The Antidepressant Quandary — Considering Suicide Risk When Treating Adolescent Depression

In March 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory regarding worsening depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior in patients treated with the newer antidepressant drugs fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), bupropion (Wellbutrin), venlafaxine (Effexor), nefazodone (Serzone), and mirtazapine (Remeron). In February 2005, the agency extended the warning to include all antidepressant drugs. This warning was prompted by analyses of data from placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants suggesting that the drugs were associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents.Subsequent research leaves considerable uncertainty regarding . . .