Surmontil and Suicide

It is hard to know for sure if there is a link between the use of antidepressants, such as Surmontil, and suicides or suicidal behavior. Among the people who could potentially be at an increased risk of suicidal behavior while taking Surmontil are those with bipolar disorder (or a family history of bipolar disorder) and those who have attempted suicide (or have a family history of suicide attempts). If you notice any possible signs of suicidal behavior while taking Surmontil, report them to your healthcare provider immediately.

 

An Overview of Surmontil and Suicide

Surmontil® (trimipramine maleate) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of depression in adults. It is part of a group of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. As with all antidepressants, there may be an increased risk of suicidal behavior when taking Surmontil.
 

Surmontil and Suicide: FDA Warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a special warning about the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior with antidepressant use in children and teenagers. The warning was issued due to concerns that antidepressants seemed to increase the risk of suicidal behavior in children and teenagers during clinical studies.
 
Although Surmontil is not approved for use in children and teenagers, it may be used "off-label" for this use.
 

Does Surmontil Cause Suicides?

In clinical studies, it did appear that there was a slightly increased risk of suicidal behavior in children and teenagers who took antidepressants, including Surmontil. In one study, about 4 percent of children and teens taking an antidepressant had suicidal thoughts or behavior, compared to 2 percent of children and teens who were not taking an antidepressant. This study looked at all suicidal behavior, including suicides, attempted suicides, and thoughts about committing suicide. It is important to note that no one in the study actually committed suicide.
 
It is difficult to know for sure if there is a relationship between the use of antidepressants, such as Surmontil, and suicides or suicidal behavior. To make matters more confusing, depression itself can cause suicidal behavior. The bottom line is that you should report any signs of suicidal behavior to your healthcare provider, regardless of whether or not you are taking an antidepressant.
 
Certain people seem to be at a higher risk of suicidal behavior while taking antidepressants. This includes people with bipolar disorder (or a family history of bipolar disorder) and people who have attempted suicide (or have a family history of suicide attempts).
 
(Surmontil and Suicide Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;