FDA Wants Suicide Warning Labels on Antidepressants

There is another consideration in all this. People who work
with severely depressed people have a saying that after the
introduction of meds Suicide is more likely because those
who are so inclined will have the emotional energy to do
something about it. For someone really in a down period,
even to go through the preperation for the act is
impossible, even when there is considerable thought given to
it. With meds there is enough inprovement to act.

Quoted message said:

FDA Wants Suicide Warning Labels on Antidepressants

Monday, March 22, 2004

WASHINGTON Patients on some popular antidepressants should
be closely monitored for warning signs of suicide, the
government warned Monday in asking the makers of 10 drugs
to add the caution to their labels.

Although the Food and Drug Administration's investigation
into the possible suicide connection initially focused on
children given the drugs, its warning is aimed at both
adult and pediatric use.

It isn't clear yet that the drugs actually do lead to
suicide, the FDA stressed. But until that is settled,
advisers to the FDA called last month for stronger warnings
to doctors and parents that the antidepressants may cause
agitation, anxiety and hostility in a subset of patients
who may be unusually prone to rare side effects.

On Monday, the FDA followed its advisers' recommendation
and issued a public health advisory putting doctors,
patients, families and other caregivers on notice to be
particularly vigilant for signs of worsening depression or
suicidal thoughts at the beginning of anti-depressant
therapy or whenever the dose is changed.

The drugs of concern are all newer-generation
antidepressants: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa,
Remeron, Lexapro, Luvox, Serzone and Wellbutrin. Most are
known to affect the brain chemical serotonin

British health authorities sounded the alarm last year,
saying long-suppressed research suggests certain
antidepressants might sometimes increase the risk of
suicidal behavior in children and teenagers.

Because only one drug, Prozac, has been proven to alleviate
pediatric depression, Britain declared others drugs called
selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and their
close relatives unsuitable for depressed youth.

The FDA issued a caution on pediatric use last year, but
Monday's action especially the addition of the warning to
drug labels goes significantly further.

Dozens of anguished parents pleaded with FDA in a meeting
last month to add such warnings, citing preteens and
teenagers who hanged themselves or slashed their wrists
shortly after starting the antidepressants.

Parent after parent described children who had become
extremely agitated or anxious shortly after starting the
antidepressants, and seemingly sudden impulses that
turned deadly.

foxnews.com0,2933,114841,00.htmlOpen ↗

--

"For oral administration, to adults only. Children: Not
recommended." Prozac (Fluoxetine) 'Abbreviated Prescribing
Information', Eli Lilly &
Co.

"[T]he only drug that has received approval for use in
children with major depressive disorder is fluoxetine
(Prozac)." FDA Talk Paper, Public Health Advisory on
Cautions for Use of Antidepressants in Adults and Children.
Mar 22 04.

groups.msn.compsychbustersOpen ↗ Decoding Psychiatric
Propaganda

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There is another consideration in all this. People who
work with severely depressed people have a saying that
after the introduction of meds Suicide is more likely
because those who are so inclined will have the emotional
energy to do something about it. For someone really in a
down period, even to go through the preperation for the
act is impossible, even when there is considerable thought
given to it. With meds there is enough inprovement to act.

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair percentage
of depressed people do commit suicide (around 15% IIRC), so
it's not too surprising that some do it after starting a new
medication.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

FDA Wants Suicide Warning Labels on Antidepressants

Monday, March 22, 2004

WASHINGTON Patients on some popular antidepressants
should be closely monitored for warning signs of suicide,
the government warned Monday in asking the makers of 10
drugs to add the caution to their labels.

Although the Food and Drug Administration's investigation
into the possible suicide connection initially focused on
children given the drugs, its warning is aimed at both
adult and pediatric use.

It isn't clear yet that the drugs actually do lead to
suicide, the FDA stressed. But until that is settled,
advisers to the FDA called last month for stronger
warnings to doctors and parents that the antidepressants
may cause agitation, anxiety and hostility in a subset of
patients who may be unusually prone to rare side effects.

On Monday, the FDA followed its advisers' recommendation
and issued a public health advisory putting doctors,
patients, families and other caregivers on notice to be
particularly vigilant for signs of worsening depression
or suicidal thoughts at the beginning of anti-depressant
therapy or whenever the dose is changed.

