Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 May 2000. It was answered by Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Labour) on Monday, 8 May 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he is taking to reduce deaths resulting from (a) Dothiepin and (b) other anti-depressants.

Answer: Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce deaths resulting from (a) Dothiepin and (b) other antidepressants. [120929] Ms Stuart: The majority of deaths recorded in association with antidepressants are as a result of suicide. We take the issue of suicide very seriously. The development of strategies to reduce suicide and improve the mental well-being of the general population are a major part of our programme outlined in the White Paper--"Saving Lives: our Healthier Nation"-- and in the National Service Framework for mental health. Advice is given to health professionals in British National Formulary which advises that patients treated for depression should be assessed frequently for suicidal tendencies and that limited quantities of antidepressant drugs should be prescribed at any one time to reduce the risk of overdosage. The Summaries of Product Characteristics for antidepressants warn that patients at risk of suicide should be monitored closely. As with all medicines, the safety of antidepressants is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

Secondary information