Journal: Pharmacotherapy
Authors: Hershel Jick 1, Katrina Wilcox Hagberg, Pascal Egger
NLM Citation: Jick H, Hagberg KW, Egger P. Rate of suicide in patients taking montelukast. Pharmacotherapy. 2009 Feb;29(2):165-6. doi: 10.1592/phco.29.2.165. PMID: 19170586.
Abstract
Study objective: To estimate the rate of suicide in patients taking montelukast.
Design: Population-based cohort study.
Data source: United Kingdom General Practice Research Database.
Patients: A total of 23,500 patients who had received at least one prescription for montelukast in the cumulative data from February 1998-March 2007.
Measurements and main results: Rate of suicide was to be calculated as number of suicides divided by person-time at risk. Person-time of montelukast exposure was accrued for each patient as a cumulative duration of all prescriptions. The 23,500 patients had received 252,593 prescriptions for montelukast, representing 21,050 person-years at risk for suicide. We then sought to identify all cases that had a computer-recorded diagnosis of suicide; however, no cases of suicide were found in patients exposed to montelukast during our time frame.
Conclusion: The risk of suicide attributable to montelukast, if present at all, is extremely low in users.
