"A wide-reaching review of studies on antidepressants in young patients showed the risk of suicidal behavior is smaller than previously thought and should be viewed in light of the relief these drugs can offer, the researchers said. "

""The benefits seem to be much stronger than the risks," said Dr. David Brent, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, whose study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "

"The research calls into question strict "black box" warnings on the labels of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that warn of a higher risk of suicidal behavior among children and teenagers. "

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration introduced those warnings on the most popular antidepressants in October 2004 after studies in the United States and Britain suggested the drugs may raise the risk of suicide in children and adults. "

"Millions of Americans use antidepressants, which include Wyeth's Effexor, Pfizer Inc.'s Zoloft, GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Paxil, Eli Lilly and Co's Prozac and Forest Laboratories Lexapro. "

""Clearly, their intent was to protect people, but you have to then reevaluate whether your warning may be doing more harm than good," Brent said in a telephone interview. "

"Brent noted that the number of antidepressant prescriptions written for adolescents has fallen, while suicide rates in adolescents recently have begun to rise. "That is after 10 consecutive years of a decline in the rate," he said. "

"He pointed to a February study in the journal Pediatrics that found deaths from suicide in 10 to 19-year-olds rose 18.2 percent in 2004 from 2003. No other causes of child death increased during that period. "

""It is possible that people who would benefit from this medication are being frightened away," he said. "

"Physician groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, have voiced concern that the FDA's
... read the whole article