From 619 Drugs to 1: Researchers Uncover Hidden Risk

Introduction: Addiction Risk in Commonly Prescribed Drugs

When you think of medication side effects, your mind probably goes to the warnings listed in commercials. Drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, etc. These are common, often manageable, and generally expected side effects of drugs.

But what about far more profound ones that can alter your behavior, strain your relationships, and impact your life?

A recent study delved into this very issue, analyzing VigiBase®, the World Health Organization’s global pharmacovigilance database, containing over 36 million adverse event reports, to uncover surprising links between everyday medications and the development of behavioral addictions.

The research sought to identify drugs where these life-altering risks are not officially listed, leaving us in the dark. This post will break down the most impactful findings from that detective work.

Takeaway 1: It’s Not Just the Usual Suspects Anymore

For years, the primary link between medication and behavioral addiction centered on a specific class of drugs: dopaminergic antagonists used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

The connection was so well-established that it was considered the main, and for many, the only, example of this phenomenon. This new study dramatically broadens that scope.

By analyzing reports from healthcare professionals worldwide, researchers identified seven classes of drugs associated with behavioral addictions, even though this risk is not officially listed as a side effect for them. These include: 

• Antidepressants 
• Antipsychotics (specifically, dopamine antagonists) 
• Antiepileptics 
• Benzodiazepines or related drugs 
• Psychostimulants 
• Retinoids 
• One antidiabetic drug

This finding is significant because it suggests the problem is far more widespread than previously understood. It potentially affects patients being treated for a wide range of common conditions.

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Takeaway 2: A Widely Used Antipsychotic Emerged as a Primary Concern

From an initial pool of 619 suspect medications reported at least five times, researchers applied a rigorous filtering process to hunt for the strongest signals. Ultimately, only one drug, Olanzapine, met all of the study’s highest evidence-based criteria. 

Olanzapine is a second-generation antipsychotic medication.

The study found that it had the most well-documented cases with strong evidence linking it to behavioral addiction. This evidence included reports where symptoms resolved after:

• The patient stopped taking the drug (a “positive dechallenge”)
• A significant statistical signal in the data
• Support from existing scientific publications

The study’s authors emphasized how their multi-step analysis narrowed the field to this single, compelling candidate: 

Our analysis allows to narrow down the search to include only the most thoroughly documented cases… This process culminated in reducing the initial count of 619 suspect to 1: Olanzapine. 

While Olanzapine was the only drug to meet every one of the study’s strictest criteria, the researchers noted that other antipsychotics also showed significant warning signs in the data. The specific behavioral addictions most strongly linked to Olanzapine included a range of behaviors such as binge eating, compulsive sexual behavior, compulsive shopping, and gambling disorder.

Takeaway 3: This Hidden Danger Isn’t Listed on the Drugs Official Label

The core purpose of the study was to identify drugs for which behavioral addiction is not listed as a known side effect in the official Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs). These are the detailed documents that guide doctors on a drug’s use and risks. 

The implication of this is critical: patients and even some doctors may be completely unaware of these potential risks when prescribing or taking these medications.

An individual experiencing a sudden onset of compulsive behavior might not connect it to their prescription, leading to confusion, distress, and delayed intervention. This research underscores the importance of “pharmacovigilance,” the ongoing science of monitoring drug safety after a medication is on the market.

It is a crucial tool for uncovering hidden patterns and rare side effects that may not have appeared in initial clinical trials.

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Takeaway 4: The Brain Science is More Complex Than Just Dopamine

Addiction is often explained through the lens of the brain’s reward system, which is heavily driven by the neurotransmitter dopamine.

This is why dopaminergic drugs for Parkinson’s were the first to be linked to behavioral addictions. However, the study’s findings on drugs like Olanzapine suggest a counter-intuitive possibility: the mechanism might involve a different system entirely.

