Since warnings started to appear in labels of antidepressants, their use by children has dropped. Since 2002 there has been a 20% fall in antidepressant prescriptions for children, according to Verispan. There has been a 32% drop for children under 12 and a 18% drop for children aged 12-18.
As from 2003 many antidepressants started carrying warnings about the raised incidents of suicidal thoughts. According to the FDA, 2% of children taking antidepressants have more suicidal thoughts.
Prozac is the only antidepressants approved for children.
Many psychiatrists worry that these label warnings could have a negative effect on adolescent suicides. From 1990 to 2002 adolescent suicide rates fell by over 30%. It will be interesting to see whether suicide rates have continued to fall, have remained flat, or even started creeping up.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today