| Ilena Rose 2006-08-26, 4:27 pm |
| A study involving nearly 5,500 adults and children has added to the
evidence that common antidepressants increase suicide risk for
children
and adolescents.
The study found that children aged 6 to 18 who were treated with
antidepressants were 1.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, and 15
times more likely to die of the attempt, than children who were
diagnosed with depression but did not receive drug treatment.
Adults who used the drugs did not show a similar trend, and the risk
appeared to be linked to certain types of antidepressants and not
others. Effexor (Venlafaxine), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI), was associated with 2.3 times the risk of suicide
attempts.
Tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) *Zoloft* were also strongly linked with suicide
attempts.
Children and adolescents who used antidepressants were at the highest
risk for suicide in the period immediately after a hospitalization,
and
especially if they were just beginning to use antidepressants for the
first time.
Two years ago, the FDA directed manufacturers of SSRI antidepressants,
which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, to put a special
"black
box" warning on the drugs' label alerting health care providers of the
suicide risk.
Archives of General Psychiatry August 2006; 63(8): 865-872
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/63/8/865
iVillage.com August 7, 2006
http://health.ivillage.com/othernew...hpjn9ds,00.html
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