Hey tats,

Just checked out the site. It confirms my suspicions that these drugs will kill us before anything else will.

Christa

I guess I have always felt that any medication that can alter the chemicals in our brain present and increased risk of suicidal ideation or risk. The good thing is that these medications will now label their meds with precautions to warn people in advance who may not consider this. Anytime we put anything in our bodies it presents a risk of some kind ie. side effects caused by the reaction of our bodies to the meds. I am just grateful for very informed and caring docs who have my best interest in mind. Thanks for the info. xo

And it's not just the meds. While researching diabetic diet plans (since I need to start one) it was graphically pointed out that the only thing worse for a person to eat than sugar is artificial sweeteners. We're all doomed!

I'm still a little confused about this. I mean I know all of them come with labels saying that they can increase suicidal thoughts.. but how? By making people more depressed? I mean it's not like the drugs can cause specific thoughts. I know I felt more suicidal after starting medication but I felt that way because the medication wasn't really helping so I thought I was doomed to be depressed forever. What exactly is it that these medications do that supposedly cause suicidal thoughts??

" In these trials, patients who took one of the antiepileptic drugs either alone or as part of a combination had almost twice the risk of having suicidal thoughts or behaviors compared to patients who did not take one of the drugs."

TWICE the risk.....come on. WTF??

Could you post that website on the recommendations or advice tabs? I would like to refer to it as well as others. I am taking this in to my pdoc.

They alter the neurotransmitters in your brain. When those are altered...we tend to think or feel differently.

Have you ever heard or been told that an antidepressant works by increasing your serotonin(a feel good neurotransmitter)??

They do not INCREASE anything......they just keep the serotonin from being "absorbed" at the synapse. That is where neurotransmitters are passed from one neuron to another. That process, when altered by meds, will make us think or feel differently...either better or worse.

Christa
Not sure if I posted it correctly or not.

Am not trying to upset anyone but come on....most labels do say there are risks of suicidal thoughts or behavior, but twice the risk as those who take nothing! Something just isn't right here.....

You posted the site correctly. Thanks a bunch!

This isn't all that new. At least in my state this warning exists on all the mood medications I've taken including anti-depressants.

well i knew they changed the levels of those chemicals so basically it just has a chance of making you more depressed which will make you feel more suicidal. It's not like they're saying it's the direct cause of the thoughts. So can't they just say that there's a chance that it will make you more depressed? I probably sound stupid but this all just confuses me. Medicine that affects the brain doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It seems so crazy that a pill can make you think a certain way..

No, it's not new info.....but I think it's really f'd up. Three of the 11 meds mentioned on the site, that had the risks added to their labels, are ones that I take a few times every single day of my life. And I think and feel suicidal more often then I care to mention. I've seen 3 pdocs over the years...and not a one has ever informed me of this. It's real sad.....

melissa...you do not sound stupid at all. I think it's great that you are forming your own opinions:-)

Tats, that's scary that you doctors never mentioned any of these potential side effects. Mine didn't either!

I guess they will be getting an education on my next visit.

Christa

I might sound a bit jaded, but I think the reason why pdocs do not talk about the side effects is that drugs have become the cure all. Where I live there are relatively few pdocs for a city this size so most are overworked and do not have the time to be more than a pill factory. Basically they see you for about 5-15 minutes then its out the door with a prescription or a new prescription. If they started to discuss the possible side effects then it would just open up too many questions, and upset the current mood of the profession which is to medicate medicate medicate.