People taking a Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment containing clarithromycin may have a short-term higher risk of neuropsychiatric events, a retrospective analysis shows.

The study of over 66,000 patients found the risk of neuropsychiatric events was more than four times higher during the 14 day period in which people were taking H pylori therapy containing clarithromycin compared to two weeks before or after the therapy (incidence rate ratio 4.12; 35 events during 72 person years (95% confidence interval 2.94 to 5.76)).

Writing in JAMA Internal Medicine the researchers from Hong Kong said the absolute neuropsychiatric risk was and low and therefore did not support a change in prescribing practice.