Cutaneous adverse drug reactions to psychotropic drugs and their risk factors - a case-control study

Safety assessment of disulfiram: real-world adverse event analysis based on FAERS database

Objective

Disulfiram, an FDA-approved medication for AUD, has shown significant potential as a repurposed drug in therapeutic areas including oncology and infectious diseases. The purpose of study is to analyze adverse events (AEs) associated with disulfiram by examining the FAERS database, with a focus on understanding its safety profile in both traditional and emerging applications.

Methods

AE reports concerning disulfiram in the FAERS database from the fourth quarter of 2002 to the third quarter of 2023 were extracted. Various signal detection methods, including ROR, PRR, BCPNN, and MGPS, were used to detect and categorize adverse events.

Results

The study collected 52,159,321 AE reports, with 508 reports primarily suspecting disulfiram, identifying 104 Preferred Terms (PTs) across 25 System Organ Classes (SOCs). Major categories of AEs included off label use, psychiatric symptom, liver transplant, and polyneuropathy, with off label use being notably the most reported issue. Strong and new potential AEs were identified, including neurological and psychiatric issues like hypomania, delirium, and vocal cord paralysis; cardiac issues such as electrocardiogram st segment depression; and off label use-related issues like Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction.

Conclusion

Disulfiram poses risks of various adverse reactions while having promise as a "repurposed" agent. In clinical applications, practitioners should closely monitor occurrences of hepatobiliary disorders, psychiatric disorders, and nervous system disorders.

Controversies regarding lithium-associated weight gain: case-control study of real-world drug safety data

BACKGROUND

The impact of long-term lithium treatment on weight gain has been a controversial topic with conflicting evidence. We aim to assess reporting of weight gain associated with lithium and other mood stabilizers compared to lamotrigine which is considered free of metabolic adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

METHODS

We conducted a case/non-case pharmacovigilance study using data from the AMSP project (German: "Arzneimittelsicherheit in der Psychiatrie"; i.e., Drug Safety in Psychiatry), which collects data on ADRs from patients treated in psychiatric hospitals in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. We performed a disproportionality analysis of reports of weight gain (> 10% of baseline body weight) calculating reporting odds ratio (ROR). We compared aripiprazole, carbamazepine, lithium, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and valproate to lamotrigine. Additional analyses related to different mood stabilizers as reference medication were performed. We also assessed sex and age distributions of weight-gain reports.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 527 cases of severe drug-induced weight gain representing 7.4% of all severe ADRs. The ROR for lithium was 2.1 (95%CI 0.9-5.1, p > 0.05), which did not reach statistical significance. Statistically significant disproportionate reporting of weight gain was reported for olanzapine (ROR: 11.5, 95%CI 4.7-28.3, p < 0.001), quetiapine (ROR: 3.4, 95%CI 1.3-8.4, p < 0.01), and valproate (ROR: 2.4, 95%CI 1.1-5.0, p = 0.03) compared to lamotrigine. Severe weight gain was more prevalent in non-elderly (< 65 years) than in elderly patients, with an ROR of 7.6 (p < 0.01) in those treated with lithium, and an ROR of 14.7 (p < 0.01) in those not treated with lithium.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that lithium is associated with more reports of severe weight gain than lamotrigine, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. However, lithium use led to fewer reports of severe weight gain than some alternative drugs for long-term medication (olanzapine, quetiapine, and valproate), which is consistent with recent studies. Monitoring of weight gain and metabolic parameters remains essential with lithium and its alternatives.

Amelioration of ethanol-induced oxidative stress and alcoholic liver disease by in vivo RNAi targeting Cyp2e1

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) results from continuous and heavy alcohol consumption. The current treatment strategy for ALD is based on alcohol withdrawal coupled with antioxidant drug intervention, which is a long process with poor efficacy and low patient compliance. Alcohol-induced CYP2E1 upregulation has been demonstrated as a key regulator of ALD, but CYP2E1 knockdown in humans was impractical, and pharmacological inhibition of CYP2E1 by a clinically relevant approach for treating ALD was not shown. In this study, we developed a RNAi therapeutics delivered by lipid nanoparticle, and treated mice fed on Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet weekly for up to 12 weeks. This RNAi-based inhibition of Cyp2e1 expression reduced reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in mouse livers, and contributed to improved ALD symptoms in mice. The liver fat accumulation, hepatocyte inflammation, and fibrosis were reduced in ALD models. Therefore, this study suggested the feasibility of RNAi targeting to CYP2E1 as a potential therapeutic tool to the development of ALD.

