Young People Who Take High Doses Of Antidepressants Are Twice As Likely To Become Suicidal

Under 24s taking high doses of SSRIs are twice as likely to self-harm

Young adults taking high-dose antidepressants such as Prozac and Seroxat have double the risk of suicidal behaviour, warn researchers. A U.S. study of almost 162,000 found those aged 24 or younger were twice as likely to deliberately self-harm compared with youngsters taking standard doses of SSRI pills...

Suicide warnings are included on medication in the U.S. and the British drug safety watchdog advises doctors to 'carefully monitor' young adults during treatment for any worsening of symptoms of suicidal behaviour. Previous studies found antidepressant drugs are linked with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour and thoughts in children and adolescents, particularly in the early stages of treatment.

A British Medical Journal study in 2009 found young adults taking antidepressants including SSRIs had double the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviour compared with those taking dummy pills...