefore, all case reports from the year of introduction for each of the SSRIs, fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline, were retrieved. Sales figures were obtained from Intercontinental Medical Statistics International. The reporting rates were calculated as the number of reports per million defined daily doses (DDDs) sold per year. Results: The reporting rate of withdrawal reactions for paroxetine was found to be higher than that for sertraline and fluoxetine in each of the countries selected for detailed analyses (US, UK and Australia), as well as for all 16 countries combined. Moreover, using the WHO system of organ classification, the ratio of central nervous system to psychiatric withdrawal symptoms was 1.9 and 2.1 for paroxetine and sertraline, respectively, whereas that for fluoxetine was 0.48, indicating a possible qualitative difference between the SSRIs with respect to the nature of the withdrawal syndrome.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002280050357
Permalink