The drugs of concern are all newer-generation
antidepressants: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa,
Remeron, Lexapro, Luvox, Serzone and Wellbutrin. Most are
known to affect the brain chemical serotonin

British health authorities sounded the alarm last year,
saying long-suppressed research suggests certain
antidepressants might sometimes increase the risk of
suicidal behavior in children and teenagers.

Because only one drug, Prozac, has been proven to
alleviate pediatric depression, Britain declared others
drugs called selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) and their close relatives unsuitable for
depressed youth.

The FDA issued a caution on pediatric use last year, but
Monday's action especially the addition of the warning to
drug labels goes significantly further.

Dozens of anguished parents pleaded with FDA in a meeting
last month to add such warnings, citing preteens and
teenagers who hanged themselves or slashed their wrists
shortly after starting the antidepressants.

Parent after parent described children who had become
extremely agitated or anxious shortly after starting the
antidepressants, and seemingly sudden impulses that
turned deadly.

foxnews.com0,2933,114841,00.htmlOpen ↗

--

"For oral administration, to adults only. Children: Not
recommended." Prozac (Fluoxetine) 'Abbreviated
Prescribing Information', Eli Lilly &
Co.

"[T]he only drug that has received approval for use in
children with major depressive disorder is fluoxetine
(Prozac)." FDA Talk Paper, Public Health Advisory on
Cautions for Use of Antidepressants in Adults and
Children. Mar 22 04.

groups.msn.compsychbustersOpen ↗ Decoding Psychiatric
Propaganda

Dr. Zarkov said:

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair
percentage of depressed people do commit suicide (around
15% IIRC), so it's not too surprising that some do it
after starting a new medication.

Yes, exactly!

Data from Australian suicide stats in men, show that there
has been a significant drop in suicide rates in middle-aged
and elderly men over the last 10-12 years, with a
corresponding increase in antidepressant use (3 fold
increase between 1989 and 1999).

Sadly, the suicide rate in young men (under 25) went up over
the same period. However, their diagnosis was more likely to
be schizophrenia and/or drug abuse, rather than primarily
depression.

Larry Brash

"Dr. Zarkov" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
net.com...

Quoted message said:

There is another consideration in all this. People who
work with severely depressed people have a saying that
after the introduction of meds Suicide is more likely
because those who are so inclined will have the
emotional energy to do something about it. For someone
really in a down period, even to go through the
preperation for the act is impossible, even when there
is considerable thought given to it. With meds there is
enough inprovement to act.

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair
percentage of depressed people do commit suicide (around
15% IIRC), so it's not too surprising that some do it
after starting a new medication.

Actually there is a huge percent of depressed people that
are not suicidal, just depressed. There is a difference you
know. And there have been too many instances of depressed
people going on these medications and then becoming suicidal
AND/OR homocidal.

TC

In article<[email hidden]>, tcomeau

Quoted message said:

"Dr. Zarkov" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<405f81f9$0$3042$61f [email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
net.com...

Quoted message said:

There is another consideration in all this. People who
work with severely depressed people have a saying that
after the introduction of meds Suicide is more likely
because those who are so inclined will have the
emotional energy to do something about it. For someone
really in a down period, even to go through the
preperation for the act is impossible, even when there
is considerable thought given to it. With meds there is
enough inprovement to act.

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair
percentage of depressed people do commit suicide (around
15% IIRC), so it's not too surprising that some do it
after starting a new medication.

Actually there is a huge percent of depressed people that
are not suicidal, just depressed.

And how would you tell one of these from someone who was
as yet TOO tired and depressed to contemplate, or
attempt, suicide?

