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Doctors Debunk Suicide Risk of Prozac
NY Post - January 09, 2006
Prozac and other antidepressants do not increase the risk of suicide, researchers say.
In fact, the Seattle-based Group Health Cooperative found that unnecessary concern based on unfounded claims often causes people diagnosed as depressed to stop taking needed medication.
In a study of 65,000 people prescribed antidepressants from 1992 to 2003, the suicide risk of adults and teens dropped by up to 60 percent.
The study also linked Prozac and other selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors with a faster decline in the rate of suicidal behavior than older drugs.
"The period right after people start taking antidepressant medication is not a period of increased risk. In fact, risk after starting medication is lower than before," said lead researcher Dr. Greg Simon.
Still, he told The American Journal of Psychiatry, it's a good idea to monitor the dosage. Bill Hoffmann
Copyright 2004 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
NY Post - January 09, 2006
Prozac and other antidepressants do not increase the risk of suicide, researchers say.
In fact, the Seattle-based Group Health Cooperative found that unnecessary concern based on unfounded claims often causes people diagnosed as depressed to stop taking needed medication.
In a study of 65,000 people prescribed antidepressants from 1992 to 2003, the suicide risk of adults and teens dropped by up to 60 percent.
The study also linked Prozac and other selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors with a faster decline in the rate of suicidal behavior than older drugs.
"The period right after people start taking antidepressant medication is not a period of increased risk. In fact, risk after starting medication is lower than before," said lead researcher Dr. Greg Simon.
Still, he told The American Journal of Psychiatry, it's a good idea to monitor the dosage. Bill Hoffmann
Copyright 2004 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