Reevaluation of adverse drug reactions of psychiatric drugs under the chinese drug volume-based procurement policy

Background

The "4 + 7" volume-based procurement is a "large group purchase" led by the Chinese government, with the aim of reducing the price of medicines by trading volume for price. Although the "4 + 7" drugs had passed the national consistency evaluation, the adverse drug reactions need to be further evaluated to ensure the safety of the "4 + 7" drugs with low prices. We aimed to analyze the occurrence characteristics and related influencing factors of adverse reactions of psychiatric drugs under the chinese drug volume-based procurement policy(4 + 7 policy), and provide references for clinical medication.

Methods

137 cases of adverse drug reactions of four psychotropic drugs reported under the "4 + 7" policy in Wuxi Mental Health Center in 2020 were collected. The gender and age of patients, related "4 + 7" drugs, involving organs / systems, clinical manifestations, distribution of new / serious adverse reactions, clinic outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Among the 137 cases of adverse drug reactions, the incidence of adverse drug reactions was the highest in patients aged 61–70 (25.38%). Mainly involved 4 "4 + 7" psychiatric drugs, of which olanzapine tablets caused the most adverse reactions (54, 39.24%). The adverse reactions mainly involved the digestive system, nervous system, cardiovascular system, blood and lymphatic system, among which the digestive system was the most common (61, 44.53%). A total of 8 cases (6.16%) of new and 26 cases of serious adverse reactions were reported, all of which led to the prolongation of disease course. Except for the transient side effects, most of that were improved or cured with no death, disability or teratogenicity after stopping or reducing the dose with symptomatic treatment.

Conclusion

Since more and more drugs will be included in "4 + 7" for clinic, clinical pharmacists should strengthen the publicity and training of the knowledge of "4 + 7" drugs, strengthen the monitoring of adverse drug reactions, and provide timely feedback to the clinic, in order to achieve early prevention, early identification, timely diagnosis and reasonable intervention of the adverse drug reactions under the context of "4 + 7" policy.

Treatment of depression: Are psychotropic drugs appropriately dosed in women and in the elderly? Dosages of psychotropic drugs by sex and age in routine clinical practice

BACKGROUND

Several researchers have shown higher concentration-dose ratios of psychotropic drugs in women and the elderly. Therefore, lower dosages of psychotropic drugs may be recommended in women and the elderly. This study describes sex- and age-related dosage of psychotropic drugs prescribed to patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in routine clinical practice.

METHOD

Influence of sex and age on dosages are analysed for the 10 most commonly prescribed drugs in our dataset consisting of 32,082 inpatients with MDD. Data stems from the European drug safety program "Arzneimittelsicherheit in der Psychiatrie". The observed sex and age differences in prescriptions are compared to differences described in literature on age- and gender-related pharmacokinetics.

RESULTS

Among patients over 65 years, a statistically significant decrease in dosages with increasing age (between 0.65% and 2.83% for each increasing year of age) was observed, except for zopiclone. However, only slight or no influence of sex-related adjustment of dosage in prescriptions was found.

