What the FDA Antidepressant Warning Means for You
Tuesday December 19, 2006
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent decision to include a black box warning on antidepressants regarding suicidality may have you wondering where to turn for depression treatment if you or your child is a young adult between the ages of 18-24. Before you panic, keep these thoughts in mind:
- Untreated depression can also lead to suicidal thoughts and actions.
- The risk was small and short-term. Careful monitoring during the crucial period when you first begin a medication can help you stay safe.
- A distinction needs to be made between suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. While thoughts of suicide should be taken very seriously, not everyone who thinks of suicide will actually make an attempt. If the patient is aware that these feelings may occur and that they are only temporary, this knowledge can help them hang on until they pass.
The take away message? Forewarned is forearmed. Be aware of the risk so you can keep yourself safe, but treatment is still your best option for depression.
Comments
Dear Sirs,
I had experienced periods of extreme anxiety and depression, as well as two times of experiencing suicidal thoughts as an adult of 29 years old, give or take a few years. This started in 89 and lasted until 2000, about 10 years. The first time I experienced suicidal thoughts for about 3 weeks was after having been on antidepressants, and being on prolixin, an antipsychotic. It seemed that the prolixing precipitated suicidal thoughts. The medicaction seemed to be stabilizing, but also the stabilization was short term. What seemed to help more were practical measures in life, lifestyle changes. Some of the things were brisk walking every day, about 45 minutes or at least a couple of miles each day outside. It helped to establish positive, forward moving thought patterns. Doing without TV and movies also helped because the passive nature of such things seemed to lead to depression, boredom and negative thought patterns and behavior. Also, prayer was a help in overcoming suicidal thoughts. Attention to mental and moral hygiene, also was a help in all of these mental health battles. I hope that this might be a help to some.
While treatment is important for serious mental health disorders, the treatment does not necessarily have to be medication. There are many other forms of therapy and lifestyle changes that can be equally and more effective than medication and that can have a more permanent value even in many severe instances of mental health problems.
I hope that this helps, with sincerity and in truth.
John S.
Newark, NJ
teacas@gmail.com
When I was on Prozac, unfortunately, my depression became much worse, and I was over 24. I had never self-harmed before, but began doing that and thinking about suicide a lot. When my doctor stopped the medication, my depression remained, but I wasn’t suicidal and didn’t self-harm. I guess all anti-depressants work differently for different people, but this was absolutely toxic in my case. I think all anti-depressants, regardless of age, should be carefully monitored. This wasn’t a passing thing, either, I was on the medication for eight months and I was miserable. I also developed an eating disorder. It had to have been the drug, because when I was put on a different classification of medication, I felt much better and my eating disorder virtually disappeared. People just have to be very careful and report any changes in mood to their doctor immediately.