Many pharmaceutical drugs increase the risk of acute pancreatitis

This study was published in Aliment Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2003 Apr 1;17(7):887-93

Study title and authors:
Discrepancies between population-based data and adverse reaction reports in assessing drugs as causes of acute pancreatitis.

Lancashire RJ, Cheng K, Langman MJ.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12656691

This study investigated the risk of various types of drugs with pancreatitis. The study included 3,673 patients with acute pancreatitis and around 11,000 controls.

The study found:
(a) Those who were prescribed H2-antgonists (Tagamet, Pepcid etc.) had a 240% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used H2-antagonists.
(b) Those who were prescribed proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Protonix etc.) had a 400% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used proton pump inhibitors.
(c) Those who were prescribed ACE inhibitors (Lotrl, Altace, Lisinopril etc.) had a 110% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used ACE inhibitors.
(d) Those who were prescribed statins (Zocor etc.) had a 10% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used statins.
(e) Those who were prescribed beta blockers (Lopressor, Tenormin etc.) had a 50% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used beta blockers.
(f) Those who were prescribed calcium channel blockers (Norvasc, Tiazac, Adalat etc.) had a 60% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used calcium channel blockers.
(g) Those who were prescribed diuretics (Navidrex, Lasix, Dytac etc.) had a 70% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used diuretics.
(h) Those who were prescribed valproate (Depakene, Convulex etc.) had a 140% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used valproate.
(i) Those who were prescribed fluoxetine (prozac, sarafem etc.) had a 60% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used fluoxetine.
(j) Those who were prescribed Tricyclic agents (Norpramin, Tofranil etc.) had a 40% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used Tricyclic agents.
(k) Those who were prescribed amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox etc.) had a 100% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used amoxicillin.
(l) Those who were prescribed azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan etc.) had a 1,190% increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to those who never used azathioprine.

The data from this study highlights that many pharmaceutical drugs increase the risk of acute pancreatitis.