Children
who take the anti-depressant Prozac are at greater risk of
attempting suicide, say US experts.
The drug is currently the only anti-depressant which doctors
can prescribe to under-18s in the UK.
Other similar drugs are considered too dangerous because previous
studies have linked them to an increase in suicidal tendencies.
However, an analysis by the US Food and Drug Administration
has found that Prozac too may pose a risk.
"We
now all believe there is an increase in suicidal thinking
and action that is consistent across all the drugs."
--- Dr Robert Temple
The
analysis was overseen by Dr Robert Temple, director of the
FDA office of drug evaluation, who gave evidence on Tuesday
at a hearing to determine whether tougher warning labels were
needed for anti-depressants.
He said: "I think we now all believe there is an increase
in suicidal thinking and action that is consistent across
all the drugs."
On average, the analysis, carried out by experts at Columbia
University, New York, found anti-depressants taken by children
will cause an extra 2% to 3% to have increased suicidal thoughts.
Relative risks of suicidal behavior were highest among young
people taking Luvox, Effexor and Paxil and lower - but still
heightened - among those taking Celexa, Zoloft and Prozac.
However, the FDA also heard that for many children the benefits
of taking the drugs may outweigh the risks.
Dinah Morley, of the charity Young Minds, told BBC News Online:
"Children who are put on these heavy duty drugs are very ill,
and sadly more likely to commit suicide anyway.
"We would urge the greatest care possible to be taken in using
these medications, but there are times when a young person
is so deeply depressed that anything that may help must be
considered because the alternative is death."
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is reviewing these new
data and will seek the advice of the Committee on the Safety
of Medicines on what if any implications there are for the
current advice that the balance of benefits and risks of Prozac
(fluoxetine) is favourable in the treatment of depression
in children and adolescents.
"As with all medicines, the MHRA/CSM keep the safety of fluoxetine
under critical review."
Children
who take the anti-depressant Prozac are at greater risk of
attempting suicide, say US experts.
