200 prescription drugs used in US list depression or suicidal symptoms as possible adverse effects

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Friday, June 29, 2018 9:15 am Email this article

Two hundred (200) prescription drugs used in the U.S. list depression or suicidal symptoms as possible adverse effects according to a new paper from researchers at Columbia University in New York, NY, USA.

The percentage of people reporting depression using drugs with depression as a possible side effect were:

• 4.7% of people taking no (0) risky drugs
• 6.9% of people taking one (1) risky drug
• 9.5% of people taking two (2) risky drugs
• 15.3% of people taking three (3) risky drugs

These include some blood pressure drugs including Metoprolol (beta blocker), Atenolol (beta blocker), Enalapril (Vasotec — ACE inhibitor), Quinapril (ACE inhibitor).

These include some antidepressants including Sertraline (Zoloft), Citalopram (Celexa), Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Trazodone, Venlafaxine (Effexor), Escitalopram (Cipralex and Lexapro), Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Paroxetine (Paxil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil).

These include some hormones and hormone modifiers including Ethinyl estradiol (birth control pills), Estradiol (estrogen), finasteride (Proscar and Propecia — used for enlarged prostates or scalp hair loss).

These include some anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives including Alprazolam, Zolpidem (Ambien), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Lorazepam.

These include some analgesics (to reduce pain) including Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Tramadol (Ultram), Ibuprofen, Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril).

These include some gastrointestinal agents including Omeprazole (Prilosec), Ranitidine (for ulcers), Esomeprazole (Nexium), Famotidine (Pepcid).

These include some respiratory agents including Montelukast (Singulair — for asthma and seasonal allergies), Cetirizine (Zyrtec — antihistamine).

These include some anticonvulsants including Gabapentin (Neurontin), Diazepam (Valium), Lamotrigine (Lamictal), and Topiramate (Topamax)).

These include corticosteroids (used for inflammation).

Drugs and feeling suicidal

Use of drugs with suicidal symptoms as adverse effects: 17.3% in 2005, 23.5% in 2013

“Any use of prescription medications that have suicidal symptoms as potential adverse effects increased from 17.3% in 2005 and 2006 to 23.5% in 2013 and 2014.” (An increase of 36%.)

Suicides increased more than 30% in half of states

54% of people who died by suicide did NOT have a known mental condition

In June 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) noted that suicides have increased by more than 30% in half of the states since 1999.

The CDC also notes that 54% of people who died by suicide did not have a known mental condition.

https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/index.html

Do you think that use of prescription drugs (including antidepressants) are responsible for this?

I do.

Reference

Qato DM, Ozenberger K, and Olfson M. Prevalence of Prescription Medications With Depression as a Potential Adverse Effect Among Adults in the United States. JAMA, 2018 Jun 12; 319(22): 2289-2298.

Author’s Contact Info

Mark Olfson, MD
Department of Psychiatry
College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University
New York, NY USA
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Benzodiazepines

• Blood Pressure Drugs

• Depression

• Drug-induced Side Effects

• Psychiatric Drugs

• Suicide