Age-stratified reporting patterns of medications and suicide-related events in FAERS

Background Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple commonly prescribed medications are associated with suicide-related events. However, existing research lacks stratified statistical analysis between minors and adults, potentially obscuring age-specific risks. Objectives To conduct a descriptive assessment of reporting patterns across different age groups. Methods Using the Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) method and Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) method, we analyzed data from the U.S. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. This analysis identified drugs from various categories reported by healthcare professionals and associated with 9 preferred terms related to “suicide-related adverse events.” Results A total of 164,707 reports of suicide-related incidents were identified. stratification by age revealed differences in the types of drugs associated with suicidal ideation across age groups. Among minors, the top two drugs linked to suicidal ideation were isotretinoin (n=426 cases) and montelukast (n=351 cases), whereas in adults, the highest-ranked drugs were sertraline (n=569 cases) and quetiapine (n=529 cases). However, regarding completed suicide reports, acetaminophen was the most frequently reported medication for both minors and adults. Conclusion This study found that different types of suicide-related adverse events vary in age distribution and drug category.