There's a whole list of drugs with black-box warnings about increased suicidal ideation risk. Benzos do it to me:
- Accutane (isotretinoin)
- Banzel (Rufinamide)
- Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR (carbamazepine)
- Celontin (methosuximide)
- Chantix (varenicline)
- Darvon and Darvocet (propoxyphene)
- Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene (divalproex sodium)
- Depakene, Stavzor Extended Release Tablets (valproic acid)
- Dilantin Suspension (phenytoin)
- Felbatol (felbamate)
- Gabitril (tiagabine)
- Keppra (levetiracetam)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Lamictal (lamotrigine)
- Mesantoin (mephenytoin)
- Mysoline (primidone)
- Neurontin (gabapentin)
- Paxil (paroxetine)
- Peganone (ethotoin)
- Prozac (fluoxetine)
- Topamax (topiramate)
- Tranxene (clorazepate)
- Tridione (trimethadione)
- Trileptal (oxcarbazepine)
- Vimpat (lacosamide)
- Zarontin (ethosuximide)
- Zonegran (zonisamide)
I mean..starting right off the top, a lot of people may commit suicide while on/right after accutane because of reasons other than the drug having some type of direct biological effect on the brain.
1) They are already susceptible to or experiencing suicidal thoughts due to the state of their moderate-severe skin condition that significantly affects self esteem and ability to thrive in social settings (other people can be awful).
2) The drug is likely their last resort and option for treatment/'cure', they put a lot of stake in it..if at any point they get the sense it's not working or not going to work, they may not be able to handle it.
3) The drug can sometimes make things worse at certain points of the treatment and again, the patient may not be able to handle it.
4) Once the active acne/skin condition is alleviated, many may still be left with permanent scarring..which brings on a whole other animal of emotional and mental distress or hopelessness.
5) Other bodily side effects of the drug may end up creating new issues that cause another set of reasons for misery or distress.