Fluoxetine and extrapyramidal side effects.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal was to determine whether fluoxetine is associated with extrapyramidal side effects.


METHODS
They assessed the notifications of extrapyramidal manifestations in patients given fluoxetine in the New Zealand Intensive Medicines Monitoring Programme, a national system that monitored adverse reactions associated with fluoxetine over a 4-year period, and determined whether these adverse reactions were causally related to fluoxetine.


RESULTS
In reports of adverse reactions in 5,555 patients given fluoxetine throughout New Zealand, there were 15 notifications of extrapyramidal events probably or possibly caused by fluoxetine. Fluoxetine was the only psychotropic agent used for seven of the 15 patients; two patients were also taking lithium, four were taking neuroleptics, two were taking tricyclic antidepressants, and one was taking metoclopramide.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that fluoxetine may be associated with extrapyramidal reactions. These may occur with fluoxetine alone or fluoxetine may facilitate the reaction in patients receiving psychotropic medication or dopamine receptor blocking drugs.
Coulter
D M
DM
University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Pillans
P I
PI
D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D008094:Lithium