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Antidepressant use and the risk of seizure: a meta-analysis of observational studies

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Abstract

Purpose

The association between antidepressant use and the risk of seizures remains controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis examined whether antidepressant use affects the risk of seizures.

Methods

To identify relevant observational studies, we conducted systematic searches in PubMed and Embase of studies published through May 2023. Random-effects models were used to estimate overall relative risk.

Results

Our meta-analysis included eight studies involving 1,709,878 individuals. Our results showed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) (odds ratio [OR] 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32–1.66; P < 0.001) and selective noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.24–2.19; P = 0.001), but not tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.84–1.92; P = 0.249), were associated with an increased risk of seizures. Subgroup analyses revealed an OR of 2.35 (95% CI 1.7, 3.24; P < 0.001) among short-term (< 30 days) antidepressant users.

Conclusions

The findings of this meta-analysis support an increased risk of seizures in new-generation antidepressant users, expanding previous knowledge by demonstrating a more pronounced risk in short-term users.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Biomedicine and health industry development technology project of Hangzhou (2023WJC019). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Wei Yang

  2. Pharmacy Department, The 960th Hospital of PLA, Jinan, China

    Yong-hui Jia & Ai-juan Li

  3. State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Hai-yin Jiang

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  1. Wei Yang
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Contributions

AJL and WY searched the library and wrote the manuscript text. YHJ and HYJ extracted data and reviewed all articles. AJL designed the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ai-juan Li.

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The authors declare no competing interest.

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No ethical approval was required for this review as all data were already published in peer-reviewed journals.

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Yang, W., Jia, Yh., Jiang, Hy. et al. Antidepressant use and the risk of seizure: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 80, 175–183 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-023-03597-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-023-03597-y

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