Schizophrenia Drug May Increase Risk of Pituitary Tumors

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on July 17, 2006

The research, completed by Duke University and the Food and Drug Administration, helps to cement a theory that has existed for more than twenty years. Scientists have long suspected that drugs called atypical antipsychotics can cause pituitary tumors in some patients. The new study links up to 70 percent of reported pituitary tumors to the use of atypical antipsychotics such as the popular Risperidone.

Although the study suggests that the medication causes tumors outright, the authors caution that a conclusive cause-and-effect link has yet to be found. The information should rather be used to increase the awareness of possible risk among patients and healthcare providers.

If future study does indeed show a causal relationship between the drugs and pituitary tumors, the FDA would likely consider stronger warnings on the medications' labels than currently exist. For now, it still appears that the drugs' benefits outweigh the risks associated with them.

The authors of the study say that their findings are especially difficult to interpret because they do not have an accurate count of the number of patients taking the drug. They also say that not all negative side effects are reported to the FDA's Adverse Events Reporting System.

If you are taking Risperidone or another antipsychotic drug, talk to your doctor to determine the best course of action.

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