Fluoxetine and suicide: a meta-analysis of controlled trials of treatment for depression.

Abstract

Data from these trials do not show that fluoxetine is associated with an increased risk of suicidal acts or emergence of substantial suicidal thoughts among depressed patients.

Evidence-Based Pharmacologic Interventions for Geriatric Depression

“…An examination of double-blind studies does not demonstrate a causal relationship between pharmacotherapy and the emergence of suicidality [86]. In one retrospective analysis [87], depressed patients treated with fluoxetine (n ¼ 1765) were compared with a tricyclic antidepressant (n ¼ 731) or placebo group. There was no increased risk of emergence of suicidal ideation among depressed patients treated with fluoxetine.…”

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and violence: a review of the available evidence

“…Furthermore, comprehensive analyses of clinical trial data do not support an association of increased suicide risk with uoxetine. In a study on extensive controlled clinical trial data in depressed patients receiving placebo,¯uoxetine or TCAs, no increased risk of suicidal acts was observed for¯uoxetine (52). Emergence of suicidal thoughts was reduced in patients on¯uoxetine compared to patients on placebo.…”

Anti-depressants, suicide, and drug regulation

“…Published results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) typically provide weak support for an effect of SSRIs on suicide attempts or completions compared to placebo (Beasley et al, 1991;Montgomery et al, 1994;Khan et al, 2000;March et al, 2004). However, for a variety of reasons, previous RCTs are not very informative about the relationship between SSRIs and suicide.…”