Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 640557

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Re: SSRI suicidality table

Posted by bassman on May 6, 2006, at 20:12:30

In reply to SSRI suicidality table » Squiggles, posted by pseudoname on May 6, 2006, at 10:57:50

Thanks for the reference-interesting paper. By the data, it would seem Zoloft would be the AD to prescribe to mimimize the chance of suicide, not Prozac, as is recommended, at least for teens. I personally thing it just has to do with taking an anxious/depressed person who is feeling awful and making them feel worse with meds, and then wondering why they decide to kill themselves. I think everyone on psychoactive meds should be actively monitored, myself-even just e-mailing the doc/whomever every few days at first.

 

Statistical question on SSRIs » pseudoname

Posted by Squiggles on May 6, 2006, at 21:12:30

In reply to SSRI suicidality table » Squiggles, posted by pseudoname on May 6, 2006, at 10:57:50

I am reading the paper, weighing the
significant value of different data
collection (epidemiology, meta-analysis,
Challenge-Rechallenge-Dechallenge),
looking at the stats, etc.

I am not ready to draw any conclusions
yet - though the Abstract already states
the validity of the study's proposition as not being "null". There is a lot in between.

One more piece of information I would like
is the statistical suicide reports (in the UK Health Bank or other countries - 50 countries
are claimed to use Reboxetin).

That's all for now.

Squiggles

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by yxibow on May 7, 2006, at 0:41:02

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs » pseudoname, posted by Squiggles on May 6, 2006, at 21:12:30

Nonwithstanding the potential of any antidepressant to possess possible danger to cause suicidality, I would question things that come from David Healy. He was stripped of his position at the University of Toronto. If you quack like a duck... its hard to say. There are varying opinions on that issue.

There is also the issue that any seriously suicidal patient can commit suicide while on any medication regardless. They were destined, if that is a word, to do so in the first place. The medication didn't cover the disorder, and tragedies happen.

Nonetheless, in this litigious society, we now have black box warnings on SSRIs, especially re adolescents. That is an entirely different question -- not all medications in the past were tested for the under 18 population. So that fits a whole special consideration. Adolescents have rapidly changing bodies and rapidly changing brains as well.

I would say the jury is out on these sorts of manners, but analysis does no harm. Hysteria and my dear departed so and so committed suicide because he/she took X, Y, or Z, is not always so easy to tease out exactly the circumstances, and does do harm when improper information about antidepressants are handed out, i.e. Scientology, which rejects all antidepressants (yes, lets have people who really need help run in front of cars, that is a great solution -- but then this comes from people like Tom Cruise who would eat placentas on television.)

- tidings

Jay

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by linkadge on May 7, 2006, at 1:41:03

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by yxibow on May 7, 2006, at 0:41:02

I don't have any personal reason to assume the drugs are unsafe.

I do think that there is some intrinsic activity to the SSRI's which can be responsible for increased suicidal ideation in certain persons. Akathesia is a very powerful negitive feeling, and can definately add to the negative emotions present in depression.


Linkadge

 

Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by Squiggles on May 7, 2006, at 6:12:34

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by linkadge on May 7, 2006, at 1:41:03

I wonder if akathisia occurs with
some SSRIs in particular, because of their
short half-life or their unique chemical
structure. Personally, i have experienced
akathisia close to suicide in lithium
depletion, and clonazepam withdrawal - both
stopped by resumption of the drug.

I have been looking at Reboxetin, not
just because it is relevant in this case,
but to find an alternative (after 25? drugs
now) for my friend. It is an NSRI, and
supposedly lacks the agitating feature
of fluoexetine. However, I read that
Dr. Nemeroff points out that it is often
used as an adjunct to another SSRI (they
are compatible together). That would make
it inefficient and possibly agitating in
itself for Major Depression at least.

Squiggles

 

Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by Squiggles on May 7, 2006, at 6:22:17

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by Squiggles on May 7, 2006, at 6:12:34

> I wonder if akathisia occurs with
> some SSRIs in particular, because of their
> short half-life .........(correction)

I think that should be long half-life. The
longer the half-life of the drug, the longer
it takes to start effecting, upon first
taking it, right?

