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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Effexor and suicidal tendencies
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Effexor and suicidal tendencies
by Mary, Nov 19, 1999 12:00AM
Have there been any studies indicating a correlation between effexor and suicide? Are feelings of suicide a noted side effect of this drug? The following source labels suicide attempts as a rare effect, but nonetheless an effect: http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/venlaf.html
My sister, who is schizophrenic and depressed is on 150 mg of effexor xr and 3 mg of risperdal, and talk of commitiing suicide coupled with "suicidal attempts" (she scrapes her arm with scissors, to the extent of slight bleeding only; no serious suicide attempt that is life threatening) have been prominent recently. Her doctor, who is raising the dosage, recommends her to be hospitalized, a route we are reluctant to take.
My sister, who is schizophrenic and depressed is on 150 mg of effexor xr and 3 mg of risperdal, and talk of commitiing suicide coupled with "suicidal attempts" (she scrapes her arm with scissors, to the extent of slight bleeding only; no serious suicide attempt that is life threatening) have been prominent recently. Her doctor, who is raising the dosage, recommends her to be hospitalized, a route we are reluctant to take.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-SW, Nov 21, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Mary.
Persons who suffer from depresion alone, and schizophrenia alone, are more likely than the general population to have suicidal thoughts and possibly attempt suicide.
In the case of your sister, (whom you state has both) may be at a higher risk for suicide.
Effexor is an antidepressant used to treat depression and therefore may reduce suicidal ideations. I am unfamiliar with literature that sites a possibility of suicide attempts.
Please note that antidepressants may take from weeks to months to be effective, therfore suicide is a risk if the sufferer has suicidal thoughts. Hospitalization must be considered.
My best wishes to you and your sister.
Respectfully,
HFHS M.D.-SW
Persons who suffer from depresion alone, and schizophrenia alone, are more likely than the general population to have suicidal thoughts and possibly attempt suicide.
In the case of your sister, (whom you state has both) may be at a higher risk for suicide.
Effexor is an antidepressant used to treat depression and therefore may reduce suicidal ideations. I am unfamiliar with literature that sites a possibility of suicide attempts.
Please note that antidepressants may take from weeks to months to be effective, therfore suicide is a risk if the sufferer has suicidal thoughts. Hospitalization must be considered.
My best wishes to you and your sister.
Respectfully,
HFHS M.D.-SW
Member Comments (3)
by Mary, Nov 21, 1999 12:00AM
From reading about effexor, I have found out that it is an antidepressant that inhibits serotonin, amongst other neurotransmitters. And I have read research that supports the theory that low serotonin levels are associated with self-injurious behavior. And doesn't serotonin in the prefontal cortex help inhibit violent impulses? My thoughts are, if my sister has suicidal tendencies, can it be actually caused by the drug? And why would psychiatrists prescribe a drug that would actually increase this risk? How does inhibition of serotonin help depressed individuals?
by Pat, Dec 09, 1999 12:00AM
The drugs inhibit the UPTAKE of seritonin. There is not a reduction of seritonin, but rather an increase in the seritonin levels due to the "uptake" inhibition.
