Citation

Palmer CS, Kleinman L, Taylor LA, Revicki DA. CNS Drugs 1998; 10(3): 223-231.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Adis International)

DOI

10.2165/00023210-199810030-00006

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Patients with severe depression are often at risk of suicide, and many antidepressant medications are used, either alone or in combination with other substances, to attempt suicide. Drug overdoses involving antidepressants are known to result in significant medical costs to the healthcare system. The medical costs associated with an antidepressant drug overdose depend on the class and toxicity of the antidepressant and possible co-ingestants. Although selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer antidepressants are less toxic than older agents such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) when taken alone in suicide attempts, when combined with alcohol (ethanol) and other medications, overdoses with SSRIs result in medical treatment and costs that are comparable with those associated with overdoses involving TCAs and multiple co-ingestants. However, studies indicate that overdoses involving single SSRIs have significantly lower medical costs compared with overdoses involving single TCAs. Comprehensive, prospective pharmacoeconomic studies of the costs associated with antidepressant overdoses and more information on the costs associated with outpatient care and lost productivity due to such overdoses are required.

Language: en

Keywords

antidepressant agent; depression; drug cost; drug research; health care cost; human; priority journal; review; suicide attempt