Who develops severe or fatal adverse drug reactions to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors?
OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the risk factors associated with the development of severe and fatal adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or intentional overdoses by patients on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). METHODS: We undertook a data analysis of Health Canada’s database of Adverse Drug Reactions to SSRIs from 1986 to 1996, as well as a literature review. RESULTS: Among the complete ADR reports in the SSRI database, there were no sex differences in occurrences of all ADRs (n = 1011), severe ADRs (n = 295), drug-drug interactions (n = 312), deaths (n = 87), or intentional overdoses (n = 79), when sex differences in prescription practices were considered. There were no differences in ADR rates among different SSRIs. The most common cause of death among patients taking SSRIs was intentional overdose (n = 65, 74.7%). This was reported in 47 (72.3%) women and 18 (27.7%) men. The most common drugs taken with SSRIs in patients who died of intentional overdoses were benzodiazepines, tric
