Risk of angle-closure glaucoma with bupropion and topiramate

Epidemiologic studies have shown that antidepressants may increase the risk of angle-closure glaucoma. We examined the risk of angle-closure glaucoma with bupropion hydrochloride, a unique, popular antidepressant also marketed as a smoking cessation aid.

A nested case-control study was conducted using a large health claims database in the United States from January 1, 2006, to March 31, 2014. The database contained deidentified information pertaining to a cohort of 6 110 723 patients. Cases were defined according to the first coding for angle-closure glaucoma. For each case, 10 control participants were selected and matched to the cases using density-based sampling. Adjusted rate ratios were computed for bupropion, topiramate (positive control group drug), and esomeprazole (negative control group drug). The adjusted rate ratio was 1.09 (95% CI, 0.75-1.59) for bupropion and 2.59 (95% CI, 1.56-4.30) for topiramate. In a prespecified analysis of patients younger than 50 years, the adjusted rate ratio was 1.98 (95% CI, 1.02-3.84) for bupropion and 5.30 (95% CI, 2.54-11.04) for topiramate.

Both bupropion and topiramate are widely prescribed drugs. The risk of angle-closure glaucoma in patients younger than 50 years was twice as high in patients taking bupropion and more than 5 times higher in patients taking topiramate.