An Increased Risk of Road Traffic Accidents after Prescriptions of Lithium or Valproate

Studies have shown that lithium may cause psychomotor and cognitive impairment and impose an increased risk of traffic accidents. The antiepileptic drug valproate is also used as a mood stabilizer, but the impact on traffic safety has not been studied. The objective of the present study was to examine whether the use of lithium or valproate increased the risk of being involved in traffic accidents. During the study period, 20,494 road accidents occurred including 36 while exposed to lithium and 31 while exposed to valproate. The overall accident risk was neither increased after having received prescriptions for lithium (SIR 1.3; 95%CI: 0.9-1.8), nor after having received a prescription for valproate (SIR 0.9; 0.6-1.3). The exception was a three-fold increase in risk for younger female drivers exposed to lithium. The authors found no increase in the traffic accident risk after being exposed to lithium or valproate, except for young female drivers on lithium. This may be because these drugs carry no increased risk or because patients exposed to these drugs refrain from driving.

• Authors:
  • Bramness, Jorgen G
  • Skurtveit, Svetlana
  • Neutel, C Ineke
  • Morland, Jorg
  • Engeland, Anders
• Publication Date: 2009-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 492-496
• Serial:
  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Wiley (John) & Sons, Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cognitive impairment; Data collection; Impaired drivers; Lithium; Medication; Risk assessment; Traffic crashes
• Geographic Terms: Norway
• Subject Areas: Highways; Security and Emergencies; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01144226
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 17 2009 2:58PM