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Anti-depressant suicide warning proposed

WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed requiring a suicide warning be included on all anti-depressant medication labels.

The FDA said it is considering requiring makers of all anti-depressant drugs to update the existing black box warning on their products' labeling, to include warnings about increased risks of suicide in young adults ages 18 to 24 during initial treatment -- generally the first one to two months.

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The proposed labeling changes would also include language stating that scientific data do not show such an increased suicidal ideation risk in adults older than 24, and adults ages 65 and older taking anti-depressants have a decreased risk of suicidality.

The proposed warning statements would emphasize depression and certain other serious psychiatric disorders are themselves the most important causes of suicide.

Manufacturers of anti-depressants have 30 days to submit their revised product labels and revised medication guides to the FDA for review.

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