A possible case of natalizumab-dependent suicide attempt: A brief review about drugs and suicide
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- 2,
- 3,
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- 3*
- 1Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
- 2Pharmacovigilance’s Center Calabria Region, University Hospital Mater Domini, Catanzaro, Italy.
- 3Institute of Neurology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Published in Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
Correspondence: Emilio Russo
Institute of Neurology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Email: erusso@unicz.it
Copyright: © 2013 The Author(s). This is an open access article.
Abstract
β-Interferon therapy is known to be a potential trigger of suicidal behavior, but this effect has not been previously reported for other multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments, such as, natalizumab. Here we report the case history of a 32-year-old woman affected by relapsing–remitting MS, who attempted suicide during natalizumab treatment. This case suggests that a suicidal ideation might be a rare side effect of natalizumab. Nevertheless, this case represents the first evidence of the new adverse drug reaction related to natalizumab treatment. We should alert clinicians to be aware of the possibility of paradoxical activation of suicidality during its therapeutic use. The main purpose of the present article is to use this case to review the possible relationship between suicidal behavior and drugs.
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