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Suicidal thoughts
What am I to do for my husband who just told me he IS having these?? I work full time and this is just another worry while I am gone all day. He is seeing a therapist and taking antidepressant. Any suggestions from others who've had this?
I think that your husband should be evaluated by a mental health professional as soon as possible, someone who is qualified to determine if there is an immediate danger. Often part of this determination is based on the professional's opinion as to whether the patient has general thoughts of ending their life or a more detailed plan or idea about how or when they would end their life. That professional assessment helps determine the correct response. Does his psychiatrist have an after hours number or message line?
Advocate1955
Advocate1955
please get him to the er today. i pray that everything works out for him and your family. sending you positive thoughts and prayers. belle
People have committed suicide while doing tx. I agree with all who say he needs to see his doctor asap!
He may need to change his AD but I'm no doctor. Get help.
from the web site:
PEGASYS therapy may cause you to develop mood or behavioral problems, including:
* irritability (getting upset easily)
* depression (feeling low, feeling bad about yourself or feeling hopeless), and anxiety.
* aggressive behavior
* former drug addicts may fall back into drug addiction or overdose
* thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or suicide
He may need to change his AD but I'm no doctor. Get help.
from the web site:
PEGASYS therapy may cause you to develop mood or behavioral problems, including:
* irritability (getting upset easily)
* depression (feeling low, feeling bad about yourself or feeling hopeless), and anxiety.
* aggressive behavior
* former drug addicts may fall back into drug addiction or overdose
* thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or suicide
No I understand Pooh...I didn't make myself very clear regarding my personal experience. Anytime anyone talks about suicide they should be taken seriously. That is what I should have said!!!!
I am so not the expert in this. All of the advice above sounds good. He needs a doctor. I have been having a hard time on tx lately and found this a few days ago. See table 4 in the attached. It talks about possible interferon reduction as being a way to handle depression. Just more info so you can have good questions. Hope he feels better soon.
http://www.drugs.com/dosage/pegasys.html
http://www.drugs.com/dosage/pegasys.html
I just want to be clear that my statement was not directed at you, Jules. I just wanted the original poster to be aware that just because her husband is talking about suicide, that does not mean he won't attempt it.
This was just "my" personal experience. You should probably call the Dr now or put him in the car and take him to the ER. They always have a psychiatrist on duty just for these purposes.
Good Luck
Jules
Good Luck
Jules
From your prior threads have you thought about talking to his doctor about even continuing treatment? Sounds like a lot with only 8 weeks of treatment. Good luck.
I would suggest that the psychiatrist be called tomorrow. Whoever calles the psychiatrist should be sure that the psychiatrist is told that he is having suicidal thoughts. He should be able to see your husband tomorrow because this should be considered an emergency.
I agree with Hector that he may need an increase in dose of he may need a different or an additional antidepressant.
I agree that if a person isolates himself it is not a good sign (because often when someone has made up his mind, he then is very quiet about it). I also agree that when the ADs start to work but have not taken full effect yet, a person can be in the danger zone. The reasoning behind this is that when a person is very depressed they often don't have the energy or capability to formulate a plan and carry it out. When they start to feel better, but are still depressed, they have more energy and ability to actually formulate a plan and carry it out.
However, I will add that people who talk about suicide can be in just as much danger as those who do not talk about it. It is a fallacy to think that people who talk about suicide won't commit suicide. They very well may. (I do know of several people who called someone and talked with them about how depressed they were and then actually committed suicide that night or shortly after the conversation. The people they called or discussed it with, did not realize how serious it was.) I am just stating that just because he is talking about suicide or suicidal thoughts, does not mean he won't attempt it.
I know you work, but if you have your husband call the psychiatrist, I would follow-up on that and make sure he did call and make sure he told him he was having suicidal thoughts. If your husband is depressed, he may not get around to making the call. Sometimes when one is depressed, doing anything can seem like an insurmountable chore.
I wish you and your husband the very best and I hope he will feel better soon.
I agree with Hector that he may need an increase in dose of he may need a different or an additional antidepressant.
I agree that if a person isolates himself it is not a good sign (because often when someone has made up his mind, he then is very quiet about it). I also agree that when the ADs start to work but have not taken full effect yet, a person can be in the danger zone. The reasoning behind this is that when a person is very depressed they often don't have the energy or capability to formulate a plan and carry it out. When they start to feel better, but are still depressed, they have more energy and ability to actually formulate a plan and carry it out.
However, I will add that people who talk about suicide can be in just as much danger as those who do not talk about it. It is a fallacy to think that people who talk about suicide won't commit suicide. They very well may. (I do know of several people who called someone and talked with them about how depressed they were and then actually committed suicide that night or shortly after the conversation. The people they called or discussed it with, did not realize how serious it was.) I am just stating that just because he is talking about suicide or suicidal thoughts, does not mean he won't attempt it.
I know you work, but if you have your husband call the psychiatrist, I would follow-up on that and make sure he did call and make sure he told him he was having suicidal thoughts. If your husband is depressed, he may not get around to making the call. Sometimes when one is depressed, doing anything can seem like an insurmountable chore.
I wish you and your husband the very best and I hope he will feel better soon.
Actual attempts of suicide as a result of INF. therapy are very rare,however "suicide ideation" thoughts are not that uncommon . If this occurs ...the recommendation is to be thouroughly evaluated by a mental health worker ..as the above posters have mentioned
Good luck to you both.....
Will
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/741378_3
Prevalece Suicide and suicide attempts during IFNα therapy remains a rare phenomenon. Fattovich et al. [23] surveyed clinicians to determine the prevalence of fatal adverse effects of IFNα and identified a 0.02% rate of suicide attempts in this sample of 11 241 patients with CHC. In a sample of patients who terminated pegylated IFNα early, 6.9% discontinued HCV treatment because of suicidal ideation.[24] The Virahep-C study, which excluded patients with current severe psychiatric disorders, suicide attempts or psychiatric hospitalizations within the last 5 years, found a 26% incidence of depression (defined as Centre for Epidemiologic Disease score >23) and a 3.5% incidence of suicidal ideation on IFNα treatment.[25] No patients attempted suicide during the 24-week study period.
Dieperink et al. specifically studied trends in suicidal ideation in 55 consecutive veterans treated for CHC with IFNα.[26] Prior to IFNα treatment, 17% of patients endorsed suicidal ideation and all were receiving psychiatric treatment. A total of 26% of patients developed suicidal ideation following initiation of IFNα; however, no patients attempted suicide during the course of treatment.
In addition to the focus on CHC treatment emergent suicidal ideation, anecdotal reports suggest that suicide attempts can occur upon cessation of IFNα treatment.[27] Therefore, suicidal ideation should be monitored in the initial months post-IFNα therapy to ensure resolution of neuropsychiatric symptoms including suicidal ideation.
Risk Factors and Pathophysiology of IFNα-induced Suicide for Patients The evaluation of suicide risk in patients with CHC undergoing IFNα treatment requires consideration of several key variables, such as the development of depression, alterations in serotonin (5-HT) metabolism and the emergence of psychosis. Early identification and management of these abnormalities could theoretically lower suicide risk for some patients receiving IFNα therapy.
Good luck to you both.....
Will
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/741378_3
Prevalece Suicide and suicide attempts during IFNα therapy remains a rare phenomenon. Fattovich et al. [23] surveyed clinicians to determine the prevalence of fatal adverse effects of IFNα and identified a 0.02% rate of suicide attempts in this sample of 11 241 patients with CHC. In a sample of patients who terminated pegylated IFNα early, 6.9% discontinued HCV treatment because of suicidal ideation.[24] The Virahep-C study, which excluded patients with current severe psychiatric disorders, suicide attempts or psychiatric hospitalizations within the last 5 years, found a 26% incidence of depression (defined as Centre for Epidemiologic Disease score >23) and a 3.5% incidence of suicidal ideation on IFNα treatment.[25] No patients attempted suicide during the 24-week study period.
Dieperink et al. specifically studied trends in suicidal ideation in 55 consecutive veterans treated for CHC with IFNα.[26] Prior to IFNα treatment, 17% of patients endorsed suicidal ideation and all were receiving psychiatric treatment. A total of 26% of patients developed suicidal ideation following initiation of IFNα; however, no patients attempted suicide during the course of treatment.
In addition to the focus on CHC treatment emergent suicidal ideation, anecdotal reports suggest that suicide attempts can occur upon cessation of IFNα treatment.[27] Therefore, suicidal ideation should be monitored in the initial months post-IFNα therapy to ensure resolution of neuropsychiatric symptoms including suicidal ideation.
Risk Factors and Pathophysiology of IFNα-induced Suicide for Patients The evaluation of suicide risk in patients with CHC undergoing IFNα treatment requires consideration of several key variables, such as the development of depression, alterations in serotonin (5-HT) metabolism and the emergence of psychosis. Early identification and management of these abnormalities could theoretically lower suicide risk for some patients receiving IFNα therapy.
I totally agree with Hector that needs to be taken seriously and he must talk to his Dr. From my experience with suicide, it's when they DONT talk about their thoughts that they actually attempt it or succeed. So please keep on talking to him about his thought and feelings...and get him back to the Dr ASAP!
Jules
Jules
He has been on it for 8 weeks ( started prior to treatment). I will make sure he follows up with the psychiatrist.
He needs to tell his doctor that prescribed the antidepressant (A Psychiatrist I hope) of his mood. For one reason or another it is not working. Has he been taking it for more than 4-6 weeks? It take time to be effective.
This should be taken very seriously. They may need to increase the dosage or find a drug that works for him. Please monitor his mood. If he should stop talking about it that is very bad. It is good that you have good communication between you both. It is when a personal isolates themselves or when they first start to feel better and have energy again that it is most dangerous.
Again...he must tell his doc. Sometimes patients want to be "good patients" to please the doc. He needs to be able to express his thoughts and feelings with the doc. If he can't find another Psychiatrist who will listen and help.
Hector
This should be taken very seriously. They may need to increase the dosage or find a drug that works for him. Please monitor his mood. If he should stop talking about it that is very bad. It is good that you have good communication between you both. It is when a personal isolates themselves or when they first start to feel better and have energy again that it is most dangerous.
Again...he must tell his doc. Sometimes patients want to be "good patients" to please the doc. He needs to be able to express his thoughts and feelings with the doc. If he can't find another Psychiatrist who will listen and help.
Hector
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