No, I wasn’t attacked! Though I sometimes wonder if I might be mugged by some random group of Daily Sprout hating pharmacists on my way to the car (kidding, you remember my dad is a pharmacist?) This article came out at the beginning of the year, and I have meant to simply “share” it, so here is the sharing (not much original material here).
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) published a study in the journalPLoS One highlighting the worst prescription drug offenders that cause patients to become violent. Among the top-ten most dangerous are the antidepressants Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), Paxil (paroxetine) and Prozac (fluoxetine). What is interesting to me, is that these drugs made another list only a few years back. The list of black box labeled, “could lead to suicidal ideation” group of antidepressants. So what is it, mad at the world, or mad at yourself? Well, with side effects, you can never tell.
So Time Magazine posted the study results, and this is how they interpreted the date from the report.
10. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) – An antidepressant that affects serotonin and noradrenaline. The drug is 7.9 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
9. Venlafaxine (Effexor) – An antidepressant that treats anxiety disorders. The drug is 8.3 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
8. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) – A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug that is 8.4 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
7. Triazolam (Halcion) – A benzodiazepine drug for insomnia that is 8.7 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
6. Atomoxetine (Strattera) – An ADHD drug that is 9 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
5. Mefoquine (Lariam) – A malaria drug that is 9.5 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
4. Amphetamines – This general class of ADHD drug is 9.6 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
3. Paroxetine (Paxil) – An SSRI antidepressant drug that is 10.3 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs. It is also linked to severe withdrawal symptoms and birth defects.
2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) – A popular SSRI antidepressant drug that is 10.9 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
1. Varenicline (Chantix) – An anti-smoking drug that is a shocking 18 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
So… do you have any close friends who might be taking any of these drugs? Don’t get them mad, they might get you hurt. Seriously, the worst for you, isn’t the potential harm to you, it is to them. These drugs lead to societal issues, and eventually they will cause harm. All we ask is that you identify them, and be aware of the risks of dealing with those around you! Be well and enjoy Labor Day!!!
