drugs that cause stuttering

The continuing down side to the developing drugs of the 21st century are the various side-effects that often accompany them, and amongst them are several drugs that cause stuttering. Fluoxetine (Prozac) and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used for treating clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, alcohol dependence and eating disorders. There is evidence to support that there have been several cases of in-take of these drugs that cause stuttering in non-stutterers. Alprazolam (Xanax), a benzodiazepine anti-anxiety agent, is another of the implicated drugs that cause stuttering in a non-stutterer. Withdrawal of these drugs enabled the stuttering to cease. Tricyclic antidepressants and phenothiazines (antipsychotic agents) are two other drugs that cause stuttering it has been reported, although it must be stressed that this is only in a small number of cases. Like many others it is a side effect that can occur, but in most cases is unlikely.