Adult antidepressant risks differ by age-FDA

Last Updated: 2006-12-05 13:14:18 -0400 (Reuters Health)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Taking antidepressants appears to raise the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in adults younger than 25, U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff said in an analysis released on Tuesday.

No increase in suicidal behavior was seen when the FDA reviewers looked at data on adults of all ages, the analysis said. The antidepressants that were evaluated were Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil.

Antidepressants come with strong warnings that they may raise the chances of suicidal thoughts and attempts in some children and teenagers. The FDA has been studying whether the same risk applies to adults and will present its latest findings to an advisory panel next week.

"When results are analyzed by age, it becomes clear that there is an elevated risk for (suicidal thoughts or behavior) among adults younger than 25 years of age that approaches that seen in the pediatric population," an FDA staff summary said.

Antidepressants may protect adults older than 25 from suicidal thoughts or actions, the staff added.