Independent medical expert answers
on psychiatry and psychology

Suicide Risks with Certain Medicines

Written by: Jacob Palme, tenured professor.
First version: 22 Jul 2008. Latest version: 22 Jul 2008.

Abstract:

Antieleptic and antidepressant medicines can have a small risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts, and patients and families of patients should be aware of this risk and contact health providers if such tendencies occur.

Question:

Is there a risk that certain medicines can cause an increased risk for suicide?

Answer:

The following anti-epilectic medicines can cause an increased risk for suicide, according to the American Food And Drug Administration (FDA):

Only drugs listed above have been tested or suicide risk, but the PDA believes this risk occurs also for other anti-eleptic medicines. The risk is small, about 0,2 percent of all takning these drugs.

Patients using these medicines should not stop using them, but the patients and their families should be aware of the risk and should contact health authorities if the patient has suicidal thoughts or tendencies.

FDA also says that antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. This is paradoxical, since these medicines also help prevent suicide by treating depression.

The FDA recommends that patients and their families should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. One should call the healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, such as:

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