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Table 4 Numbers needed to harm (NNH) for epilepsy/seizures, at 1-year and 5-years of follow-up for drug class and individual antidepressant

From: Antidepressant use and risk of epilepsy and seizures in people aged 20 to 64 years: cohort study using a primary care database

 

1 year follow-up

5 years follow-up

 

Absolute risk per 1000a

NNH

95 % CIb

Absolute risk per 1000a

NNH

95 % CIb

TCA

1.6

1437

609 to 9786

8.1

217

143 to 363

SSRI

1.4

2014

1014 to 7458

6.7

312

229 to 453

Other

1.8

1125

472 to 6274

8.2

215

137 to 378

Combined

5.5

217

82 to 705

9.5

166

74 to 551

Tricyclic and related antidepressants (TCA)

   

Amitriptyline

1.7

1332

-

6.8

306

161 to 819

Dosulepin

1.5

1572

-

7.6

241

117 to 748

Lofepramine

1.3

2565

-

10.8

138

64 to 392

Trazodone

2.6

602

-

18.8

65

34 to 140

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)

   

Citalopram

1.8

1126

614 to 2745

7.1

278

193 to 434

Escitalopram

1.2

3003

-

5.2

586

-

Fluoxetine

1.3

2697

-

6.7

313

204 to 546

Paroxetine

1.0

18372

-

7.1

280

129 to 1072

Sertraline

0.7

−4684

-

5.5

508

-

Other antidepressants

   

Mirtazapine

1.2

2962

-

6.0

396

-

Venlafaxine

2.2

749

296 to 3731

9.9

156

93 to 294

All others

1.3

2383

-

5.8

426

-

Combined

5.5

216

82 to 700

9.4

168

74 to 569

  1. aAbsolute risk of epilepsy/seizures in the no treatment group is 0.9 and 3.5 after 1 year and 5 years of follow-up respectively
  2. bConfidence intervals are not shown where the HR is not statistically significant