FDA wants **antidepressant** **suicide warning expanded to young adults*

WASHINGTON (AP) — Young adults beginning treatment with antidepressants
should be warned about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and
behavior, U.S. government health officials said Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration proposed labeling changes that would
expand a warning now on all antidepressants. The current language
applies only to children and adolescents. The expanded warning would
apply to adults 18-24 during the first month or two of treatment with
the drugs, the FDA said.

The proposed labeling changes also would note that studies have not
shown this increased risk in adults older than 24, and that adults 65
and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidal
thoughts and behavior, it said.

The proposed expanded warnings emphasize that depression and certain
other serious psychiatric disorders are themselves the most important
causes of suicide.

"Antidepressant medications benefit many patients, but it is important
that doctors and patients are aware of the risks," said Dr. Steven
Galson, the FDA's drugs chief.

The proposed changes came with the endorsement of FDA expert advisers.
Some experts have argued that the changes are overdue while others
maintain they could keep drugs from those who need them.

Last month, a comprehensive analysis of antidepressants for children and
teenagers found the benefits of treatment trump the small risk of
increasing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in some patients. The Journal
of the American Medical Association study also found that risk is lower
than what the FDA identified in 2004, the year the agency warned the
public about the risks of the drugs in children.

The proposed label changes would apply to all antidepressants, including
Lexapro (Forest Laboratories Inc.), Paxil (GlaxoSmithKline PLC), Prozac
(Eli Lilly and Co.) and Zoloft (Pfizer Inc.). Some of the drugs are
available in generic form as well.

Messages left with the companies were not immediately returned.