| Anti depresents linked to suicide Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1730999&nav=0qq6LjBehttp://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1730999&nav=0qq6LjBe
03/23/04 Antidepressants Linked to Suicide
Plenty of people take antidepressants to cope with the stress of daily life. Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Wellbutrin are just a few of the many antidepressants that are supposed to alleviate depression. But the Food and Drug Administration says there's a chance they might have the complete opposite effect and cause some patients to be suicidal.
We spoke with some medical professionals who say they aren't surprised. Dr. Doris Greenberg is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician. She says people on antidepressants should be monitored very carefully. "It shouldn't be dispensed by everybody and it shouldn't be dispensed without good medical supervision," she said.
But Dr. Greenberg also feels depression is undertreated in this country. "You can't just tell people to get a grip," she said. "It's not going to make depression better."
Millions of Americans are on antidepressant drugs. John Leffler, a pharmacist, says the amount prescribed has risen in the past few years. "Every day, ten to 15 percent of our prescription volume is antidepressant therapy," he told us.
And with the millions taking these drugs, Dr. Greenberg says the possible link between the medications and suicides comes as no shock to her. "There's going to be a higher rate of suicides with people with depression than without," she said. "But used carefully, I don't think antidepressants are causing people to be suicidal."
The best advice if you're on one of these drugs is to let your doctor know how things are going, and keep following their advice. The FDA wants stronger, more prominent warnings about side affects on the drug labels.
Reported by: Hena Daniels, hdaniels@wtoc.com
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