The following warning signs may be present in adults who
have a high risk for suicide:
Factors that may increase the risk of suicide include
having:
- A family member who has committed
suicide.
- A family history of depression, bipolar disorder, or
schizophrenia.
- A history of physical or sexual
abuse.
- Diagnosis of a serious medical illness.
- Failing
relationships.
- A divorce.
- A recent life change, such as
a death of a spouse or other member of the family, marriage, break-up of a
marriage, the birth of a child, a job loss, a job promotion or demotion, or
legal problems.
FDA Advisories.. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) has issued:
- An
advisory on antidepressant medicines and the risk of
suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines, but
to watch for
warning signs of suicide in those using them. This is
especially important at the beginning of treatment or when doses are
changed.
- A
warning about the antidepressants Paxil and Paxil CR
and birth defects. Taking these medicines in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy
may increase your chance of having a baby with a birth defect.