Squiggles

 

Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 6:01:41

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by Squiggles on May 7, 2006, at 6:22:17

Here are some studies I found on PubMed on the
topic of comparing Reboxetine to Fluoxetine:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed

It looks as good as, or even superiour to
both fluoxetine and imipramine. This is
a point for Healy, but it is also something
that interests me personally.

If it is superiour, why isn't it available?
Why did the FDA nix it? I searched for
Pharmacia and Upjohn who have now been
bought or merged into Pfizer, but the
drug is still not available and without
a patent number.

Any ideas, what's going on with a drug
that is superiour and unique for major
depression, and stashed on the shelves?
Maybe a typical bureaucratic problem,
or is this pharmapolitics?

Thanks for any opinion. My friend is
willing to try it, if the present increase
in her imipramine dose does not work.

Squiggles

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by bassman on May 8, 2006, at 6:23:11

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 6:01:41

This is what I found:
"The conspiracy theory is that the FDA did
not approve reboxetine so that Eli Lilly (makers of Prozac),
who have the patent on tomoxetine, can have the FDA-approved
NARI. Whether or not this is true, tomoxetine has had excellent
results in the recent studies".

Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years, I find this hard to believe, however. If the company believed in reboxetine, I'm sure they would have put up a fight/re-applied, whatever. I'd be more willing to believe that they were "bought out" (you don't try to get your drug approved and we give you $$) or there was something nasty in terms of safety data that the Feds found. Whatever it was, looks like it was a well-kept secret, which is odd in the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by SLS on May 8, 2006, at 7:45:41

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by bassman on May 8, 2006, at 6:23:11

Reboxetine was denied approval by the FDA several years ago because the clinical investigations performed in the US were failed studies. Neither reboxetine nor fluoxetine demonstrated superiority over placebo.

My impression over these last five years is that reboxetine is not as effective as desipramine as a NARI. A few people have responded favorably to it, but it seems that many more have not.

My personal experience with reboxetine was that it made my depression significantly worse and produced anxiety.

I did not like atomoxetine. It produced fatigue and did not help much with depression.

I am very treatment-resistant, so my reactions to these drugs may not be typical.


- Scott

 

Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 8:21:32

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by SLS on May 8, 2006, at 7:45:41

Thank you for your reply.

> Reboxetine was denied approval by the FDA several years ago because the clinical investigations performed in the US were failed studies. Neither reboxetine nor fluoxetine demonstrated superiority over placebo.

But fluoxetine is a big seller, no? The
studies at PubMed compare fluoxetine to
Reboxetine, and find the majority of Reboxetine
more potent, less annoying in side effects,
and at least as effective as Prozac (which i
think is fluoxetine -- hope i didn't get that
wrong).


>
> My impression over these last five years is that reboxetine is not as effective as desipramine as a NARI.

Desipramine - a tricyclic?. Reboxetine is said
to be unique as an NARI - not like the other
NARIs.

A few people have responded favorably to it, but it seems that many more have not.

You probably have access to data on this.
>
> My personal experience with reboxetine was that it made my depression significantly worse and produced anxiety.

Hmm, i appreciate the feedback.
>
> I did not like atomoxetine. It produced fatigue and did not help much with depression.
>
> I am very treatment-resistant, so my reactions to these drugs may not be typical.

That's important to me - we are dealing with
a treatment-resistant case and a sledgehammer
seems necessary. I have had my doubt about
classes outside the tricyclics and anti-psychotics
for this case. Maybe just an opinion, but
the SSRIs and NARIs seem a class of perkier,
but not as sedating drugs.

It's possible that what we have with the
HEALY case is a fight which could be terribly
immoral if it affected lives, but if the two
drugs are more or less equivalent in sucicidality
rates, and efficacy rates, the fight only affects
reputation and personal antagonism. I love
self-interest :-)
>
>
Squiggles

> - Scott

 

Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 10:54:37

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 8:21:32

The verdict is not out yet, in my opinion.

I'm going to let it rest until Reboxetin
is actually on the market, and is tried
by my friend for treatment-resistant depression- clinical severity. That may take as long as it took lithium to be reintroduced into the market after some people suffered heart attacks from overdose. Imipramine is a hard drug to tolerate,
but the only thing efficient so far.

S T A H L's assessment:

In the meantime here is something from
Dr. Stephen M. Stahl, in "Essential Psychopharmacology of Depression and Bipolar
Disorder", p. 100-101:


SNRIs

"Although some tricyclic antidepressants (e.g.,
desipramine, maprotilene) block norepinephrine reuptake more potently than serotonin reuptake, even these tricyclics are not really selective,
since they still block alpha 1, histamine 1, and msucarine cholinergic receptors, as do all tricyclics. The first truly selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor (NRI) is [REBOXETINE], which lacks these undesirable binding properties....."

Thus, [REBOXETINE] is the logical pharmacological complement to the SSRIs--since it provides selective *noradrenergic* reuptake inhibition greater than serotonin reuptake inhibition but without the undesirable binding properties of the tricyclic antidepressants. ....

p. 105

Early indications from the use of [REBOXETINE]
show that its efficacy is at least comparable to that of the tricyclic antidepressants and the SSRIs. In addition, [REBOXETINE] may specifically enhance social functioning, perhaps by converting apathetic responders into full remitters. Furthermore, [REBOXETINE] may be useful for severe depression, for depression unresponsive to other antidepressants, and as an adjunct to serotonergic antidepressants when dual neurotransmitter mechanisms are necessary to treat the most difficult cases."

Squiggles

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs

Posted by SLS on May 8, 2006, at 11:13:33

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 8:21:32

Regarding reboxetine:

> > A few people have responded favorably to it, but it seems that many more have not.

> You probably have access to data on this.

I most certainly do not.

I doubt you will find any "data" other than that which is anecdotal. I believe you can get a better idea of the experiences of people who have posted here over the years by perusing the archives. That's about all I can offer you. Sorry.

I might suggest that not everything that looks good on paper as we feebly try to understand it translates into real world clinical outcomes. Reboxetine might be selective as we have come to define it, but that does not make it any more useful than desipramine. From what I have seen here on psychobabble, it seems to be less useful.


- Scott

 

Statistical question on SSRIs » SLS

Posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 12:41:32

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by SLS on May 8, 2006, at 11:13:33

> Regarding reboxetine:
>
> > > A few people have responded favorably to it, but it seems that many more have not.
>
> > You probably have access to data on this.
>
> I most certainly do not.
>
> I doubt you will find any "data" other than that which is anecdotal. I believe you can get a better idea of the experiences of people who have posted here over the years by perusing the archives. That's about all I can offer you. Sorry.
>
> I might suggest that not everything that looks good on paper as we feebly try to understand it translates into real world clinical outcomes. Reboxetine might be selective as we have come to define it, but that does not make it any more useful than desipramine. From what I have seen here on psychobabble, it seems to be less useful.
>
>
> - Scott


Yes, i am looking at the posts here - thank
you. I have always considered testimonials
to be a good source of feedback - given
that there are enough of them to get a
general picture. It is odd, that the
drug is no longer available though -- i wonder
where these people got it a few years ago,
and if it was pulled off the market for some
undisclosed reasons. Nobody here has any
horror stories about it.

Squiggles

 

Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble says

Posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 12:56:53

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs » SLS, posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 12:41:32

I read the testimonials on Reboxetine,
going back to 2001; to me it does not
sound much better or different than the
woes that come with SSRIs - but everyone
starts at a different biological point.

If I were to recommend it simply on the
testimonials here, I would say, don't
expect much more than the SSRIs.

Thank you, and I am sorry I am posting so much.

Yikes.

Bye

Squiggles

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine » Squiggles

Posted by SLS on May 9, 2006, at 8:55:04

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble says, posted by Squiggles on May 8, 2006, at 12:56:53

> Thank you, and I am sorry I am posting so much.
>
> Yikes.


I am sorry I am trying to help so much.

I wouldn't recommend reboxetine to a family member based upon what I've read and what I've experienced. I guess that's a testimonial of sorts.

Having said that, I don't doubt that reboxetine acts like a miracle drug for a minority of people. I have nothing against its being made available to the whole world. It seems to be generally safe physiologically. As with other antidepressants, one would want to be aware of the possibility that reboxetine might make their depression worse.

If you are interested in trying reboxetine, you might try asking Ed_Uk what he thinks. Living in a country where reboxetine is available, perhaps he can describe what are his impressions of the drug. Also, you can call Pharmacia & Upjohn to see if they have abandoned reboxetine for sale in the US.


- Scott

 

Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble says

Posted by Squiggles on May 9, 2006, at 9:01:56

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine » Squiggles, posted by SLS on May 9, 2006, at 8:55:04

> > Thank you, and I am sorry I am posting so much.
> >
> > Yikes.
>
>
> I am sorry I am trying to help so much.
>
> I wouldn't recommend reboxetine to a family member based upon what I've read and what I've experienced. I guess that's a testimonial of sorts.


........


> If you are interested in trying reboxetine, you might try asking Ed_Uk what he thinks. Living in a country where reboxetine is available, perhaps he can describe what are his impressions of the drug. Also, you can call Pharmacia & Upjohn to see if they have abandoned reboxetine for sale in the US.
>
>
> - Scott

Thank you Scott. My search turned out a
merger or sell of Pharmacia & Upjohn to Pfizer -
which has an office in our city. I may call them.
The present drug (imipramine) i believe would
be the best choice, if only the added benzos were
reduced a tad and the imipramine increased a tad.
But, not being a doctor, it is my own personal
observations of the case against those of
the real doctor. I have confidence in my judgement, but others don't, obviously.

Squiggles

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine

Posted by bassman on May 9, 2006, at 9:02:49

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine » Squiggles, posted by SLS on May 9, 2006, at 8:55:04

Upjohn became Upjohn/Pharmacia and is now Pfizer (who laid a whole bunch of people off). So call Pfizer.

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine

Posted by SLS on May 9, 2006, at 9:17:00

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine, posted by bassman on May 9, 2006, at 9:02:49

> Upjohn became Upjohn/Pharmacia and is now Pfizer (who laid a whole bunch of people off). So call Pfizer.

I apologize for the misinformation.

I can't believe how large this company has become. Where's Teddy Roosevelt when you really need him?


- Scott

 

Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble says

Posted by Squiggles on May 9, 2006, at 9:21:37

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine, posted by SLS on May 9, 2006, at 9:17:00

I think it's very promiscuous behaviour;
i don't understand the Teddy Roosevelt
reference.

Squiggles

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine

Posted by bassman on May 9, 2006, at 9:31:45

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine, posted by SLS on May 9, 2006, at 9:17:00

My theory is that Pfizer, GSK, BMS, etc. will become just one huge pharmaceutical company, so no one will every have to say, "who makes drug A?" or "you work for a pharmaceutical company, which one?". Marx would have been soooo happy. :>}

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble s

Posted by SLS on May 9, 2006, at 9:41:21

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble says, posted by Squiggles on May 9, 2006, at 9:21:37

> I think it's very promiscuous behaviour;
> i don't understand the Teddy Roosevelt
> reference.
>
> Squiggles

T.R. was a "trust-buster" and began to administer a policy of preventing and dismantling monopolies.


- Scott

 

Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble says

Posted by Squiggles on May 9, 2006, at 9:50:25

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs - Reboxetine, posted by bassman on May 9, 2006, at 9:31:45

Politics and drugs are a lethal combination.
Infact, politics alone can be dangerous, when
taken on an empty brain.

Squiggles

 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs » Squiggles

Posted by Larry Hoover on May 9, 2006, at 13:56:01

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by Squiggles on May 6, 2006, at 6:54:51

> Would anyone here know the statistical
> rates of AD-caused suicides, comparing
> different classes of drugs; or where I
> could find studies in such assertions?
> I am searching for evidence regarding
> the proposed unique ability of SSRIs to
> cause suicide, in exclusion of other
> causes and other classes of antidepressants.
>
> Thanks
>
> Squiggles

I don't know of any such evidence. Clinical trials are not of much use, as the variables are controlled in such a way as to try to eliminate such an effect, if it existed.

