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September 28, 2007. 8:42 a.m.
Gene Linked to Increased Suicidality While On Antidepressants.
Todays health news is in my area of psychiatry, namely that
genetic markers identify individuals at increased risk of
suicidality while taking antidepressants.
A study from the NIMH found that 36% of patients with one of two variants of the glutamate gene
experienced suicidality while on the antidepressant Celexa. Tom Insel, MD,
Director of the NIMH, said the test is "not ready for prime time."
Even though psychiatrists and the FDA have been trying to put their
collective heads under the rug, we have known for many years that
antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thoughts by about two fold.
Does that mean we should stop taking them? I prescribe them all the time.
I find the risk of suicidality comes when doses are changed.
You should note that in this study, and others, the risk of
completed suicide was not changed. What I think is the most
interesting part of this study is that those with the glutamate genetic variant
also did not respond to the antidepressant therapy. So the medication
that was making them have suicidal thoughts wasn't helping them anyway.
Antidepressants aren't that great anyway, giving us only about a two point
blip over placebo on a 56 item scale.
Depressing news, indeed.
J. Douglas Bremner, MD, author of Before You Take That Pill:
Why the Drug Industry May Be Bad for Your Health: Risks and Side Effects
You Won't Find on the Label of Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins, and Supplements
To purchase Before You Take That Pill from Amazon.com click here.
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