Q. My 33-year-old son committed suicide five years ago while he was taking Prozac. Apparently neither the doctor nor the pharmacist warned my son or his wife that Prozac could cause suicidal thoughts.
My son had two precious children that he loved very much. Now they are without a father. Losing a child was 100 times more painful than the deaths of my parents.
People should be told about other ways to manage depression such as counseling, vigorous exercise or even an herb like St. John’s wort.
A. We are so sorry to hear about the death of your son. The FDA first issued a warning about the possibility of suicidal thoughts linked to antidepressants in 2004. Initially, the caution applied to children and adolescents. It has been expanded to include young adults.
Although many people can benefit from antidepressants, others experience intolerable side effects. Suddenly stopping drugs like citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and venlafaxine (Effexor) can be difficult.
You are right that alternative approaches can sometimes be helpful in managing depression. For more information, we offer a CD of an hour-long interview with Dr. Tieraona Low Dog on “Mental Health Naturally” together with our Guide to Dealing with Depression. Anyone who would like them, please send $12.99 in check or money order: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy (Dept. CD-788-E7); P. O. Box 52027; Durham, NC 27717-2027.
