According to a recent study researchers say those in the early stages of antidepressant medication may be associated with an increased risk of
According to a recent study researchers say those in the early stages of antidepressant medication may be associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior .
For the study more than 87,000 patients with depression and other clinical conditions were studied. Patients taking SSRIs were twice as likely to attempt suicide than those taking placebo. Researchers say they found no difference in patients taking SSRIs and those taking other drugs, known as tricyclic antidepressants.Another study done compared adults with depression and other clinical conditions who were taking SSRIs to those taking placebo. In the review of 477 trials submitted ,researchers say they found no evidence that SSRIs increased risk of suicide and neither did researchers find any evidence of an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, and of self harm.
Researchers also compared the data of more than 146,000 patients taking SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants for the first time and found no difference in patient's risk of self harm and suicide. However, patients younger than 18 taking SSRIs were found to have an increased risk of self harm.
Thus in conclusion researchers say doctors should be more aware of the risks and monitor patients more closely, especially in the early weeks of treatment.
