An interesting article was published in The Irish Examiner on March 5th – a front page headline no less. “Too many” suicides linked to depression tablets was the stark message which can be seen here.

This particularly resonates in Ireland which has seen a recent sharp increase in the incidence in the suicide rate. There are now around 3 per day in a country with a population of just over 4 and a half million. We already know that antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour fivefold in children. This was work done back in 2010.

Recognised adverse effects for Prozac, a commonly prescribed antidepressant of the SSRI-type, are known to include suicidal thoughts and attempts as well as aggressiveness, impulsiveness, restlessness, irritability and hostility.

So, we need to think carefully about the use of these drugs particularly when there are safer alternatives such as herbs or dietary changes. These are at least as effective as prescribed antidepressants with none of those adverse effects.