Scientists at Oxford University have found that young adults prescribed antidepressants like Prozac and Seroxat are more likely to display a violent streak. Incidentally, consuming higher doses of the drugs appears to reduce that risk.
While cautioning that the finding of a link does not prove that such drugs cause people to be more violent, scientists said that extra warnings should be given when prescribing these drugs to people aged 15 to 24 and also said that further studies need to be conducted, reports Reuters.
The study published in the PLoS Medicine journal found that 2,081 violent crimes had been committed over a four-year period between 2006 and 2010 by 84,000 young people taking SSRI antidepressants.
"When you go on antidepressants your symptoms are worse, so that might be one explanation. Another explanation is that you are on these medications but it may not be treating fully the symptoms, such as hostility and impulsivity. And when young people are given a prescription they are less likely to be adherent. So their hostility is not being treated. There is also higher risk of alcohol misuse. And when people feeling slightly better they may misuse alcohol," said Seena Fazel, professor of forensic psychiatry at Oxford University, according to The Telegraph.
"Human data has shown that younger people have a different metabolism and therefore the half-life of these medications is much shorter so what you would see if they metabolise these medications and get withdrawal effects, and get irritability, restlessness," lead author Dr. Yasmina Molero told The Telegraph, explaining that studies had shown that younger people are able to metabolize drugs more quickly and can therefore end up inadvertently suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
"It may be that one of the disclosures that doctors need to make warning of irritability, hostility and violent crime. You need to watch out. And if you do feel increased hostility, aggression, violent thoughts you should go back to your GP and talk about that," Fazel said.
