Prescription Drugs and Suicide

According to RxISK’s 2013 interview with Dr. David Healy, it is well-known that anti-depressants come with the boxed warning about the trigger of suicidal thoughts. What is less well-known is that anti-tremblers, anti-psychotics, mood alleviators, anti- acne, weight loss, anti-smoking and asthma drugs can trigger suicidal thoughts as well. The same article states that the suicidal thoughts can be triggered within only two weeks of beginning anti-depressants, with a change of dosage or when another medication is added. With the mood balancers and anti-convulsants on the contrary, it takes an average of a couple of months.

According to The Daily Beast’s statistics of prescription drugs and suicide, nationally, over 100 individuals pass away due to complications resulting from abuse of prescription drugs annually. The U.S. makes up over 75% of abuses of prescription drugs, 52 million U.S. citizens over the age of 12 have taken prescription drugs recreationally and over half of the painkillers are borrowed from a family member or friend.

According to the Center for Disease Control’s statistics of prescription drugs and suicide, every day in the U.S., approximately 113 people pass away due to complications from prescription drug abuse with another over 6,000 being admitted to the emergency room for poisoning. As of 2011, it has been considered to be the leading cause of death among those between the ages of 25 and 64. Between 1999 and 2011, deaths due to overdosage on drugs has increased up to 118%. Men were 60% more likely to pass away than women.

Possible Triggers

According to the WebMD, it is still not known how those drugs trigger suicidal thoughts but it is known that they do alter the chemicals of the brain in some very significant way. The elderly seem to be especially at risk.

The Robin Williams Case

There’s no surefire way to be positive as to exactly why Robin Williams committed suicide. However, comedian, Rob Schneider has publicly stated that he has personally suspected that the anti-convulsants that Robin Williams was on for Parkinson’s Disease may have triggered the thoughts.

Sources:

http://wp.rxisk.org/rxisk-asks-are-prescription-drugs-causing-suicides/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/25/prescriptions-drugs-more-deadly-than-car-accidents-guns-and-suicide.html#
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/overdose/facts.html
http://perezhilton.com/2014-08-18-rob-schneider-robin-williams-twitter-rant-blames-prescription-drugs-suicide
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/medicines-cause-depression