SUICIDE Written by: Marty L. Hinz, MD President Clinical Research NeuroResearch Clinics, Inc. Cape Coral, Florida USA Research Office

Access Peer-Reviewed Scientific Literature of Marty Hinz, MD

Disclaimer: Clinics using the NeuroResearch Clinics approach do not treat patients contemplating suicide in the clinics. The suicidal patient needs to be hospitalized in a protective environment until the risk of suicide has passed. Suicide Perspective   In all suicide is caused by severe depression. The task is recognizing patients contemplating suicide early enough to intervene.   The topic of this web page is, "Suicide preventable causes". The drugs used to treat depression warn that risk of suicide may develop with use. Antidepressants can make the depression worse leading to suicide (see the prescribing information to the right). Discussed here is, "How antidepressants cause suicide". Plus a discussion on how to prevent antidepressant induced suicide. Drug Induced Suicide   The most severely depressed patients are at a risk for suicide. Depression and suicide is caused by neurotransmitter levels in the brain that are not high enough. Drugs do nothing to increase the number of neurotransmitter molecules in the brain. Drugs work by moving neurotransmitter molecules from one place to another. As neurotransmitters move from one place to another depletion of neurotransmitters occurs, causing: The drug to quit working. Depression to worsen. With severe drug depletion of neurotransmitters suicide may happen.   Worsening depression and  risk of suicide develops when drugs deplete the neurotransmitters to the critical levels.   So, "What does the doctor do when a patient for contemplating suicide?" The doctor places the patient in a protective environment and adjusts antidepressant drug dosing to treat the suicide threat. This does nothing to increase the low levels of neurotransmitters causing the patient to contemplate suicide and only makes the problem worse. HOW DRUGS DEPLETE NEUROTRANSMITTERS LEADING TO SUICIDE RISK   The following pictures are from the National Institute of Drug Abuse web site explaining of how reuptake inhibitor drugs deplete neurotransmitters. Illustration 1   In people suffering with depression or contemplating suicide neurotransmitter levels are to low to prevent symptoms. The picture below illustrates low neurotransmitter levels (red triangles) in the synapse. Illustration 2   Antidepressant drugs, amphetamines, and cocaine, block the reuptake of neurotransmitters back into the presynaptic neuron. This leads to a decrease of neurotransmitters in the presynaptic neuron where they safe from enzymatic breakdown. Blocking reuptake increases neurotransmitter levels in the synapse and increased enzymatic breakdown by the MAO and COMT enzymes. Illustration 3   Neurotransmitter exposure to MAO and COMT enzyme metabolism metabolism outside the presynaptic neuron is how drugs deplete neurotransmitters. As neurotransmitter depletion increases the drugs quit working, depression worsens, and the risk of suicide develops. Preventing Depression Worsening and Suicide Risk   To prevent worsening of depression and the risk of suicide developing neurotransmitter levels must be increased. The neurotransmitters do not cross the blood brain barrier. The only way to increase neurotransmitter levels in the brain is by providing properly balanced 5-HTP, tyrosine, levodopa, tryptophan, and  cysteine with neurotransmitter testing as indicated These nutrient cross into the brain and are synthesized into neurotransmitter preventing drugs from making depression worse or the risk of suicide from developing.   It is noted that nutrient must be used in proper balance or they too will deplete neurotransmitters. While there has been no reported cases of suicide attributed to imbalanced nutrients, it is theoretically possible. http://www.neuroassist.com/suicide.htm