Question:

i am a bit dubious about this study. i only skimmed it though… ALL antidepresants are associated with increased risk of suicidality to some extent, especially in the early stages of therapy. this sounds like a study trying to emulate the prozac one which has been largely disproven (though still highly controversial).  well what does everyone else think? Lynda

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Use of Sertraline Linked to Suicidality > LONDON, May 30 (Reuters Health) – The use of sertraline might prompt some > patients to commit suicide, a UK researcher warns based on a study of > healthy volunteers. > In a double-blind, randomized crossover study, Dr. David Healy of the > University of Wales College of Medicine compared the effects of two > selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in 20 individuals, ages 28 > to 52, who had no history of psychiatric illness. > The study aimed to monitor the effects of the drugs on the state of well > being and "in particular the serenic effect that appears associated with the > use of SSRIs," Dr. Healy writes in the June issue of Primary Care > Psychiatry. > Subjects received either reboxetine (marketed as Edronax in the UK and as > Vestra in the US), 4 mg q.d. for 5 days and increased to 4 mg b.i.d. if > tolerated, or sertraline (Zoloft), 50 mg q.d. for 5 days, increased to 100 > mg b.i.d. if tolerated. Treatment lasted for a total of 2 weeks, followed by > a 2-week washout period and then crossover to the opposite arm. > None of the subjects had suicidal ideation on reboxetine although two > reported depression, Dr. Healy found. "In contrast, two developed suicidal > thoughts on sertraline," he writes. Within a few days of treatment both of > these patients reported feeling restless and "fidgety." > There is "no easy means of explaining what happened other than by invoking > an SSRI-induced suicidality," Dr. Nealy writes. "The mechanism…appears to > have been a combination of akathisia and emotional blunting, as well as > other features suggestive of an automatism." > He points out that the risk of drug-induced problems in nondepressed > volunteers is of concern because "antidepressants are commonly prescribed > for stress reactions." > Prim Care Psychiatry 2000;6:25-28.

Response:

Use of Sertraline Linked to Suicidality LONDON, May 30 (Reuters Health) – The use of sertraline might prompt some patients to commit suicide, a UK researcher warns based on a study of healthy volunteers. In a double-blind, randomized crossover study, Dr. David Healy of the University of Wales College of Medicine compared the effects of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in 20 individuals, ages 28 to 52, who had no history of psychiatric illness. The study aimed to monitor the effects of the drugs on the state of well being and "in particular the serenic effect that appears associated with the use of SSRIs," Dr. Healy writes in the June issue of Primary Care Psychiatry. Subjects received either reboxetine (marketed as Edronax in the UK and as Vestra in the US), 4 mg q.d. for 5 days and increased to 4 mg b.i.d. if tolerated, or sertraline (Zoloft), 50 mg q.d. for 5 days, increased to 100 mg b.i.d. if tolerated. Treatment lasted for a total of 2 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period and then crossover to the opposite arm. None of the subjects had suicidal ideation on reboxetine although two reported depression, Dr. Healy found. "In contrast, two developed suicidal thoughts on sertraline," he writes. Within a few days of treatment both of these patients reported feeling restless and "fidgety." There is "no easy means of explaining what happened other than by invoking an SSRI-induced suicidality," Dr. Nealy writes. "The mechanism…appears to have been a combination of akathisia and emotional blunting, as well as other features suggestive of an automatism." He points out that the risk of drug-induced problems in nondepressed volunteers is of concern because "antidepressants are commonly prescribed for stress reactions." Prim Care Psychiatry 2000;6:25-28.

Response:

>i am a bit dubious about this study. i only skimmed it though… ALL >antidepresants are associated with increased risk of suicidality to some >extent, especially in the early stages of therapy. this sounds like a study >trying to emulate the prozac one which has been largely disproven (though >still highly controversial).  well what does everyone else think? >Lynda

This study is very strong evidence that if you give drugs meant for sick people to well people, you’re likely to make the well people sick.   Gee thanks, perfessor! TC – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Use of Sertraline Linked to Suicidality > LONDON, May 30 (Reuters Health) – The use of sertraline might prompt some > patients to commit suicide, a UK researcher warns based on a study of > healthy volunteers. > In a double-blind, randomized crossover study, Dr. David Healy of the > University of Wales College of Medicine compared the effects of two > selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in 20 individuals, ages 28 > to 52, who had no history of psychiatric illness. > The study aimed to monitor the effects of the drugs on the state of well > being and "in particular the serenic effect that appears associated with >the > use of SSRIs," Dr. Healy writes in the June issue of Primary Care > Psychiatry. > Subjects received either reboxetine (marketed as Edronax in the UK and as > Vestra in the US), 4 mg q.d. for 5 days and increased to 4 mg b.i.d. if > tolerated, or sertraline (Zoloft), 50 mg q.d. for 5 days, increased to 100 > mg b.i.d. if tolerated. Treatment lasted for a total of 2 weeks, followed >by > a 2-week washout period and then crossover to the opposite arm. > None of the subjects had suicidal ideation on reboxetine although two > reported depression, Dr. Healy found. "In contrast, two developed suicidal > thoughts on sertraline," he writes. Within a few days of treatment both of > these patients reported feeling restless and "fidgety." > There is "no easy means of explaining what happened other than by invoking > an SSRI-induced suicidality," Dr. Nealy writes. "The mechanism…appears >to > have been a combination of akathisia and emotional blunting, as well as > other features suggestive of an automatism." > He points out that the risk of drug-induced problems in nondepressed > volunteers is of concern because "antidepressants are commonly prescribed > for stress reactions." > Prim Care Psychiatry 2000;6:25-28.

Response:

> x-no-archive: yes > > Use of Sertraline Linked to Suicidality > > LONDON, May 30 (Reuters Health) – The use of sertraline might prompt > some > > patients to commit suicide, a UK researcher warns based on a study of > > healthy volunteers.

This study used 20 "healthy" volunteers. Hardly a conclusive study.  Besides, sertraline is for people with PTSD and other mental problems. Testing it on healthy people could have any number of undesireable effects. Rick

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