[Selective serotonin uptake inhibitors and pancreatitis].
BACKGROUND
About 2% of all cases of pancreatitis are drug-induced. Several drugs cause pancreatitis, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).


METHODS
Two Norwegian adverse drug event reports and a review of the international WHO adverse drug reactions database form the basis for this discussion. We found a total of 160 cases of pancreatitis associated with SSRIs.


RESULTS
Our findings support the notion that SSRIs may trigger pancreatitis in rare cases. The course of the disease may be severe and even fatal.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians should be aware of the possibility that SSRIs may trigger pancreatitis. Patients taking SSRIs should be evaluated for pancreatitis if they report abdominal pain of unknown cause.
Kvande
K T
KT
Medisinsk avdeling Statens legemiddelverk Sven Oftedalsvei 6 0950 Oslo. kristin.kvande@slk.no
Madsen
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline