FDA Antidepressant Warnings Modest Effect

U.S. Food and Drug Administration warnings on the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and teens taking antidepressants have a modest effect.

In June 2003, the FDA recommended that paroxetine hydrochloride not be used to treat young people because of potential increased risk of suicidal behavior, and in October 2004, the FDA issued a black box warning concerning all antidepressants for youth.

Dr. Mark Olfson of the Columbia University Medical Center in New York and colleagues analyzed trends in antidepressant use based on data from Medco, a company that manages prescription drug benefits. The researchers assessed antidepressant prescriptions for youth ages 6 to 17, adults ages 18 to 64 and older adults age 65 and older over three time periods: prewarning, paroxetine warning and black box warning Oct. 16, 2004, to Dec. 31, 2005.

The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found the warnings appeared to effectively increase the perception of the risks involved with antidepressant treatment, especially in young people.