I came across this during some research. This study was published in December 2010 and found increased acts of violence associated with certain pharmaceutical drugs. Of the 31 drugs they found linked to increased violence 5 of the top 10 were either SSRI or SNRI antidepressant drugs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Here is a list of all antidepressant drugs found linked to increased violence:
- #2 Fluoxetine (SSRI – Prozac)
- also: Depex, Fontex, Seromex, Seronil, Sarafem, Ladose, Motivest, Flutop, Fluctin (EUR), Fluox (NZ), Depress (UZB), Lovan (AUS), Prodep (IND)
- #3 Paroxetine (SSRI – Paxil)
- also: Seroxat, Sereupin, Aropax, Deroxat, Divarius, Rexetin, Xetanor, Paroxat, Loxamine, Deparoc
- #8 Fluvoxamine (SSRI – Luvox)
- also: Fevarin, Faverin, Dumyrox, Favoxil, Movox, Floxyfral
- #9 Venlafaxine (SNRI – Effexor)
- #10 Desvenlafaxine (SNRI – Pristiq)
- #12 Sertraline (SSRI – Zoloft)
- also: Lustral, Serlain, Asentra
- #14 Escitalopram (SSRI – Lexapro)
- also: Cipralex, Seroplex, Esertia
- #16 Citalopram (SSRI – Celexa)
- also: Cipramil, Cipram, Dalsan, Recital, Emocal, Sepram, Seropram, Citox, Cital
- #19 Buproprion (NDRI – Wellbutrin, Zyban)
- also: Voxra, Budeprion, Prexaton, Elontril, Aplenzin
- #22 Mirtazapine (NaSSA – Remeron, Avanza, Zispin)
- #27 Duloxetine (SNRI – Cymbalta, Yentreve)
For those wondering what the #1 drug linked to violence is, it’s the anti-smoking drug Chantix (Varenicline). Prozac and Paxil each had a greater than 10x increase in violent incidents linked to their use, more than the class of amphetamines which at #4 was linked with a 9.6x increase.
Sources:
- PLOS ONE: Prescription Drugs Associated with Reports of Violence Towards Others
- SSRI – Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- SNRI – Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- NDRI – Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- NaSSA – Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Top Ten Legal Drugs Linked to Violence | TIME.com