Paxil Suicide Warning

Antidepressants are supposed to make you feel better, right? Think again.

According to a study published in the journal BMJ, the antidepressant Paxil has been linked to suicidal thoughts and actions. The researchers examined the medical records of more than 250 adolescent patients who had been suffering from depression. They found that patients who were prescribed the popular antidepressant were more likely to have suicidal tendencies, but that’s not all. They also found that women were more likely to experience these side effects. Go figure, right?

So, for those already on the medication, the question becomes, “Should I stop taking Paxil?” The answer – which may surprise you – is no.

Dr. Bola Oyeyipo, a family physician in San Antonio, Texas and co-founder of Healthgist.com, says that withdrawing suddenly can cause these symptoms to worsen. Your doctor may suggest that you slowly wean off the medication by lowering the doses over the course of a few months. However, if you’re currently taking Paxil and have not experienced these side effects, then you shouldn’t have any issues. Either way, be sure to speak with your doctor first.

Here’s what Dr. Oyeyipo had to say regarding the study’s findings:

“This study reports nothing that the medical community did not know already. The common antidepressants currently all have a black box warning from the FDA to limit their use in adolescents because of potentially increased suicidal thoughts.

The current thinking is that patients – who have had suicidal thoughts but have been unable to carry out these thoughts because of the lack of motivation brought on by depression – feel better on the antidepressants and are then able to carry out those suicidal thoughts.

If you’re doing well on Paxil or any of the other antidepressants, there’s no reason to discontinue the medication. And again, if you plan on getting off Paxil or any other antidepressants, be sure to taper off it and not stop the medication suddenly.”