Antidepressants Linked to Increased Suicidal Tendencies in Young People

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine indicates that children and young adults who start taking antidepressants in high doses are more likely to think about or attempt to commit suicide.

According to the study and Fox News, researchers found that young people between ages 10 and 24 who started antidepressant therapy at high doses were twice as likely to attempt or think about suicide over the first 90 days of treatment, compared to those who started taking the drugs at the doses recommended by doctors’ guidelines.

The researchers pointed out that this translates into about one additional event of suicidal behavior for those who take high doses of antidepressants. “There is no evidence that starting at a higher dose is beneficial,” stated Dr. David Brent of the University of Pittsburgh, who wrote a commentary about the study.

Fox News reported that suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 10 and 24. The news outlet also reported that each year about 157,000 young people between ages 10 and 24 receive medical care for injuries resulting from suicidal behavior at emergency rooms across the country.

The researchers reportedly used data gathered from 1998 through 2010 on people with depression, ages 10 to 64.

What Should I Do If I Am Injured By An Antidepressant?

If you are worried about your antidepressant prescription dosage, you should contact your doctor or healthcare provider. SSRIs including Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Luvox and Celexa are very powerful drugs. In addition to suicidal thoughts, they have been linked to birth defects among pregnant women taking them, including cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis, limb defects, clubfoot and anal atresia.

Talk with our SSRI lawyers by calling toll- free at (888)841-9623 if you have suffered because you took one of these powerful drugs.

ZK’s ‘Did You Know?’: SSRIs are often prescribed for the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders and personality disorders.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/29/high-doses-antidepressants-linked-to-suicide-behavior-in-younger-patients/