Read the Medication Guide that
comes with you or your family members antidepressant medicine. This Medication
Guide is only about the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions with
antidepressant edicines. Talk to your, or your family members, healthcare
provider about:
all risks and benefits of treatment with
antidepressant medicines
all treatment choices for
depression or other serious mental illness
What is the most important
information I should know about antidepressant medicines, depression and other
serious mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts or actions?
1. Antidepressant medicines may
increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some
children, teenagers, and young
adults when the medicine is first started.
2. Depression and other serious
mental illnesses are the most important causes of
suicidal thoughts and actions.
Some people may have a particularly high risk of
having suicidal thoughts or
actions. These include people who have (or have a family
history of) bipolar illness also
called manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions.
How
can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal thoughts and actions in myself or a
family member?
Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood,
behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant
medicine is first started or when the dose is changed.
Call the healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood,
behavior, thoughts, or feelings.
Keep all follow-up visits with the healthcare provider as scheduled. Call the
healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you have concerns
about symptoms.
Call
a healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the
following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
thoughts about suicide or dying
attempts to commit suicide
new or worse depression
new or worse anxiety
feeling very agitated or restless
panic attacks
trouble sleeping (insomnia)
new or worse irritability
acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
acting on dangerous impulses
an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
other unusual changes in behavior or mood
What else do I need to know about antidepressant
medicines?
Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare
provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other
symptoms.
Antidepressants are medicines used to treat depression and other illnesses.
It is important to discuss all the risks of treating depression and also the
risks of not treating it. Patients and their families or other caregivers should
discuss all treatment choices with the healthcare provider, not just the use of
antidepressants.
Antidepressant medicines have other side effects.
Talk to the healthcare provider about the side effects of the medicine
prescribed for you or your family member.
Antidepressant medicines can interact with other
medicines. Know all of the medicines that you or your family member takes.
Keep a list of all medicines to show the healthcare provider. Do not start new
medicines without first checking with your healthcare provider.
Not all antidepressant medicines prescribed for
children are FDA approved for use in children. Talk to your childs
healthcare provider for more information.
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration for all antidepressants.
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