Researchers theorize that for some of these medications, the effect may be caused by their interaction with the serotonergic system. Specifically, the way these drugs block certain serotonin receptors (known as 5HT2A receptors) could be responsible for inducing compulsive behaviors. 

This finding deepens our scientific understanding of addiction. It demonstrates that the pathways to addictive behavior in the brain are incredibly complex and varied, and not solely reliant on the dopamine system that has long dominated the conversation.

Conclusion: A Call for Greater Awareness of Drugs Side Effects

This research serves as a powerful reminder that our understanding of medication side effects is constantly evolving. What is considered safe today may reveal hidden complexities tomorrow. Ongoing research and diligent reporting by healthcare professionals are essential tools for ensuring patient safety long after a drug has been approved. 

The study’s findings highlight a potential blind spot in patient care. Life-altering behavioral changes might be mistakenly attributed to personal failings rather than a medication’s side effect.

This leads to a vital question for all of us: Knowing that these risks can go unlisted, how can we foster better conversations between patients and doctors about unexpected changes in behavior? 

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#addiction #addictiveBehaviors #antidepressants #antidiabetics #antiepileptics #antipsychotics #benzodiasepines #dopamine #dopaminergicAntagonists #drugAddiction #drugUse #drugs #hiddenDangersInMedications #highRiskMedications #olanzapine #prescriptionDrugs #psychostimulants #retinoids #who #worldHealthOrganization

#ADNotam #schizophrenia #schizophrenic #mentalhealth #tortured #torturous #braindamage #braindamaged #zombie #zombification #zombies #catatonia #catatonic #comatose #coma #mentalcruelty #emotionalpain #braindeath #antipsychotics #antipsychotic #munchausensyndrome #lies #gaslighted #victimised #gaslighting #brainwashed #brainwashing #hypnotism

Being affected in these ways from birth sometimes feels shockingly excruciating.
However, there are still so many who suffer far worse than i. It's OK.

What’s the Best Treatment Plan for Schizophrenia? Doctors Explain Options That Work
Get the facts on effective schizophrenia treatment plans. Psychiatrists share insights on the optimal blend of antipsychotic medication, CBT, and psychosocial support for long-term recovery.
https://onlinehealthcaretips.bcz.com/2025/09/26/whats-the-best-treatment-plan-for-schizophrenia-doctors-explain-options-that-work/

#SchizophreniaTreatment #MentalHealthCare #PsychosisRecovery #Antipsychotics #CBT

Imagine trying to watch a movie, read a book, or even just sit with a friend for a chat. #Akathisia #antipsychotics #dopamine #movementdisorder #restlessness #sideeffects #tardivedyskinesia

https://priya.health/akathisia/

Probe into 11-year-old girl mistaken for woman, restrained and injected with antipsychotics delayed until December

NZ Herald 5 Aug, 2025 06:11 AM2 mins to read Subscribe to listenA…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #11yearold #and #antipsychotic #antipsychotics #date #december #delayed #drugs #experience #facility #for #girl #handcuffed #Health #injected #inquiry #into #mental #mistaken #NewZealand #NZ #probe #reporting #restrained #traumatic #until #whatu #with #woman
https://www.newsbeep.com/40887/

The claim is circulating that antidepressants can cause overheating and dehydration. This is a genuine public health message, but it's not so simple: diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, antipsychotics, and some antihistamines may also interact badly with hot weather.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/15/well/live/heat-weather-medication-safety.html (excerpt in a reply)

There's even doubt about antidepressants having this effect. A recent paper in eClinicalMedicine looked at all the studies they could find and concluded that there wasn't evidence of antidepressants causing overheating in hot weather - though some other medicines do.