What we need are studies of whole populations. Naturalistic or observational or ecological studies. There are very few studies which even try to answer that question. There was one issue of BMJ (I think) that was dedicated to articles attempting to answer that question, just a few months ago. As I recall, there was no such signal found. Healy, and a bunch of other "names", they all took a look, and found nothing to support that hypothesis. {with very specific exceptions, not germane to this review}

One of the limitations of studying populations is that you can't determine which independent variables are truly responsible for your supposedly dependent measurements. You must assume that you know what you're doing, I suppose.

If we refer to epidemiological findings, we may yet have the answer to your question. In the following study, the entire population of a country (Sweden) was being studied. In that study population, we presumably include all manner of people. Those at high risk for suicide, and those with low risk. People being given SSRIs for depression, but also those being given SSRIs who have comorbid conditions (generally excluded from clinical trials), those being given the drugs "off-label". But also, we include untreated depressed people not in contact with medical support, and so on. We include the lost souls, too. There are no restrictions on the study population, other than that they are all Swedes.

What was found was that there was a "significant change in slope" (a reduction) of the suicide rate, following the introduction of SSRI meds. A change in slope can only be caused by a change in the independant variables. An independent variable was added, changed, or removed. In this case, the changed variable was (assumed to be) the introduction of SSRI meds. It is problematic to assign the nomenclature of experimental design to ecological data, so it may be more accurate to refer to the introduction of SSRIs as being a predictor variable, or a factor, rather than a true independent variable.

In real life, not in the artificial environment of a clinical trial, suicides decreased significantly when SSRIs became available in Sweden. It remains a possibility that some other independent variable or factor also changed at the same time as SSRIs were introduced, and that it is a coincidental finding to see the suicide rate change like this. Even with such a coincidence, though, we can still confidently say that SSRIs did not increase the rate of suicide in Sweden. As sales (and presumably consumption) increased, the suicide rate did not.

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2001 Oct-Nov;10(6):525-30.

Antidepressant medication and suicide in Sweden.

Carlsten A, Waern M, Ekedahl A, Ranstam J.

Department of Social Medicine, University of Goteborg, Sweden.
anders.carlsten@telia.com

OBJECTIVE: To explore a possible temporal association between changes in antidepressant sales and suicide rates in different age groups. METHODS: A time series analysis using a two-slope model to compare suicide rates in Sweden before and after introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs. RESULTS: Antidepressant sales increased between 1977-1979 and 1995-1997 in men from 4.2 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants and day (DDD/t.i.d) to 21.8 and in women from 8.8 to 42.4. Antidepressant sales were twice as high in the elderly as in the 25-44-year-olds and eight times that in the 15-24-year-olds. During the same time period suicide rates decreased in men from 48.2 to 33.3 per 10(5) inhabitants/year and in women from 20.3 to 13.4. There was significant change in the slope in suicide rates after the introduction of the SSRI, for both men and women, which corresponds to approximately 348 fewer suicides during 1990-1997. Half of these 'saved lives' occurred among young adults. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate a statistically significant change in slope in suicide rates in men and women that coincided with the introduction of the SSRI antidepressants in Sweden. This change preceded the exponential increase in antidepressant sales.

You can never prove the absence of something. You can't prove what didn't happen. However, we can show that there was not a population-wide increase in completed suicides that can be attributed to SSRI medication. We see no such signal in a broad population. One that is completely and thoroughly documented by its government. For whatever reason, these people write everything down. That provides us with an historical record of a population as it undergoes changes. And when we look at that record, we find no evidence for your hypothesized effect.

One possible explanation for that failure, though, is that the observed suicides are actually all SSRI-induced suicides. That would be very difficult to demonstrate unambiguously. That we have all these new and induced suicides, nested into the background rate, and yet the rate itself has not increased proportionately. Another possible limitation to this study is that Swedes might not be like other people.

I don't see the signal you seek evidence for. I've looked, and I can't find it.

That does not invalidate anecdote. That there are unambiguous cases of SSRI-induced suicide is not something that I am trying to refute. The evidence suggests that it is a fairly uncommon occurrence.

I'd tell you if I knew of the evidence you seek. I've looked, and I've looked hard. I can't find it anywhere.

Lar


 

Re: Statistical question on SSRIs » Squiggles

Posted by Larry Hoover on May 9, 2006, at 13:58:51

In reply to Statistical question on SSRIs, posted by Squiggles on May 7, 2006, at 6:22:17

> I think that should be long half-life. The
> longer the half-life of the drug, the longer
> it takes to start effecting, upon first
> taking it, right?
>
> Squiggles

A drug's effects are not influenced by its half-life. Half-life determines both dose and dosing schedule. A drug's effects are absolutely independent of half-life, unless it leads to poor medical management.

Lar

 

Statistical question on SSRIs - Psychobabble says » Larry Hoover

Posted by Squiggles on May 9, 2006, at 14:52:44

In reply to Re: Statistical question on SSRIs » Squiggles, posted by Larry Hoover on May 9, 2006, at 13:56:01

In Sweden, that is correct. And who knows
what variables change from large population
studies to small controlled groups;

However, I have found some counterexamples,
looking at PubMed articles:

---------
Antidepressant drug use in Italy since the introduction of SSRIs: national trends, regional differences and impact on suicide rates.

Barbui C, Campomori A, D'Avanzo B, Negri E, Garattini S.

Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy. barbui@irfmn.mnegri.it

Little is known about the use of antidepressant drugs in Italy since the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). To fill this gap, we examined antidepressant drug sales data from 1988 to 1996 for the whole country, and for the years 1995 and 1996 on the regional level. National suicide trends from 1988 to 1994 were also examined to assess whether the increasing use of SSRI antidepressants was associated with changes in suicide rates. From 1988 to 1996 an increase of antidepressant sales of 53% was recorded. This increase reflected increasing use of SSRIs, which in 1996 accounted for more than 30% of total antidepressants sold. The analysis of regional differences demonstrated heterogeneity between north, center, and south. In the south prescriptions of antidepressants and use of SSRIs were lower than in the rest of the country. In the 7-year period over which SSRI use increased, male suicide rates increased from 9.8 to 10.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, and female suicide rates declined from 3.9 to 3.2 per 100,000. These data suggest that SSRIs gave a new impetus to antidepressant sales. However, possible public health benefits related to the shift from old to new antidepressants have yet to be demonstrated.

A large-population study where 50% of
takers reported suicidal thoughts or
inclinations:

Top-selling drug linked to increased suicide risk - Britain ... [New Window]
ONE of Britain’s most widely prescribed antidepressants has been linked to a seven-fold increase in suicide attempts. An analysis of trials for Seroxat ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1741916,
00.html

------

But as you have probably studied, there are
countless other articles with studies supporting
no increase in suicidality over years in SSRI
sales, and infact many which point to a *decrease*.

But I think that Healy's point is that comparing
SSRI-takers who commit suicide to those taking other anti-depressants, does not imply that SSRIs
*do not* cause suicides. A comparative study
is something that *I* consider meaningful, not
a court of law. As far as Healy's case is concerned, that SSRIs cause suicide in a significant enough number of the population is enough to regulate the drug. If Reboxetine, for example, or another class of ADs cause a greater number of suicides than Prozac, then there is no
medically sound reason to sell SSRIs competitively to them. Healy is not trying to propose what is the best drug in this light. And so there is no good reason NOT to sell SSRIs, nor does he propose that.

I am asking for a comparison because I am
suggesting that in comparing drugs that have
dangerous side effects, the one with the greatest
safety margine (according to the most comprehensive studies), should take precedence
over the inferior ones. Furthermore, the ones
that do cause harm, should be not only restricted
but taken off the market - heck we sure have
enough of them to make that ecomomically feasible.

As for the half-life of a drug goes, I guess what
you are saying is that the pharmacology of it
is that any drug will have an immediate effect
regarless of its half-life?

Squiggles


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