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Depression blog
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Jan. 17, 2009
FDA antidepressant warnings: Use caution when starting medication
By Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sometimes releases warnings on medications when a medication previously approved is shown to be potentially harmful. It's possible for new side effects and other problems to come up after medications are approved and been on the market for awhile. Once a warning is issued (if the medication is not removed from the market), close monitoring continues. Why am I writing about this subject? In 2004, a warning was issued regarding antidepressant medication use in children and adolescents. This warning was later expanded to include young adults (ages 18 to 24). There was concern that antidepressants might increase the risk of suicide in these age groups (this risk was not found in those older than 24).
The FDA specifically advised:
- Anyone who starts being treated with antidepressant medicines, particularly those being treated for depression, should be watched closely for worsening of depression and for increased suicidal thinking or behavior.
- Close observation of adults may be especially important when antidepressant medications are started for the first time or when doses for their antidepressant medications have been changed.
- Adults whose symptoms worsen while being treated with antidepressants, including an increase in suicidal thinking or behavior, should be evaluated by their health care professional.
Please take the time to review potential side effects with your health care provider. It's important that you are well informed about both your illness and treatment options, including risks, benefits and alternatives.
4 comments posted
October 11, 2009 3:10 a.m.
Simone, You can't go by other people's experience. I see that time and again. One person may not tolerate one medication very well, and it turns out to be a miracle medication for someone else. My daughter was given effexor and said it made her feel like was on speed. I reluctantly decided to give it a try and it has been a blessing for me. So just remember, everybody is different.
- Kathy
May 1, 2009 12:44 a.m.
As the other gal said everyone is different but here is what I can tell you ( effexor ) made me jittery and couldn't sit still example I painted my entire kitchen in an afternoon i was like go go go . Prozac I did not have that problem. also if you are worried about the xanax maybe talk to your doc about klonopin. Hope this helps
- Melissa
January 24, 2009 9:44 a.m.
hi Simone. I too suffer severe depression,plus as an added bonus,I also have Bipolar. I have been on several antidepressants and now am on Prozac, i've never had any bad side effects so far...i've been on 40mg. since i started it 3 or 4 months ago. the things about all of these drugs is that each person's body reacts differently, so the only way to know, is to try it at least. good luck and keep me posted. Lainey
- lainey
January 24, 2009 9:23 a.m.
i'm dealing with unbearable anxiety for over 2.5 years now and because of this i also get severely depressed especially around my period. my doctors have tried a bunch of antidepressants, currently effexor. the problem is i cant seem to tolerate too much medicine in my body because the side effects make it impossible for me to go up to a therapeutic dose. i'm currently taking only 12.5 mg of venlafaxine, because if i try to take more i become even more anxious. i'm also taking 200 mg neurontin and 1mg xanax at night for sleep for the past 2.5 years. i also take xanax during the day as needed (not more than 1 mg). i'm so discouraged and scared because i dont want to take xanax for the rest of my life and even if i did, i still feel sick. now my doctor is thinking to put me on prozac, which i heard makes people very agitated. do i try to go up on effexor very, very slowly or do i try prozac?
- simone
4 comments posted