CONCLUSION

Age appears to influence adjustment of dosage in most psychotropic drugs, but to a lower extent than data on age-related pharmacokinetics suggests. Although literature also suggests that lower dosages of psychotropic drugs may be appropriate for females, this study found women are usually prescribed the same dosage as men.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor associated cutaneous adverse drug reactions: A systematic review of case reports and case series

Anecdotal evidence suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) cause cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs). However, there is limited information on the factors associated with these occurrences. In this study, we aimed to describe the demographic, clinical and pharmacological characteristics associated with CADRs encountered by patients administered SSRIs and/or SNRIs for psychiatric diagnoses and to compare the differences in these factors between severe and non-severe CADRs. A protocol was developed a priori (PROSPERO: CRD42020204830) in line with the PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO and SCOPUS from inception to October 2020 to identify case reports and/or case series of SSRI and SNRI associated CADRs. Additional cases were obtained from the retrieved articles' bibliography. A total of 141 articles were included in the study, documenting 173 CADRs. Females accounted for 128 (74.0%) of the analysed CADRs. The median age of the cases was 42 IQR (27; 53) with no statistically significant differences in age between males and females (P = 0.542). A total of 157 (90.8%) of the reported CADRs were associated with SSRIs, particularly fluoxetine 68 (39.5%), sertraline 30 (17.4%) and paroxetine 25 (14.5%). Non-severe CADRs and severe CADRs accounted for 23 (13.4%) and 149 (86.6%) reports respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed for gender (P = 0.616), age at onset (P = 0.493) and time to onset (P = 0.105) between non-severe CADRs and SCARs. In conclusion, CADRs following SSRIs and SNRIs disproportionately affect females in the reproductive age group compared to males and are mostly associated with SSRIs.

Bipolar Patients and Bullous Pemphigoid after Risperidone Long-Acting Injectable: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Neuropsychiatric disorders are found to be associated with bullous pemphigoid (BP), an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. Antipsychotics have emerged as possible inducing factors of BP. However, large sample studies concerning BP associated with antipsychotics, as well as with specific mental disorders, are still lacking. Our review retrieved a few clinical studies and case reports on the topic, producing controversial results. We report for the first time a bipolar patient case presenting BP following five-month therapy with risperidone long-acting injectable (LAI). We hypothesize that the dermatological event is associated with the medication administered. The issue emerged during psychiatric consultation and was confirmed by histological examination, direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies, plus positive plasma and cutaneous BP180 and BP230 IgG. Neurodegeneration or neuroinflammation might represent a primary process leading to a cross-reactive immune response between neural and cutaneous antigens and contributing to self-tolerance failure. Furthermore, the time sequence of the shared biological mechanisms leading to clinical manifestations of the neuropsychiatric disorder and BP remains undefined. BP comorbid with bipolar disorder might occasionally represent a serious health risk and affect patients' physical and psychosocial quality of life. Thus, clinicians treating psychiatric patients should consider BP as a possible adverse effect of psychotropic medications.

A group of cationic amphiphilic drugs activates MRGPRX2 and induces scratching behavior in mice

BACKGROUND

Mas gene-related G protein-coupled receptors (MRGPRs) are a G protein-coupled receptor family responsive to various exogenous and endogenous agonists, playing a fundamental role in pain and itch sensation. The primate-specific family member MRGPRX2 and its murine orthologue MRGPRB2 are expressed by mast cells mediating IgE-independent signaling and pseudoallergic drug reactions.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to increase knowledge about the function and regulation of MRGPRX2/MRGPRB2, which is of major importance in prevention of drug hypersensitivity reactions and drug-induced pruritus.

METHODS

To identify novel MRGPR (ant)agonists, we screened a library of pharmacologically active compounds by utilizing a high-throughput calcium mobilization assay. The identified hit compounds were analyzed for their pseudoallergic and pruritogenic effects in mice and human.

RESULTS

We found a class of commonly used drugs activating MRGPRX2 that, to a large extent, consists of antidepressants, antiallergic drugs, and antipsychotics. Three-dimensional pharmacophore modeling revealed structural similarities of the identified agonists, classifying them as cationic amphiphilic drugs. Mast cell activation was investigated by using the 3 representatively selected antidepressants clomipramine, paroxetine, and desipramine. Indeed, we were able to show a concentration-dependent activation and MRGPRX2-dependent degranulation of the human mast cell line LAD2 (Laboratory of Allergic Diseases-2). Furthermore, clomipramine, paroxetine, and desipramine were able to induce degranulation of human skin and murine peritoneal mast cells. These substances elicited dose-dependent scratching behavior following intradermal injection into C57BL/6 mice but less so in MRGPRB2-mutant mice, as well as wheal-and-flare reactions following intradermal injections in humans.

