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antidepressants and antipsychotics increase suicide risk by up to 68 times by Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, International Coalition for Drug Awareness - September 12, 2002 |
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| New research presented at a recent NIH sponsored meeting
demonstrates a 68 times greater risk of suicide with the new
serotonergic antidepressants and antipsychotics than if a patient
never took anything.
These shocking figures of increased risk shows that a patient's chances of suicide jump from 11 out of 100,000 to as much as 718 out of 100,000 if one is taking one of these new SSRI antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Celexa) - medications touted to alleviate depressive symptoms and rid one of suicidal tendencies. And the risk is even higher for the new serotonergic antipsychotics (Zyprexa, Risperal, Seroquel) - 752 out of 100,000.... Dr. Arif Khan presented his research at a recent meeting sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health. This was a meeting of the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit. The essence of the research was an analysis of the data on the suicide rate for patients who participated in the clinical trials for these new drugs - over 71,604 people. Now these are the clinical trials where these drugs were tested on the public to see if they were "safe and effective." This clinical data is then presented to the FDA for approval for marketing of these new compounds. In his presentation Dr. Khan made note of what we learned long ago when this information was revealed through court documents in SSRI wrongful death cases - that is, that "actively suicidal" patients are excluded from the clinical trials on the SSRI antidepressants. What he found shocking about this is that despite the actively suicidal being excluded from these clinical trials the suicide rate among those taking these medications ABSOLUTELY SKYROCKETED from 11 out of 100,000 to 718 out of 100,000.... Here are the suicide rates. Keep in mind as you read through these that the rate of 11 out of 100,000 persons per year is the suicide rate for the population at large. *752 per 100,000 for those treated with atypical antipsychotics--risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), and quetiapine (Seroquel); *718 per 100, 000 for those treated with the SSRIs - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Celexa) *425 per 100, 000 for those treated for "social anxiety disorder" with nefazodone (Serzone), mirtazapine (Remeron), and bupropion (Wellbutrin/Zyban); *136 per 100,000 for those treated for panic disorder--with benzodiazepine alprazolam (Xanax); *105 per 100,000 persons for those treated for obesessive-compulsive disorder with anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote). These figures clearly speak for themselves. The massive numbers of wrongful death suits will obviously follow. At least loved ones will know why they have lost those who meant so much to them via such tragic circumstances. |
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