FDA issues new warnings on antidepressants

[Roon]

WASHINGTON - Young adults beginning treatment with antidepressants should be warned about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, federal health officials said Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration proposed labeling changes that would expand a warning now on all antidepressants. The current language applies only to children and adolescents. The expanded warning would apply to adults 18-24 during the first month or two of treatment with the drugs, the FDA said.

The proposed labeling changes also would note that studies have not shown this increased risk in adults older than 24, and that adults 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, it said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18436346/

[sharp_stick]

1. An interesting hypothesis

One thing we discussed when I was in graduate school, looking at the effects of certain chemicals on different cell types, was why there would be an increase in suicidal thoughts in people taking anti-depressants. We could find no biochemical reason for it and still can't.

We came up with an interesting idea that because the suicidal thoughts are by far more prevalent in very seriously depressed individuals. Especially young people, after taking anti-depressants for about 4 to 8 weeks, that they could simply now be consciously thinking about suicide and unfortunately acting on those thoughts because their depression is improving.

When people are very seriously depressed they often don't act on anything, they don't even consider their thoughts seriously. Because it takes weeks for anti-depressants to have any effect and even then the effect may be gradual, people will slowly become less depressed and have to move through a stage where previously "hidden" thoughts become act-able (is that a word?).

This kind of warning is a good move by the FDA IMO even if all it does is cause a doctor, who often isn't a psychiatrist, to keep a much closer eye on the people most at risk during this period. Hopefully they also include the family who will be in a much better position to evaluate the condition of the patient.

Just my 2 cents.

[Mojorabbit]

2. I was actually

put on an anitdepressant years ago to prevent depression.I was told the physicl condition I have can sometimes cause it.
After two weeks on it I had suicidal thoughts. Went off them and they went away. This may happen to a subset of the population who do not really need this type of medicine. I think there is still so much they do not know about how the brain works.

[Roon]

3. I am on four anti-depressants

and I am very grateful that we live in an age where they exist. I wish I could have taken medication when I was a kid in school, I bet my life would have turned out very differently.

[Mojorabbit]

5. My best friend

says the same thing. She feels like she is starting over from scratch at age 40 and has a new lease on life. They can be wonderful for those who need them.

[koopie57]

6. thank you

for sharing that. I'm on four too and sometimes it is hard for me not to feel like a freak, but when I go off them it is just a few days and I'm back in the fog and getting the knives out and cutting. My psychiatrist said that is rare, that it tells her that the depression is right at the surface and even though it is controlled it it right there.

:hug:

I hate to know someone is suffering too, but yet it makes me feel stronger in a way.

[DemGa]

4. Split-with-reality

I've felt it, as have others I've known who've been on these drugs. Our family lost someone, we believe, to one of these drugs. She was twenty-three.