Respiratory aspiration during treatment with benzodiazepines, antiepileptic and antidepressant drugs in the pharmacovigilance database from VigiBase

Introduction Three psychotropic drug classes, benzodiazepines, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and antidepressants (ADs), whether used in treatment or overdose, may be associated with respiratory aspiration. Polypharmacy was defined by counting suspected drugs from these classes or two others, antipsychotics and opioids. The confounding effects of polypharmacy were considered in this study. Areas covered VigiBase records of respiratory aspiration associated with benzodiazepines, AEDs, and/or ADs from inception until 5 September 2021, were reviewed. VigiBase, the World Health Organization's global pharmacovigilance database, uses a statistical signal for associations called the information component (IC). Expert Opinion The ICs (and IC025) were benzodiazepines 2.8 (and 2.6), AEDs 1.6 (and 1.5), and ADs 1.4 (and 1.3). The cases of respiratory aspiration associated with at least one drug from these 3 classes included: 1) 553 cases absent any known overdose (2.8 +/- 1.7 drugs) and 2) 347 overdose cases (2.9 +/- 1.8 drugs). Little support for the association of respiratory aspiration and benzodiazepine, AED or AD monotherapy in therapeutic dosages was found. Studies of the association between benzodiazepine monotherapy and respiration aspiration are needed in geriatric patients. ADs added to other medications increased lethality in all cases of respiratory aspiration including those associated with overdose, polypharmacy and/or major medical problems.

Automated summary

This study reviewed respiratory aspiration events associated with benzodiazepines, AEDs, and/or ADs, and considered the confounding effects of polypharmacy. The results showed that respiratory aspiration events related to these three drug classes were associated with drug overdose, polypharmacy, and/or major medical problems.