Antidepressant drugs suicidal behavior

Unfortunately, some of these painful and mentally disabling neurological reactions, including dystonia and akathisia, can also be caused by the newer antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, and Celexa. These distressing adverse drug reactions sometimes contribute to or cause violent and suicidal behavior (chapters 6 and 7). 

Moore, T. (2004, January 26). Antidepressant drugs and suicidal behaviors A Drug Safety Research special report. (Available from Drug Safety Research, 2021 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006)... 

FDA initiated the adult antidepressant meta-analysis based on findings from a previous FDA meta-analysis of pediatric patients. In 2004, FDA completed a meta-analysis of pediatric patients that showed an association of antidepressant drugs and suicidal behavior and ideation (Hammad et al. 2006). Unsolicited information provided from drug sponsors and published articles motivated this meta-analysis. Based on the meta-analysis and deliberations from a meeting of FDA advisory committees, FDA added a boxed warning to the label of all antidepressants with the warning concerning pediatrics patients in 2005. The FDA advisory committees requested that FDA explore the association in adult patients. 

Precautions The tricyclic antidepressants should be used with caution in manic-depressive patients, since they may unmask manic behavior. The tricyclic antidepressants have a narrow therapeutic index for example, 5 to 6 times the maximal daily dose of imipramine can be lethal. Depressed patients who are suicidal should be given only limited quantities of these drugs and should be monitored closely. Drug interactions with the tricyclic antidepressants are shown in Figure 12.5. 

Mania, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, aggressive behavior, schizophrenic relapse, depression, anxiety See Antidepressants, tricyclic See Benzodiazepines See Amphetamine-like drugs Nightmares, confusion, paranoia, depression, visual hallucinations Depression, suicidal thoughts Hallucinations, paranoia, panic, depression... 

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