WARNING: The use of antidepressants among children may cause suicidal thoughts and feelings.

On Friday October 15, 2004 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement informing the public that certain antidepressant medications that are prescribed to children who are suffering with depression and other psychiatric problems may cause an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and feelings. This means that the medication used to TREAT suicidal thoughts and feelings in young people may CAUSE suicidal thoughts and feelings.

Recent studies regarding the side effects of antidepressant medications among children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders, such as depression, have shown that some of the patients were at a higher risk for suicidal behavior. The patients in the study taking the antidepressant medication were shown to be at an increased risk of approximately 4% for suicidal behavior, compared to the patients who were taking placebos.

Young patients on these drugs are most at risk of developing suicidal behavior for the first few months of taking the drugs. It has been recommended that all children and adolescents who are taking antidepressants be closely monitored by parents, as well as doctors, to look for signs of suicidal behavior related to the use of the drugs. If your child is currently taking antidepressants, and exhibiting any of the following characteristics (which have been provided by the FDA) your child may be at risk:

• Agitation
• Irritability
• Suicidality (suicidal thoughts, feelings, and behavior)
• Unusual changes in behavior

You should discuss the situation with your child’s doctor right away, and find out how an increase in suicidal behavior or feelings can be prevented.

The following is a list of antidepressant medications, which if taken by children, may increase the risk of developing suicidal behavior or feelings. Therefore the packaging labels have been adjusted to provide the patient, and patient’s guardian, with a “black box” warning:

Approximately 2.5% of the children in America have some form of depression, many of which take antidepressants to treat the disorder. Parents, children, physicians, and the public should be made aware of the serious and dangerous side effects associated with antidepressant use among children. The “black box” warning, in this case regarding the dangerous suicidal side effects of antidepressant medication among youths, is the most serious type of medication warning. If your child is suffering from depression or other psychiatric disorders, and you are considering antidepressants, please discuss the side effects with your child’s prescribing doctor and become fully informed before making the decision.

If your child has committed suicide or attempted suicide while taking any of the antidepressant medication listed above, you should hire an experienced pharmaceutical drug attorney at VanDerGinst Law immediately to discuss your case.

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