Clomipramine and Suicide

During clinical studies of clomipramine and suicide, there was an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and teenagers who took antidepressants (including clomipramine). However, it can be difficult to determine if the suicidal thoughts and behavior are due to the depression or to clomipramine itself. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any suicidal thoughts or behavior, such as aggressive behavior or depression that is new or worse.

 

An Overview of Clomipramine and Suicide

Clomipramine hydrochloride (Anafranil®) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults, children, and teens. It is part of a group of medications called tricyclic antidepressants.
 
Although it is not approved to treat depression, clomipramine is classified as an antidepressant due to the way it works in the brain. As with all antidepressants, there may be an increased risk of suicidal behavior when taking clomipramine.
 

Clomipramine and Suicide: FDA Warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a special warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts 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 in clinical studies.
 

Does Clomipramine 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 clomipramine. In one study, about 4 percent of children and teens taking an antidepressant had suicidal thoughts or behavior, compared to 2 percent in 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 antidepressants cause suicidal behavior. To make matters more confusing, depression itself can cause suicidal behavior. The bottom line: you should report any signs of suicidal behavior to your healthcare professional, whether you are taking an antidepressant or not.
 
Certain people seem to be at a higher risk for 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).
 
(Clomipramine 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;