Experts advised physicians to keep a close watch for suicidal tendencies of their patients taking antidepressants for the first time or experiencing dosage changes, particularly in the first few weeks of therapy.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed warning labels on the antidepressants taken by millions around the world as a caution of the risks that come with taking the medication.
Other agency officials were surprised to hear about such a broad warning and reported seeing no apparent link between the antidepressant and suicide. On the other hand, another series of studies revealed that depressed children and teenagers who were administered antidepressants had greater risks of becoming suicidal than those who took the placebo.
Some psychiatrists claimed the new drug warning labels would potentially slow sales, which amounted to approximately $12 billion worldwide and would also alter the way drugs were prescribed.
The warning labels are intended to make physicians more conservative with prescribing these drugs and limit the drugs to those who are severely depressed.
The warnings have also informed physicians to take particular caution on whether patients have bipolar illness, which is also known as manic depression, because the label clearly states that using antidepressants for such patients can cause manic episodes.
New York Times March 23, 2004
One of the biggest advantages you receive by reading this newsletter is that you will typically find out the medical news before it actually becomes news, and this issue is a great example.
I have been posting warnings on this issue for some time and now the FDA has finally forced the drug companies to include this devastating side effect on their label. The FDA previously issued a caution on using antidepressants in children, but the warnings on drug labels go significantly further.
There are many antidepressant drugs on the market that are of concern including:
Prozac Paxil Effexor Celexa Remeron Lexapro Luvox Serzone Wellbutrin
Most of these antidepressants are known to affect the brain chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood, but although antidepressants fill an important niche, they do not in any way, shape or form treat the cause of the problem.
Plus, in 2002 I posted an article that clearly showed there is very little difference between most all antidepressants and placebos.
Does this mean that antidepressants don’t work? Absolutely not, but in the vast majority of cases it may be that a benefit is felt because the person taking the pill believes that the pill will heal their depression. The "science" is quite clear on this.
Depression should be taken seriously, however, as seriously as a diagnosis of a heart attack or cancer. If you are unsure whether you or someone you love is suffering with this common illness please review my article on how to diagnose depression. You can also find some effective natural options to treating depression in this article, including why it is necessary to take a high-quality fish oil or cod liver oil.
For more information on antidepressants and suicide, you can read this past newsletter article that addresses why antidepressants are causing suicides and homicides.
Related Articles:
Antidepressants and Suicide in Children: Why Did the Warnings Take so Long? Antidepressants Causing Suicides in Kids Antidepressant Paxil May Increase Suicide Risk Sugar Pills Work as Well As Antidepressants Benefits of Several Antidepressants Similar
Antidepressants and Suicide in Children: Why Did the Warnings Take so Long?
Antidepressants Causing Suicides in Kids
Antidepressant Paxil May Increase Suicide Risk
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