Antidepressants as a cause of suicidal behavior in youth

Asychiatrists, pediatricians and family practice doctors said in interviews that they would restrict their use of &to= english.pravda.ru/world/2000/10/12/224.html ' target=_blank> antidepressants in the wake of a federal advisory committee's decision that the medicines should contain severe warnings about the risks of suicide. Dr. Alexander Lerman, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in New York City, said that he would no longer prescribe the medicines to some children and that for the rest he would sit down with their parents and discuss in detail the risks of the drugs. The advisory committee made its recommendation after reviewing numerous studies of antidepressants. Although no children in any study of the drugs committed suicide, there were reports of increased suicidal thoughts and behavior. The risks are greatest in the first weeks of therapy, informs the NYTimes. According to Reuters, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it "generally supports" an advisory panel's conclusion this week that antidepressants sometimes raise the risk &to= english.pravda.ru/columnists/2002/12/09/40565.html ' target=_blank> of suicidal behavior in youth . The agency said in a statement it was working on new warning labels for all antidepressants to explain the risk. The FDA "generally supports the recommendations" of the panel, which included tough warnings for all antidepressants sold as well as a pamphlet in patient-friendly language to be handed out with every prescription, the statement said. FDA officials first became aware of a possible link to suicidal behavior in May 2003. Critics charge the agency was slow to act and instead chose to discount the findings of one of its own researchers. A recent FDA analysis concluded two or three out of every 100 young people treated with antidepressants might face an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. In two dozen pediatric clinical trials, no patient actually committed suicide. Advisory panel members voted 15-8 on Tuesday to urge the FDA to require a "black box" warning, the strongest type &to= english.pravda.ru/columnists/2002/10/04/37735.html ' target=_blank> used for prescription drugs , to get the message to doctors. Some worried that highlighting the small increase in risk might frighten parents and doctors and discourage treatment of depressed children and teens who could benefit. Depression itself can provoke suicide.

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