"Current evidence supports strong anticholinergics, non-selective beta-blockers, adrenaline, and anti-Parkinson’s agents impairing thermoregulation during heat stress ... physicians should interpret with caution conventional public health messaging related to the thermoregulatory effects of some drugs (e.g., antidepressants) during hot weather."
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00465-6/fulltext

#Antidepressants #Diuretics #AnticholinergicMedications #MedMastodon #BetaBlockers #HeatWaves #Thermoregulation #OverHeating #Dehydration #SideEffects #AdverseEffects #AdverseEvents #DrugSideEffects #DrugSafety #HeatStress #HotWeather #HotWeatherSafety #PublicHealth #ACEinhibitors #Antipsychotics

Explore the most effective schizophrenia medications and therapies in 2025. Learn about new antipsychotics like Cobenfy, innovative treatments, and psychosocial support for managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6061765

#Schizophrenia #MentalHealth #Psychiatry #Antipsychotics #Therapy #MentalHealthTreatment #Cobenfy #2025Healthcare #BrainHealth #Wellbeing

MY VLOG: Selling sedatives without prescription: DHA Lahore| Sending a young man to his death for Rs 500/

Phase 4 DD Block DHA Lahore. A branded pharmacy sells sedatives in huge quantities to a 25 year old without Dr prescription. The boy is depressive & on anti=psychotic medication| He tried committing suicide.

https://youtu.be/CxuEjuG1xd8 

#illegal #sedative #prescriptionmedication #antipsychotics #depression #law #pharmacist #pharmacy #peoplewelfare

Dosing levels of #antipsychotics and mood stabilizers in #BipolarDisorder: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acps.13762

1. Higher doses of antipsychotics or mood stabilisers were not associated with better treatment outcomes.

2. Standard doses of #lithium and #aripiprazole were associated with the lowest risk of relapse.

3. "#Quetiapine was not associated with decreased risk of relapse at any dose. ..evidence indicating its poor effectiveness, the wide use of quetiapine should be thoroughly re-evaluated".

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/full-living/202409/ketamine-is-powerful-but-therapy-is-the-thing #mentalhealth #psychotherapy #ketamine #ketamineassistedpsychotherapy #ketaminetherapy #psychedelic #psychedelics #fda — Psychotherapy, the clinical application of psychology, may be assisted by a number of compounds that continue to be studied for medicinal properties, including, but not limited to #ketamine, #mdma #psilocybin #lsd #antidepressants #antianxiety #antipsychotics #ssri #psychiatricdrugs

#antipsychotics and trouble shooting dont mix. I reverted a backup from homeassistant but that was to old.

I lost all my blog automation. And new fact of the day. That was verified good news.

Sigh. 3 week cycle messup. But the new blog is up.

https://setaggi.daft-cloud.nl/posts/-a-load-of-laughter-and-fresh-smelling-fun--20240731144653/

Edit does the image now work?

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38993656/ The Black Book of Psychotropic Dosing and Monitoring (DeBatista, et al, 2024) #mdma #antidepressants #psychiatry #pharmacotherapy #ssri #ptsd #depression #antipsychotics #fda #psychiatricdrugs #pharma #psychedelic #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy #mdmaassistedpsychotherapy

#Evidence that we need to invest in staff in #Nursing homes, if we do not want residents to be silenced with #antipsychotics. Appears obvious, but we prefer magic thinking over accepting and addressing realities.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2818030

Oh, antipsychotics of power,
How are you used so often this hour?
Though meant for your use
You're being abused
To ease the pain of dementia's shower

#dementia #antipsychotics #medication #overprescription #ode #poetry

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/antipsychotic-drugs-are-overprescribed-to-people-with-dementia

Finger #sweat test shows promise for checking that patients are taking #antipsychotics
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/finger-sweat-test-shows-promise-for-checking-that-patients-are-taking-antipsychotics/4017991.article

#psychosis #dopamine #Antipsychotics #JonesParker
"Parker shows that an assumption about antipsychotics that’s almost as old as the drugs themselves is …. well, wrong."

WIRED:
Everyone Was Wrong About Antipsychotics

"An unprecedented look at dopamine in the brain reveals that psychosis drugs get developed with the wrong neurons in mind."
https://www.wired.com/story/everyone-was-wrong-about-antipsychotics/