In the last 15 years, suicide in the United States has increased by more than 30% and the use of antidepressants has increased by 65%.

Some recent studies have shown that there was a spike in suicide rates, especially among teens and young adults starting around 2006 which also happens to be the year that 50% of them all had cell phones. The importance of that was with the rise of cell phone use among teens and young adults resulted in less personal interaction between each other and more impersonal interaction. This is important because without the personal face-to-face interactions, young people lost many of their social skills and began to feel lonely which led to an increase in depression which also led to an increase in suicide rates.

Additionally, some attribute the rise in suicides among adults to a society that has lost much of it’s moral virtues and beliefs. Without a serious religious belief, many people realize there isn’t much purpose to life, so they get depressed and consider, attempt or succeed in committing suicide.

Additionally, more people seem to be having health issues which also causes depression and thoughts of suicide.

Some authorities have attributed increases in depression and suicide to things like internet addiction, and even environmental causes.

Yet, with all of the improvements in mental health and the availablity of counseling, some of which are free, one would expect depression and suicidal tendencies to be going down, not up.

But have you ever thought that your depression or thoughts of suicide may be caused by the medication you are taking?

“But now there’s one more possible cause that needs to be considered. New research has shown that more than 200 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can increase the likelihood of depression and depressive symptoms. And when two or more of these drugs are combined, the potential for depression increases even more.”

“And that isn’t the end of the bad news. More than 1 in 3 Americans regularly take a medication linked to an increase in depression. Common treatments such as proton pump inhibitors (for acid reflux), beta blockers, anxiety medications, OTC painkillers, ACE inhibitors (for high blood pressure) and anticonvulsant medications can cause or increase depression.”

According to a report, here are some of the medications that have been linked to suicidal tendencies:

• Analgesics(Acetaminophen/Tramadol, Hydropmorphone, Tapentadol, Tramadol)
• Anticonvulsants(Carbamazepine, Clonazepam, Diazepam, Ethosuximide, Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam, Lorazepam, Methsuximide, Oxcarbazepine, Phenytoin, Pregabalin, Topiramate, Valproic Acid, Zonisamide)
• Antidepressants(Amitriptyline, Amitriptyline/Chlordiazepoxide, Amitriptyline/Perphenazine, Bupropion, Citalopram, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Desvenlafaxine, Doxepin, Duloxetine, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Fluoxetine/Olanzapine, Fluvoxamine, Imipramine, Milnacipran, Mirtazapine, Nefazodone, Nortriptyline,
  Paroxetine, Phenelzine, Protriptyline, Selegiline, Sertraline, Trazodone, Venlafaxine, Vilazodone)
• Anxiolytics, Hypnotics, and Sedatives(Alprazolam, Butabarbital, Chlordiazepoxide, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Doxepin, Eszopiclone, Flurazepam, Pentobarbital, Ramelteon, Triazolam, Zaleplon, Zolpidem)
• Gastrointestinal Agents(Metoclopramide)
• Hormones/Hormone Modifiers(Finasteride1, Leuprolide, Levonorgestrel, Oxandrolonez, Progesterone)
• Respiratory Agents(Montelukast, Ribavirin, Roflumilast, Zafirlukastg)
• Other Therapeutic Classes(Acamprosate, Amantadine, Armodafinil, Aripiprazole, Asenapine, Atomoxetine, Carbidopa/Entacapone/Levodopa, Carbidopa/Levodopa, Ciprofloxacin, Dapsone, Efavirenz, Efavirenz/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir, lloperidone, Interferon Beta-1a, Interferon Beta-1b, Isotretinoin, Lurasidone, Memantine, Mefloquine, Methylphenidate, Modafinil, Moxifloxacin, Naltrexone, Natalizumab, Olanzapine, Ofloxacin, Peginterferon Alfa-2a, Quetiapine, Raltegravir, Risperidone4, Rivastigmine5, Sibutramine, Tetrabenazine, Varenicline)

The same report lists these medications as being linked to non-suicidal depression:

• Analgesics(Cyclobenzaprine, Fentanyl, Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Morphine, Nabumetone, Oxycodone)
• Antihypertensives(Atenolol, Atenolol/Chlorthalidone, Betaxolol, Bendroflumethiazide/Nadolol, Brimonidine, Brimonidine/Timolol, Dorzolamide/Timolol, Enalapril, HydrochIorothiazide/Metoprolol, Hydrocodone, Metolazone, Metoprolol, Nisoldipine, Quinapril, Telmisartan, Timolol, Trandolapril)
• Corticosteroids(Betamethasone, Cortisone, Dexamethasone, Methylprednisolone, Prednisolone, Prednisone, Triamcinolone)
• Gastrointestinal Agents(Atropine/Diphenoxylate, Cimetidine, Dexlansoprazole, Esomeprazole, Famotidine, Omeprazole, Ranitidine)
• Hormones/Hormone Modifiers(Anastrozole, Bicalutamide, Cabergoline, Conjugated Estrogens, Conjugated Estrogens/Medroxyprogesterone, Desogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol, Dienogest/Estradiol, Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol/Levomefolate, Esterified Estrogens, Esterified Estrogens/MethyItestosterone, Estradiol, Estradiol/Norethindrone, Estropipate, Ethinyl Estradiol/Ethynodiol, Ethinyl Estradiol/Etonogestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol/Levonorgestrel, Ethinyl Estradiol/Norethindrone, Ethinyl Estradiol/Norgestimate, Ethinyl Estradiol/Norgestrel, Etonogestrel, Exemestane, Goserelin, Hydroxyprogesterone, Medroxtyprogesterone, Megestrol, Norethindrone, Tamoxifen, Testosterone)
• Respiratory Agents(Cetirizine )
• Other Therapeutic Classes(Abacavir/Lamivudine, Acebutolol, Acitretin, Amphetamine/Detroamphetamine, Baclofen, Benzphetamine, Cinacalcet, Clonidine, Cyclosporine, Dantrolene, Dexmethylphenidate, Donepezil, Dronabinol, Emtricitabine, Erlotinib, Flecainide, Fluphenazine7, Galantamine, Haloperidol, Maraviroc, Methyldopa, Metolazone, Metronidazole, Oxybutynins, Phentermineg, Pimozide, Prazosin, Propafenone, Propranolol, Rasagiline, Rotigotine, Sorafenib, Tizanidine)

If you want a full list of medications that can increase the risk of depression and/or suicidal symptoms, click here.

If you’re not sure of what may be causing your depression and/or suicidal tendencies, check your medications and talk to your doctor. It’s possible that it may be as simple as changing your medication or perhaps the dosage, but it just may help answer why, which is a huge step in dealing with your depression and/or suicidal thoughts.