DRUG SIDE-EFFECTS - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUD Y IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC-WARD

The authors reviewed the drug side effects observed in their ward duri ng the 5 last years (1988-92). These alleged effects occured at a very low incidence, 3 per cent, (116 cases on 3809 hospitalizations). As m entioned in the literature, the occurrence was higher in females (60 p er cent), than in males. The age seemed not to be a risk factor in tha t population, the mean age being 44 for the men and 45 for the women. All side effects disappeared after decreasing or stopping the suspecte d drug. In 6 cases the suspected drug was not a psychotropic agent. Th e authors presented some of the more often reported cases, and some of the more recently known, such as extrapyramidal side effects with ant idepressants, increase of the libido with serotonergic antidepressants . The problem of polytherapy is discussed. In half (59/116) of the cas e there was a psychotropic association. The side effect may be due to a pharmacokinetic interaction in 16 cases, either with enzymatic inhib itors like dextropropoxyphene, valpromide, valproic acid, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine, or with enzymatic inducers like carbamazepine. The aut hors compared the side effects of the antidepressants mainly used in t heir ward (amitriptyline, clomipramine, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine).