Intended for healthcare professionals

News

Agency warns of withdrawal risks for patients taking SSRIs

BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7479.1365 (Published 09 December 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:1365
  1. Lynn Eaton
  1. London

Doctors prescribing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to patients with depression and anxiety should warn them first of the risks associated with stopping the treatment, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised, after receiving recommendations from an expert group convened by the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Doctors should also monitor closely patients starting to use the drugs.

But the expert group found no evidence of more suicidal thoughts or tendencies among adults prescribed the drug than among those taking placebo or older tricyclic drugs.

This is despite the fact that the potential …

View Full Text

Log in

Log in through your institution

Subscribe

* For online subscription