Selective Prescribing in Suicidal Patients: A Little Thought Can Decrease the Risk of Future Morbidity and Mortality

How safe are psychiatric medications after a voluntary overdose?

“…A history of suicide attempts increases the risk of completed suicide by 38 times [1]. Therefore, physicians prescribing antipsychotic and antidepressants should-or-need to pay particular attention to safety during overdose when prescribing medications to treat patients with suicide attempt risk, particularly those who have attempted suicide before [23]. However, this should not lead to restrictions of psychiatric medications in patients with risk of suicide attempts [24].…”

Mental Health Triage in Emergency Medicine

“…O'Rynn et al [3] reported the America Association of Poison Control Center's 1995 self-poisoning data. Prescription figures of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors would certainly indicate a swing to low toxicity antidepressant options.…”

Harm Minimisation in Overdose

“…Are we, however, as mindful when reviewing the non-psychiatric medications our suicidal patients take? O'Rynn et al [3] reported the America Association of Poison Control Center's 1995 self-poisoning data. Of 724 deaths, 82% were a result of intentional overdose.…”