What precautions should I take when using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors?
There have been reports that some patients taking SSRIs have an increase in thoughts about suicide. It is not clear whether the medicine causes this effect because suicidal thoughts are very often a part of depression itself. While some patients may experience worsening of such thoughts early in the treatment of their depression, there is no credible evidence that SSRIs alone cause people to become suicidal or violent. Serious and possibly life-threatening reactions may occur when SSRIs are used in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors), such as Nardil and Parnate, which also are used to treat depression. These reactions also are possible when a person stops taking an SSRI and immediately begins taking an MAOI. SSRIs and MAO inhibitors should never be taken at the same time. When switching from an SSRI to an MAOI or vice versa, it may be necessary to allow two to five weeks or more between stopping one and starting the other. The physician prescribing the medica