CONCLUSION

Our results contribute to the characterization of structure-activity relationships and functionality of MRGPRX2 ligands and facilitate prediction of adverse reactions such as drug-induced pruritus to prevent severe drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Sex Differences in the Risk of Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions Induced by Antiseizure Medications: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs) are one of the most common, severe, and life-threatening types of adverse reactions following treatment with antiseizure medications (ASMs). Some studies have reported a higher incidence of ASM-induced cADRs in females than in males.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to perform a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression to compare the ASM cADR risks between females and males.

METHODS

We searched the literature using three databases (EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science) between October 1998 and November 2018, later updated to October 2019. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they met the following criteria: (1) observational studies that estimated the incidence of cADRs related to ASMs; (2) provided the risk or odds ratio (OR) for cADRs among female and male patients exposed to ASMs; and (3) provided information on patients' characteristics. We assessed the impact of study characteristics, publication bias, and measures to reduce bias, and performed a DerSimonian and Laird random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We included 28 studies in this review. Of these, seven studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis, involving a total of 223,209 patients. Overall, females were more likely to develop cADRs to ASMs than males (OR 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-1.99). The largest differences were observed in patients prescribed lamotrigine (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.53-3.08, p < 0.001) and carbamazepine (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.02-2.60, p = 0.042). Also, the OR trended higher for phenytoin (OR 2.46, 95% CI 0.79-7.65, p = 0.12), followed by oxcarbazepine (OR 1.91, 95% CI 0.75-4.85, p = 0.18) and sodium valproate (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.12-2.99, p = 0.53), but the difference did not reach statistical significance. In the remaining 21 studies, 13 reported numerically higher risk of cADRs among females compared to male patients, and in five of these, the difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirmed that females are more susceptible to cADRs induced by ASMs than males. More research is needed to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms for this difference.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42018111943).

Risk-benefit assessment of treatment of epileptic women of childbearing age with valproic acid

AIM

Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used anti-epileptic drug (AED) of demonstrated efficacy. However, its teratogenic effects have resulted in many regulatory agencies recommending that it should not be administered to women of childbearing age unless they are taking contraceptives. The aim of this study was to determine the willingness of candidate patients to change their treatment and to monitor the evolution of their attitude.

METHODS

We identified patients aged between 15 and 45 years old who had been diagnosed with epilepsy and were being treated with VPA. A shared decision-making visit was arranged, during which variables related to their epilepsy were recorded. The patients were informed about the teratogenic effects of VPA and the risks/benefits of a change in treatment. The patient, or legal guardian, then freely chose the course of treatment that they wished to follow. On a follow-up visit, six months later, seizure control and tolerance to the chosen treatment were recorded. The variables related to each patient's willingness to their change treatment were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients, with a median age of 32.7 years, were included in the study. Of these, 25 (41.7%) suffered some form of intellectual disability. Only one (1.7%) had poor seizure control. After the initial visit, 41 patients (68%) opted to continue with the VPA treatment, six opted to stop receiving VPA, and 13 decided to switch to another AED. The median age of the patients who opted to change treatment was significantly lower than that of those who opted to continue with the VPA treatment (29.1 vs. 34.4, p = 0.024). The absence of intellectual disability (p = 0.047) and a length of treatment of less than five years (0.016) were both significantly associated with the decision to change treatment. Of the 19 patients who changed treatment, nine (47%) returned to the initial treatment with VPA.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being informed of the teratogenic risk associated with VPA, a significant number of patients and legal guardians opted to continue with this treatment; the reasons given for this were the low possibility of pregnancy and the risk of breakthrough seizures. In almost half the cases studied, the pharmacological alternatives to VPA were poorly tolerated and did not provide a good level of seizure control.