--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-
~~~~~~~~~~
8====3 (O 0) GROETEN --- PRINTZ XEMU EXTRAWL no real OT
has |n| (COMMANDER, FIFTH INVADER FORCE) ever existed ...-
.........................................................-
..... A society without a religion is like a maniac
without a chainsaw.

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:16:24 -0500, "Dr. Zarkov" <[email hidden]>
posted:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
net.com...

Quoted message said:

There is another consideration in all this. People who
work with severely depressed people have a saying that
after the introduction of meds Suicide is more likely
because those who are so inclined will have the emotional
energy to do something about it. For someone really in a
down period, even to go through the preperation for the
act is impossible, even when there is considerable
thought given to it. With meds there is enough
inprovement to act.

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair
percentage of depressed people do commit suicide (around
15% IIRC), so it's not too surprising that some do it after
starting a new medication.

I wonder why? If you are looking for an alternative
explanation from that above, it would seem odd for a new
med to trigger suicide. Surely the patient might be more
likely to wait and see what the longer term effect of the
new hope might be.

Granted that a certain percentage of depressed people commit
suicide, but trying to unravel this into subgroups seems a
reasonable line of investigation.

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 23:55:48 +1100, Larry Brash
<[email hidden]> posted:

Quoted message said:

Dr. Zarkov said:

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair
percentage of depressed people do commit suicide (around
15% IIRC), so it's not too surprising that some do it
after starting a new medication.

Yes, exactly!

Data from Australian suicide stats in men, show that there
has been a significant drop in suicide rates in middle-aged
and elderly men over the last 10-12 years, with a
corresponding increase in antidepressant use (3 fold
increase between 1989 and 1999).

Sadly, the suicide rate in young men (under 25) went up
over the same period. However, their diagnosis was more
likely to be schizophrenia and/or drug abuse, rather than
primarily depression.

I understood that a lot of these young male suicides were
from rural

their city brothers could, and much employment hopelessnes.
Then they choose an irrevocable method with readily
available firearms. Females tend to choose revocable methods
like overdoses and wrist cutting. Many more of them are
revived with medical attention. Yes, I guess a goodly number
are schizophrenic. I've actually known two of this ilk. Then
there are the suicides in vehicles. Often they are not
recognised as such. And to top off this, there is a news
embargo on these sad events to avoid copy cat suicides. Many
aboriginals are involved in Australia.

Here is a statistical rundown from the
National Institute of Mental Health:

nimh.nih.govsuifact.cfmOpen ↗

Squiggles

--
Insurance companies are the sole gatekeepers of *the truth*.

On 24 Mar 2004 07:23:18 -0800, [email hidden] (tcomeau) posted:

Quoted message said:

"Dr. Zarkov" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
net.com...

Quoted message said:

There is another consideration in all this. People who
work with severely depressed people have a saying that
after the introduction of meds Suicide is more likely
because those who are so inclined will have the
emotional energy to do something about it. For someone
really in a down period, even to go through the
preperation for the act is impossible, even when there
is considerable thought given to it. With meds there is
enough inprovement to act.

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair
percentage of depressed people do commit suicide (around
15% IIRC), so it's not too surprising that some do it
after starting a new medication.

Actually there is a huge percent of depressed people that
are not suicidal, just depressed. There is a difference you
know. And there have been too many instances of depressed
people going on these medications and then becoming
suicidal AND/OR homocidal.

TC

Which medications? And one person is too many. However, the
cost benefit analysis shows something different. All drugs
have small downsides. Even putting on your sox in the
morning has been known to cause death. You really must learn
to understand statistics.

"Larry Brash" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dr. Zarkov said:

Possibly. Or quite possibly it's just that a fair
percentage of

depressed

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

people do commit suicide (around 15% IIRC), so it's not
too surprising

that

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some do it after starting a new medication.

Yes, exactly!

Data from Australian suicide stats in men, show that there
has been a

significant drop in

Quoted message said:

suicide rates in middle-aged and elderly men over the last
10-12 years,

with a

Quoted message said:

corresponding increase in antidepressant use (3 fold
increase between 1989

and 1999).

Association only and doesn't sit well with city-rural
contrast. I don't think there can be any doubt that
SSRI's help but I suspect that the base rate for
depression has been factored into the findings; failure
to do so would constitute a gross analytical error. So I
would have to accept an increased rate of suicide,
however slight that may be.

If more are committing suicide after starting SSRI's perhaps
the reason is because the patient was made fully aware of
their extent of their condition. It may be wise for doctors
not to mention the tissue loss associated with depression,
or increased heart disease, or the genetic component ... .
The cause may be some doctors telling their patient bad news
when that's the last thing they need to hear. Oh yes,
doctors could try smiling at their depressed patients too
... . Happiness is contagious but despair is a plague.

Quoted message said:

Sadly, the suicide rate in young men (under 25) went up
over the same

period. However,

Quoted message said:

their diagnosis was more likely to be schizophrenia and/or
drug abuse,

rather than

Quoted message said:

primarily depression.

No, given the massive rural collapse in Australia I think
depression is the safer option. You don't have to carry
gene X or predisposing factor Y to experience depression,
life can do that to you sometimes. While the cities in
Aus have experienced strong economic growth the rural
region has declined, I'll opt for the simple answer here
thanks. Now with rural recovery happening, I expect rural
suicide to fall.

Quoted message said:

Larry Brash